The 2015 BMW 7-Series gets a major refresh in the engine department. There is an addition of a turbo diesel engine in the options. All the available engine options are powerful and provide great overall performance.
The 2015 BMW 7 Series is the ultimate expression of luxury from BMW. It is available in a sedan body style and is arguably one of the best full-size luxury sedans available that starts at an MSRP of $74,000. It has the option of four engines that include one turbocharged diesel and three turbocharged gasoline engines. It competes against the Audi S6, Porsche Panamera, and the Cadillac CTS-V.
The 2015 BMW 7 Series lineup is split into several trims based on powertrains. However, the equipment levels offered are also quite different but the main distinctions remain mechanical. These trim levels are called 740, 750, and 760. An addition of L to the trim level signifies a long wheelbase, whereas ‘i’ and ‘d’ signify gasoline and diesel, respectively. There are a number of packages being offered as well that include Lighting Package, Executive Package, Cold-Weather Package, Driver Assistance Plus Package, M Sport Package, and so on.
Trims |
740 |
750 |
760 |
---|---|---|---|
MSRP |
$74,000 |
$91,000 |
$141,200 |
Key Features |
18-inch wheels |
19-inch wheels with summer tires |
Power adjustable rear seats |
|
Adaptive dampers |
Lighting package |
Heated and ventilated front seats with massage function |
|
Self-leveling air suspension |
Power closing doors |
Ceramic trim controls |
|
Xenon headlights |
Power trunk lid with a foot sensor |
Blind-spot monitoring |
|
LED fog lamps |
Head up display |
Side and top view parking cameras |
|
Automatic wipers |
16 way adjustable powered multi-contour front seats |
Rear-wheel steering |
|
Four-zone climate control |
Upgraded leather upholstery with extended coverage |
Burl Walnut trim |
|
Heated power front seats with four-way lumbar adjustment and memory |
16 speaker Harman Kardon surround sound audio system |
|
We Recommend
Even though all the trim levels of the BMW 7 Series are equally desirable, we feel that the 750i represents the best balance between luxury and value for money. The 760 trim comes at almost double the price of the 740 trim and hence becomes a little too expensive for its own good. We believe that the rear-wheel-drive configuration itself is pretty much fun to drive, and for the customers who are conscious about fuel prices, BMW provides a diesel powertrain.
The BMW 7 Series comes with four engines. The 740i and 740 Li are powered by a 3 L in-line six-cylinder gasoline engine that produces 315 hp and 330 pound-feet of torque. The 740 Ld is powered by a 3 L diesel engine that produces 255 hp and 413 pound-feet of torque.
The 750 gets a turbocharged 4.4 L V-8 engine that produces 445 hp and 480 pound-feet of torque. Finally, the 760 Li gets a 6 L turbocharged V12 engine that produces 535 hp and 550 pound-feet of torque. A 7-speed dual-clutch automatic along with rear-wheel drive are standard while all-wheel drive is available as an option on all three engines except the V 12.
Model |
BMW 7 Series |
Audi S6 |
Cadillac CTS-V |
Porsche Panamera S |
---|---|---|---|---|
MSRP |
$87,300 |
$75,500 |
$69,900 |
$93,200 |
Engine |
4.4L Twin-Turbo V8 |
4 L turbocharged V-8 |
6.2 L V8 |
3.0L Twin-Turbo V6 |
Drivetrain |
RWD |
AWD |
RWD |
RWD |
Transmission |
8-speed automatic |
7 speed automatic |
6-speed manual |
7-speed automated manual |
Power |
445 hp @ 5500 rpm |
420 hp @ 5500 RPM |
556 hp @ 6100 rpm |
420 hp @ 6000 rpm |
Torque |
480 ft-lbs. @ 2000 rpm |
406 lb-ft @ 1400 RPM |
551 ft-lbs. @ 3800 rpm |
384 ft-lbs. @ 1750 rpm |
0-60 MPH (sec) |
4.4 |
4.5 |
4.0 |
4.3 |
Quarter Mile (sec) |
13 |
12.9 |
12.5 |
12.7 |
Top Speed (MPH) |
155 mph |
155 mph |
200 mph |
192 mph |
We believe that it is the 4.4 L V-8 engine that suits the 7 Series the most. This gives the car the needed punch to carry its weight and cruise in style. When it comes to real-world performance, the BMW does exceptionally well too. It has slightly slow 0 to 60 mph as well as quarter-mile timing due to its super refined power delivery but that is compensated when you equip the all-wheel-drive system. The Porsche, even though low on paper does quite well in its on-road figures. The Cadillac truly kicks the ball out of the ballpark.
