2020 BMW 7 Series Plug-in Hybrid Sedan

The 7-series comes in five essential trims 740e, 750i, 740e, M760i and the Alpina B7. While all the other models are gas powered only, the 740e is the only hybrid variant in the entire range and sits somewhat in between all the other models. It comes with a 2.0L, turbocharged 4-cylinder engine coupled with an electric motor and xDrive as standard.

Trim	740e
MSRP	$91,250
Key Features	Auto Start-Stop function
	Electronically controlled engine cooling (map cooling)
	Active kidney grille
	Brake Energy Regeneration
	Driving Dynamics Control with ECO PRO, ADAPTIVE, COMFORT, COMFORT+, SPORT and SPORT+ modes
	eDrive button with AUTO eDrive
	5 Spoke light alloy wheels
	Adaptive LED Headlights
	Automatic high beams
	Power-folding, heated side mirrors
	Chrome accent finishes
	14-way power front seats
	Dakota Leather upholstery
	High-gloss Fineline Wood interior trim
	Black panel center console with brushed aluminum, touch-sensitive controls
	Power trunk-lid opening and closing
	Soft-close automatic door operation
	Power rear-window sunshade
	Automatic 4-zone climate control
	Micro-filter ventilation system with replaceable active-charcoal filters
	Panoramic moonroof
	Rain-sensing windshield wipers
	Park Distance Control, front and rear
	Ground-illuminating lights in exterior door handles
	LED Light Carpet
	Interior courtesy lights with automatic-dimming function
	Extended Ambient Lighting
	3-stage heated front seats

We'd Recommend

We'd recommend you the 750i as that is the sweet spot in the entire range. It's adequately powerful, has a V8 engine and is plenty fun to drive. However, if you really have your money, the M760i is really the one you should pick. While the 740e is pretty good on performance, it does not have overwhelming benefits of being a hybrid over the gas powered engines. You might as well splurge some more and get yourself an adequately powerful 7-series.

The BMW 740e returns 27 miles to the gallon combined. It's not a very impressive fuel economy from a hybrid, 4-cylinder turbocharged engine. In fact, it's only 3 mpg more than the V6 base engine in the 740i which actually costs much less than the hybrid 7 series. The 740e is quite a heavy car and the powertrain does have to move significant weight for which fuel economy has been compromised.

Model	Lexus LS 500h RWD	BMW 740e	Audi A8 L	Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid
MPG (city)	25	25	19	N/A
MPG (highway)	33	29	29	N/A
MPG (combined)	28	27	22	N/A

Also, the 740e only gets a 12 gallon fuel tank. It has been reduced by 8 gallons from the 740i to make space for the batteries and that also compromises on the overall range of the car. The Audi with its mild hybrid technology does only 22 mpg while Lexus does it the best at 28 mpg.

"The 740e's extended wheelbase creates a cabin that is incredibly spacious front and rear. High-quality materials are prevalent throughout, even in areas that aren't frequently touched." - Edmunds

Design

The interiors in the 740e is really a class apart. It has one of the best layout and ergonomics of all the luxury sedans. A large 10.1 inch floating infotainment screen takes center stage on the dashboard. The AC vents sit below it and the wood trim nicely carves its way around the AC vents which is a very nice detail. Below the AC vents are two bands of switches for the climate controls and music system and unlike every other manufacturer, BMW obliged to give physical switches for these controls and not screens which are very cumbersome to use.

Still, to satisfy the tech obsessed people, the screens for the climate controls and music controls are haptic touch screens but they feel like regular buttons to use. The center console flows down to make for some cup holders neatly hidden away under a wooden trim and then comes the center console controls with the gear selector and the i-drive rotary wheel. All materials used within the cabin are either metal, leather or wood and built quality is sensational with every surface feeling luxurious to touch and feel. The aesthetics are not as pleasing as the S-Class but it's the best combination of practicality, form, technology and luxuriousness. Characterized by sharp lines all around, the 740e boasts of quite a bold interior.

The instrument cluster is all digital but there are physical outlines on the screen for the tachometer and the speedometer which is again a nice little detail. All the screens in the car are themselves high definition with very clear graphics and are very convenient to use as well. In fact, several controls like the gesture control, touch controls and the rotary knob make it very easy to interact with the car.

