BMW 7-series facelift review, test drive

It may not look vastly different, but BMW's updated 7-series is more efficient, powerful and comfortable. Should Audi's A8 and Jaguar's XJ be worried?

Published on Apr 30, 2013 07:22:00 PM

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BMW 7-series facelift review, test drive

BMW has also improved sound insulation, which means the cabin is much quieter, and engine noise is more subdued. Like the old car, the 7-series still rides well, but the setup is on the softer side, and there’s too much vertical movement, especially in Comfort mode. It does become more levelled when you switch to Sport, but it never feels very settled.

The other area BMW has worked on is cabin comfort, because let’s face it, most 7-series owners would want the equivalent of their lush office cabin even on the drive home. Hop inside and you will notice subtle differences. BMW has made the front seats slimmer to offer a better view for the rear-seat passengers. There are subtle additions of chrome, like a new strip across the dash to make it more luxurious. The instruments are new too, and change colour based on the driving mode you have selected. The iDrive system has been updated to its latest iteration as well.

On the outside, you have to take a very close look to notice what’s different. In front, the 7 gets new LED corona rings, and the upright kidney grille now comes with 9 slats instead of 12. The front fender is now much sportier and the air dam stretches across the front of the car to suck air away from the tyres and reduce drag. At the back, the tail-lights are also new and there’s a new chrome strip that runs across.

So what BMW has done is listen to customer feedback and improve the 7-series in key areas. The flagship BMW was overshadowed by the Audi A8 and Jaguar XJ when they were launched, but with this new car, BMW is hoping to come back into contention.