2012 BMW 7-Series - Review

BMW’s flagship sedan was launched in its current, fifth-generation form in 2009. Despite the passage of a few years since then, the 2012 BMW 7-Series has managed to age gracefully and we’d still call the big sedan one of the best that BMW has ever produced.

We’re partial to the styling of the current 7-Series, which does away with the sometimes awkward proportions of the previous model, built from 2002 - 2008. Performance is better on the new version as well, and the 7-Series manages to feel much lighter behind the wheel than you’d expect it to.

Inside, there’s plenty of room to carry three passengers, or four on shorter trips. Headroom is ample, even for rear seat passengers, and even standard-wheelbase cars have a generous amount of rear seat legroom. If you prefer more room to stretch out and read The Wall Street Journal as you're driven to the office, the 7-Series comes in an extended-wheelbase (Li) version as well.

As you’d expect from BMW, its latest range-topping sedan comes standard with all the amenities that luxury shoppers demand, including rich leather upholstery and ample quantities of polished wood. If it’s high-tech you want, BMW offers the 7-Series with a heads-up display and night vision, too.

BMW builds a 7-Series model for almost any luxury sedan shopper willing to put down the $71,000 price of admission to the model range. Even the base 740i, with its 3.0-liter, twin-turbo, in-line six, produces reasonable acceleration while returning up to 25 mpg on the highway. Opt for a 4.4-liter, twin-turbo V-8 variant, or the 6.0-liter, twin-turbo V-12 found in the range-topping 760i, and acceleration is impressive, although buyers will pay the price in fuel economy. If you want the best of both worlds, BMW offers the 4.4-liter V-8 in an ActiveHybrid version, which can sprint from 0-60 mph in under five seconds while returning up to 24 mpg on the highway.

While the 740i may have a starting price of $71,000, the sticker price rises quickly as you add option packages or move up the model range. If you want the range-topping 760Li, it starts at over $137,000, and loaded-up with options can top the $160,000 price point.

For a detailed look at the 2012 BMW 7-Series, see our complete review on The Car Connection.