We find that the BMM returns much better MPG figures than we hope would ever come out of a turbocharged V-8 engine. It returns an EPA estimated 17 mpg in the city, 25 MPG on the highway, and 20 MPG in the combined cycle. Along with the fuel tank with a huge capacity of 21.1 gallons, it returns a respectable 358 miles in the city and 527 miles of range on the highway.
Model |
BMW 7 Series |
Audi S6 |
Cadillac CTS-V |
Porsche Panamera S |
---|---|---|---|---|
MPG (City) |
17 |
17 |
14 |
17 |
MPG (Highway) |
25 |
27 |
19 |
27 |
MPG (Combined) |
20 |
20 |
18 |
21 |
Fuel Capacity |
21.1 |
19.8 |
18 |
21.1 |
Range (City/Highway/Combined) |
359 /528/ 443 |
336 /534 /396 |
252 /342/ 324 |
359 /570/ 464 |
The BMW engine returns excellent fuel efficiency as we have observed. The Porsche Panamera is the most fuel-efficient by virtue of its smaller engine. But the BMW is quite at its heels while producing little more horsepower and being much more refined. The least impressive figure is that of the Cadillac as it offers 14 mpg in the city, 19 mpg on the highway and 18 mpg combined. The biggest tank comes in the BMW and Porsche but the Porsche has the highest range due to its better fuel efficiency figures.
The interiors of the BMW 7 Series can be talked about on and on for days. It has classic gauges that are very easily readable and a driver-centric design for the dashboard. Even though it is slightly similar to the interiors you can find on lesser BMWs, it is a nice place to be in.
The new iDrive system is also easy to use and very intuitive. The materials used are top-quality leather, rich wood accents, and the comfort levels are something else entirely. Space offered is plenty, to begin with, but the long-wheelbase versions set the bar very far apart. The trunk space is also quite generous at 14 ft.³.
Model |
BMW 7 Series |
Audi S6 |
Cadillac CTS-V |
Porsche Panamera S |
---|---|---|---|---|
Seating Capacity |
5 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
Front Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in) |
40.6/59.2/41.3 |
37.2/57.5/41.3 |
36.9/56/42 |
38/51.9/41.9 |
Rear Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in) |
38.5/57.4/38.9 |
37.8/56.3 / 37.4 |
34.6 2/50.9/35 |
38.2/51.7/33.3 |
Cargo Capacity (cu-ft) |
14 |
16.3 |
10.5 |
15.7 |
The BMW 7 Series is very spacious and stays a few notches above the competition in terms of the materials used and build quality as well. All cars in this category seat five adults, except the Porsche, which seats only four. The Porsche may appear a bit cramped to passengers in the rear seat especially in terms of legroom. The Cadillac has decent interior space despite not looking so. Audi S6 manages to offer the best in class cargo capacity of 16.3 cu-ft. Some of its interior features include:
The infotainment unit in the BMW 7 Series is BMW's latest iDrive system. It employs the latest touchpad with the fingertips scribble recognition and is a seamless experience. Apart from the impressive iDrive system, the sedan comes filled with a variety of tech to keep the passengers engaged. Few standout infotainment features available are-
The BMW 7 Series is a luxury barge with an exterior that tells the same story. It is elegant and never imposing. It is an extremely large car. It measures 200 inches in length, 74.9 inches in width, and 57.9 inches in height. The car is not of modest dimensions by any standard but this recipe does give it a lot of interior space.
Model |
BMW 7 Series |
Audi S6 |
Cadillac CTS-V |
Porsche Panamera S |
---|---|---|---|---|
Curb Weight (lbs) |
4575 |
4398 |
4217 |
3990 |
Length (in) |
200 |
193.9 |
188.5 |
197.4 |
Width (in) |
74.9 |
73.8 |
74.1 |
76 |
Height (in) |
57.9 |
7.8 |
56 |
55.8 |
Ground Clearance (in) |
6 |
N/A |
N/A |
5.7 |
Wheelbase (in) |
120.9 |
114.6 |
113.4 |
115 |
One can see that all cars in the segment are somewhat of the same dimensions, except the Cadillac. The Porsche is one of the largest cars of the lot as well as the lightest. The BMW, however, is the heaviest. When it comes to ground clearance, BMW offers the most at 6 inches. Some of its standout exterior features include:
The BMW 7 Series has not been crash-tested by the IIHS and the NHTSA, however, it packs a lot of amazing safety technology that includes antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, front and rear parking sensors, airbags, ABS, and so on. Some standout safety features include:
The 2015 BMW 7 Series is one of the best luxury cars around despite it feeling a little old nowadays. A model change is soon due, and we expect the new car to be the best of technology and luxury. Until then, it is not exactly wise to spend a whole lot on buying the current BMW 7 Series, unless you’re absolutely sold by its refinement and mechanical superiority.