You can say about the BMW X5 whatever you want, but you wouldn't call it a small car, right?
However, it can always get bigger, and this is the proof. This is the new BMW X7. An even bigger X5 with a very controversial styling.
Just look at the front. I don't know which disease causes your kidneys to swell up, but this car certainly has a case of that.
Then there's the rest of this car. It's huge, it's enormous, so that raises the question what purpose it serves.
Well, it's mostly a royal seven-seater. It's got three seating rows. Sure, you can get a third seating row in the X5, but that has always...
been an emergency solution for children or adults for short distances. This however, is 23 centimetres longer, and you'll notice...
on this standard third seating row. I'm 1,80 m. myself, and I won't say that it's incredibly comfortable, but my knees are free.
Despite the fact that the second seating row is pretty far back. The headroom is pretty good as well, only my hair touches the ceiling.
But if I needed to be back here for a while, especially if the second row moves forward a little bit, I would be alright.
And that's rare nowadays.
Just like I already mentioned, you're able to move around the seats, adjust the back rests. Just like the third seating row,
you've got your own heated seats and climate control. The seats are pretty far forward, but I still have lots of legroom.
The seating is just great back here. You're able to fold everything down electrically, if you're patient, because it's pretty slow.
But that does give you a car which offers from 300 litres to 2.100 litres. That's gigantic.
Let's move to the front. If you know the X5, you'll know this as well. It's the same control module, and iDrive is a very nice system.
It's got a touchscreen, voice control, motion control, physical turning knobs for different functions.
The interior is nicely finished, with good materials being used. Audi and Mercedes might have better finishing,
but for a car which is primarily aimed at the American market, this is of a very high level.
So yeah, everything put together, it's a very practical and multifunctional car.If you have a big family, but you don't want an MPV,
this could be a very good and luxurious solution. The only 'but' in this story, is the price. It's nice that you get a third seating row as standard...
and air suspension and bigger wheels, but the entry price for this 30d-engine, which is the entry level X7 diesel, is €20.000...
higher than a comparable X5. And you haven't even driven it around yet.
Because that's the big problem with this car. Its size. You're constantly thinking about the measurements of this car in the Netherlands.
Luckily it's not wider than the X5, it's even four millimetres narrower. But it's still 23 centimetres longer, and because the X5 isn't small to begin with,
you're constantly checking the mirror and the nose. Four-wheel steering is a must, and even then the the turning circle is huge.
I know a few parking garages which fit this car. If you do get in, you need to find a very royal spot.
It's nice and all that you've got a big and easily accessible third seating row, but that's only because of the huge rear door.
So if you've got a small parking space, you can't get out. So you're always thinking about your size, and that's...
not handy in a country as the Netherlands. You could debate about the fact if that's the fault of the car, but it's reality nonetheless.
If you get in to urban area's, the size doesn't matter as much anymore. The car is 300 kg heavier than the already not light X5,
but because of the air suspension, it's incredibly comfortable. You do notice the mass when you're braking, because it heaves a lot.
Mostly when accelerating and braking, or in corners, and that's exactly what you expect. Of course it's not a dynamic car.
It can't be with these measurements and this weight, so they've aimed everything at comfort.
And that was a good choice. It's incredibly quiet because of double glass and it's just a very pleasant car for doing big distances with multiple people.
The engine fits very well too. It's the same 3.0-litre 6-cylinder diesel as we have in our X5 longterm.
It produces 265 horsepower and 620 Nm of torque, and that's sufficient. If you really start pushing it,
you'll notice that this car is 300 kg heavier, so it needs to try harder to get the performance your asking for.
On the other hand, it's more than enough. The performance is always available. The 8-speed ZF-automatic gearbox always makes sure there's...
power available whilst remaining quiet. So it's all pretty alright in here. However, the fuel consumption isn't too good.
Our X5 longterm isn't too efficient to begin with, and considering that this is heavier and had a bigger front, you can guess running it won't be cheap.
And that's the whole story of the X7. You'll invest a whole lot of money to get a car which is a tad more practical than an X5,
and which is slightly less dynamic. Sure, some people could want that and it has some added value,
but I'm not sure if that added value is worth it in the Netherlands.