2026 BMW i7 xDrive60 First Drive: A Rolling Lounge With Serious Speed

Every time we’ve driven a version of the BMW i7, we’ve come away convinced it’s the best luxury full-size sedan you can buy right now—electric or otherwise—a tech-forward car so focused on opulence that its rear-seat comfort draws legitimate comparisons to a Rolls-Royce. And despite tipping the scales at more than three tons, the i7 handles with a composure that borders on physics-defying. It’s a silent-running, supersized super sedan that makes the shift from internal combustion feel like a genuine upgrade.

The midgrade xDrive60 is our pick of the lineup. It’s the AWD i7 trim with the best range of the family and comes equipped with just about everything that makes BMW’s electric flagship luxury sedan so special. That includes more than ample power and effortless quickness (even if it doesn’t quite match the visceral muscle of the V-8 760i) and a high level of upscale equipment. A model update for 2025 sweetened the deal further, adding standard front and rear massaging seats along with ventilated and multifunction rear seats to the mix.

We’ve logged plenty of seat time in the range-topping M70 but far less in the lower-spec models—until now. BMW loaned us a recent xDrive60 to see how it stacks up against the i7s we’ve driven before. The short answer? It stacks quite high.

See All 30 Photos30

A Luxurious, High-Tech Sanctuary Inside

Step into the xDrive60, and BMW’s current interior design language hits you all at once—in the best possible way. Crystal trim runs across the dash and doors, extending to the media and drive mode selectors, while the speaker grilles carry the same distinctive patterning found across the brand’s latest 7 Series models.

Look closer, and it keeps getting more luxurious: an Alcantara headliner, perforated upholstery stretching from the seat center panels all the way to the side bolsters and door panels, and carbon-fiber accents throughout. It’s a cabin that feels genuinely handcrafted as opposed to line assembled.

The tech touches are equally considered. Power-closing doors lend every entry and exit a flagship-worthy sense of ceremony, tweeter cones illuminate when the audio system is active, and the car will politely (if startlingly) honk at you should you walk away with your phone still on the wireless charger. BMW’s latest iDrive infotainment system can still be finicky at times, but it’s better than ever and allows for a high degree of customization. And although our test car didn’t include the optional 31.3-inch rear Theater Screen, the i7’s cabin feels thoroughly future-forward with or without it.

Then there’s how thoughtfully BMW empowers its rear occupants, regardless of whether the Theater Screen is added to the mix. Integrated into each rear door armrest is a phone-sized control screen that gives passengers direct, intuitive command over audio settings, phone calls, privacy blinds, sunroof cover, and their own seat adjustment and massage functions. No shouting up front required.

The i7 is spacious by any sedan standard, and the rear passengers fare especially well. The back seat is enormous, as expected in this segment, with 42.8 inches of rear legroom to go with 41.2 up front. At 17.7 cubic feet, the trunk is nearly as large as that of the gas-powered 7 Series. There’s no frunk, but a generous under-floor cubby in the cargo area largely makes up for it.

See All 30 Photos30

Small Car in a Big Body

On paper, the xDrive60’s proportions are almost intimidating. The i7’s overall length stretches longer than BMW’s own X7 SUV (212.2 vs. 203.6 inches), and as we’ve mentioned, it weighs in at more than three tons. But behind the wheel, none of that seems to matter.

As we’ve come to expect from powerful EVs, its 549 lb-ft of instant torque builds smoothly and quietly, making it almost too easy to find yourself well past triple digits before you’ve fully registered the acceleration (we clocked the last xDrive60 we tested at 4.3 seconds to 60 mph). The steering is direct if not particularly communicative, but the chassis more than compensates. The i7’s body reacts with a quickness and grace that would be remarkable in a much smaller car, let alone one that’s this substantial. BMW credits the real-time responsiveness of its standard air suspension, and after a few corners, we’re inclined to believe it.

The brakes take a brief adjustment period—initial bite is grabby enough to catch you off guard in the first few miles—but confidence builds quickly, and stopping power proves more than ample. Given that the 2023 model we tested halted from 60 mph in an impressive 109 feet, we’d expect this 2026 xDrive60 to post similar numbers, a remarkable feat for a three-ton sedan. The i7 continues to make a compelling case that sheer size and genuine driving satisfaction are no longer mutually exclusive.

See All 30 Photos30

The Only Place It’s Average

Charging and range haven’t meaningfully changed since we last tested the i7, and both remain average for the segment. Our test car arrived on striking, 21-inch bicolor 1055-style wheels (easily the best-looking option in the configurator), but that diameter choice comes with a range penalty, limiting the EPA-rated estimate to 308 miles versus the 311 available on 19-inch rollers. Neither figure is class leading.

Our car was also equipped with a now-old-school CCS1 charging port, a consequence of being engineered before the North American Charging Standard (NACS) became the industry norm. It wasn’t a dealbreaker in daily use, but owners who want access to Tesla’s Supercharger network will feel the limitation. Thankfully, BMW includes a NACS adapter.

One area where the xDrive60 claws back some efficiency is regenerative braking, though accessing its benefits requires patience. The four regen levels (Low, Medium, High, and Adaptive) are buried in the infotainment menus rather than mapped to a dedicated control. The workaround is shifting to the B position on the gear selector, which instantly engages maximum regen. We spent most of our time in Low; Medium and High felt heavy-handed in normal traffic and more intrusive than intuitive. It’s a capable system in need of a more accessible setup.

See All 30 Photos30

Luxury Flagship EV Sweet Spot

The 2026 BMW i7 xDrive60 is, in nearly every meaningful way, the large luxury sedan we’d recommend to anyone shopping at this level. Its interior is stunning, the rear-seat experience is genuinely world class, and the way this car shrinks dynamically despite its imposing size and weight remains one of the more impressive engineering achievements in the segment. The xDrive60 hits the sweet spot of the i7 family, with enough performance to satisfy, enough opulence to genuinely impress, and enough technology to feel thoroughly contemporary without tipping into gimmickry.

The niggles are real but familiar. Range and charging are average; iDrive occasionally gets in its own way, and the exterior styling will remain a point of contention. But none of that changes the fundamental calculus: If you’re spending this kind of money on a large luxury sedan, the i7 xDrive60 is where we’d put ours. BMW has built something special here, and a few years of updates have only burnished its shine.