Seating and Comfort

Model	Lexus LS 500h RWD	BMW 740e Sedan	Audi A8 L	Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid
Passenger capacity	5	5	5	4
Passenger Volume(ft. cube)	116.3	122.3	121.9	N/A
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	37.3/58.8/41.0	39.9/59.2/41.4	37.2/59.1/41.4	N/A
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg)(In.)	37.3/56.4/38.9	38.9/57.7/44.4	39.1/57.8/42.9	N/A

The BMW 740e has the best space of all the sedans in the competition. It has the longest wheelbase and it largely benefits because of that allowing it have maximum space for the rear seats. The seats themselves are very comfortable. They are heated and cooled and come with several massage functions. The headrests are cushioned and seats are wrapped in Dakota Leather. They are very well sculpted to hold you well, in utmost comfort.

The rear seats can be had in either a bench option or you could have individual seats as well. When had in the bench seat configuration, you can seat three people comfortably. You also get rear entertainment screen from where you can control almost every function in the car as well. The arm rest folds down to reveal the seat controls and even a pop out tablet from where you can do your massage, set up the ambient light or anything you could fancy really.

When you have opted for the individual seats, you get a fixed center console with the pop out tablet, heated/cooled cup holders, executive seats which can be configured in several ways, rear foldable tray tables and even a refrigerator to keep your champagne chilled. There's also a panoramic sunroof that adds further to the premium-ness of the cabin. Stretch out your seats, pull out your champagne bottles, pour out your drink and enjoy a sky full of stars under your panoramic roof as the world passes by.

Infotainment System

BMWs i-drive system is certainly the best infotainment system in the entire car industry. With multiple ways of interacting with the system, it's very convenient on the go and the system itself is very intuitive and responsive. The 7 series is BMWs flagship and they have loaded it with every technology they could think of. The screens have crystal clear graphics and the interface itself is very smart.

The 10.3 inch screen can be used as a touch screen or you can use the rotary knob on the center console. The coolest party trick is the gesture control by which you can change volume or configure it do some specific function. The digital instrument cluster is quite configurable too and is operated by buttons on the steering wheel.

Cargo

Model	Lexus LS 500h RWD	BMW 740e	Audi A8 L	Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid
Cargo Volume (ft.3)	15.19	15	14.2	14.3

The BMW 740e has 15 cu.ft of cargo space which is in fact one of the larger ones in the competition. The Lexus has the biggest boot at 15.19 cu.ft. You could pack all you could ever need for a weekend trip for your entire family and still be left with some space to spare probably.

The BMW 7 series is a pretty classy looking sedan. Some have complained about the 7 series being too bland and boring but style is quite subjective. There's a distinctive sporty character in the looks and it still manages to have a sense of poise and sophistication you would expect from a luxury sedan. However, one could indeed argue that in this competition of hybrids, the 7 series does look quite bland and boring when you look at the Lexus LS 500h.

The face is dominated by the large kidney shaped grille which has grown broader over the years. The grille is flanked by the wrap around headlights right from the edge of the grille and it really gives the 7 series quite an aggressive look. The half corona rings inside the headlamp units look stunning at night time. The bumpers are quite simple with some chrome accents and fog lamps around a black mesh grille. If you have equipped your car with the M Sport package, the bumpers look better as they are more aggressively designed with cuts and creases and proper air intakes and it seems more in line with the rest of the design.

The side profile is very neat, garnished with a band of chrome running along the length of the car along the sills from the front fenders. The window line is typically BMW and when had with nice rims, the long, sleek profile of the Beemer really looks elegant. There are some 'eDrive' and 'I' badges on the front fenders and C-pillars as well.

At the rear, there's another chrome band on the boot joining the two LED tail lamps. The tail lamps are themselves much sleeker than before and the look is finished off with well-designed dual exhaust pipe housings accentuated with some more chrome. The entire design is neat but aggressive and with an undertone of classy-ness.

Exterior Dimensions

Model	Lexus LS 500h RWD	BMW 740e	Audi A8 L	Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid
Curb weight (lbs.)	4850	4740	4751	5315
Length(in)	206.1	206.6	207.3	198.8
Width(in)	74.8	74.9	76.7	76.3
Height(in)	57.5	58.2	57.9	56.2
Ground clearance (in)	6.5	5.8	4.9	6.4
Wheelbase (in)	123.0	126.4	122.9	116.1
Track width (in) F/R	64.2/64.2	63.4/64.6	64.7/64.4	65.8/65.0

The BMW 740e is not the largest sedan but sits somewhat in the middle of all its competitors. It is the second longest after the Audi A8L, it's wider than the Lexus but sleeker than the Porsche and the Audi. It's the tallest and has the maximum wheelbase as well. The 740e is very proportionate and looks like a proper stately sedan. In fact, all the cars here look very stately indeed.

