Overview
Radical exterior styling aside, the 2024 BMW 7-series follows the same successful formula it has for several generations, marrying big power, a comfort-first driving demeanor, and a spacious cabin with loads of features. You can get it with a turbocharged inline-six, a plug-in hybrid, or a twin-turbo V-8, but no matter which engine is under the hood, the 7-series delivers a glassy-smooth ride and a hushed interior perfect for long-distance treks. When the road turns twisty, the 7-series can have a little fun and a rear-wheel steering system works to add some agility to the equation. But many will agree that the best seat in the house isn't the one behind the steering wheel. When used as chauffeured transport, the 7-series allows passengers to relax and enjoy several tech features, including an optional 31.3-inch rear entertainment display that motors down from the ceiling and provides access to streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu.
What's New for 2024?
A plug-in hybrid 750e model joins the 7-series lineup for 2024. The 750e comes standard with all-wheel drive and features a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine that's augmented by an electric motor. Together, the two make a robust 483 horsepower and BMW estimates its onboard battery should be large enough to power the big sedan for over 35 miles on electric power alone. Elsewhere, the 740i model is now available with all-wheel drive and the 7-series's infotainment system has been upgraded from iDrive 8 to iDrive 8.5.
The 740i runs BMW's sweetly silken inline-six and we expect most buyers will find this version more than suitable, but for those wanting extra horsepower, there's the 760i xDrive, which comes with a twin-turbo V-8. If you plan to be chauffeured in your new 7-series, we'd recommend both the Executive Lounge package (power-adjustable reclining rear seats with massage, among other luxuries) and the cool 31.3-inch Theater Screen rear-seat entertainment system which can stream content via the car's on-board Wi-Fi hotspot. An all-electric variant called i7 will be based on the same body shell; we review that model separately.