BMW i7 or 740i: buy an electric or a petrol luxury sedan?

Apart from the powertrain, the i7 and the 740i are nearly identical on the equipment and design front.

Published On Dec 08, 2024 08:00:00 AM

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I have taken a test drive of the BMW i7 and I’m getting good discounts on the 2023 model. Discounts reduce on the current model, and it’s almost nil on the 740i. I want to understand a few things: why is BMW offering discount on the i7 but not on the 740i? I can install a charger in my building and I mainly drive within the city, so which one should I opt for? I am not sure about maintenance, battery replacement cost and life of the i7’s battery as I keep my cars for 15 years.

Mohit Sarin, New Delhi

Autocar India says: The reason the i7 is more discounted than the 740i is because the demand for EVs has slowed down and dealers have unsold stock they want to clear out. If you can install a fast charger at home and your running is minimal, from a convenience point of view the i7 is very practical and easy to live with. However, keeping an EV for 15 years comes with some unknowns like the life of the battery – typically 10-12 years – the depreciation, and the resale value, which will be quite abysmal at the end of 15 years.

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