Exterior Features

• V Spoke light alloy wheels
• Adaptive LED Headlights
• Automatic high beams
• Power-folding, heated side mirrors
• Chrome accent finishes (front air intakes, rocker panel strips, rear trunk strip)
• Non-metallic or Metallic paint (excluding BMW Individual exterior paints)
• BMW iPerformance design elements

This is the absolute pinnacle of luxury on wheels from BMW and with the kind of people who would be buying this car, safety is utmost important. This is a car with an array of sensors gauging everything on the road and knows what's up ahead even better than you. The steering, the brakes, the suspension every aspect of the car can jump in to protect you if need arises. It even knows when you are dozing off behind the wheel and would urge you to take a break. Your life couldn't be better protected on any other set of wheels.

Safety Features

• Adaptive Brakelights
• BMW's Active Protection System detects imminent accidents, then prepares by automatically pretensioning safety belts, closing windows and moonroof, and activating post-crash braking; includes Fatigue and Focus Alert.
• Front and rear Head Protection System
• Active Front Headrests
• Driver's and passenger's front airbag supplemental restraint system
• 3-point safety belts with force limiters and head restraints at all seating positions
• Seat-mounted front side-impact airbags
• Acoustic safety-belt warning
• Front safety belts with automatic pretensioners
• LATCH attachments for child-restraint safety installation
• Automatic-locking retractors
• Impact sensor that activates Battery Safety Terminal disconnect of alternator, fuel pump and starter from battery; automatically unlocks doors; and turns on hazard and interior lights
• Daytime Pedestrian Protection
• Frontal Collision Warning with City Collision Mitigation
• Speed Limit Info
• Lane Departure Warning
• Active Blind Spot Detection
• Rear CrossTraffic Alert
• Programmable LED Daytime Running Lights

 

BMW 740e vs Lexus LS 500h

One wouldn't expect a non-European brand to get a luxury sedan quite right, isn't it? Well, Lexus absolutely nailed it with the LC 500h. It looks simply stunning in flesh, certainly the best looking luxury sedan. The interiors are very well crafted and built well and it's sumptuously luxurious like you would expect in this segment. The technology isn't however quite up to the mark, nowhere close to the Beemer.

On the performance front, the Lexus is more powerful, is as quick as the 740e, is better on fuel economy being a hybrid and drives quite well too. Well, on that last note, the Beemer is perhaps just a little better. The best part is that the Lexus LS 500h is significantly cheaper than the 740e and is really a bargain for what you are getting. The Lexus LS 500h would be our choice among the two.

BMW 740e vs Audi A8 L

Very surprisingly, the Audi A8 is the better driving luxury sedan when compared to the BMW. It's not as fast as the Beemer but it certainly has the better dynamics than the Beemer. It is also the most technologically advanced car here with autonomous driving technology and an obsession with digital screens.

That said, it not quite as luxurious as the 740e and perhaps too much technology takes away a lot of the feeling from the A8L. It feels more robotized than a conventional car. It does not look quite that great and the interiors are just full of screens, lacking some classiness. The Beemer too is loaded with technology but it still feels natural in a lot of areas. The Audi A8L is less expensive than the Beemer but the hybrid technology in the Audi is only a mild hybrid system whereas the Beemer is a proper plug-in hybrid. If you really fancy gadgets, the Audi A8L would be your favorite pick but for a proper luxury sedan, the BMW 740e is still the better buy.

BMW 740e vs Porsche Panamera

The Panamera E-hybrid and the BMW 740e are very different cars. While one takes luxury very seriously, the other is quite performance focused. The Porsche Panamera E-hybrid is the fastest sedan here and being a Porsche, it naturally inherits all that dynamics and handling you would expect from a Porsche. On the down side, it rides quite firm and the feeling is nowhere close to the luxurious ride of the 740e. It's not harsh per se, but it's significantly stiff for a luxury sedan.

The Porsche Panamera has become better looking over the years and in its present guise, it perhaps looks the most attractive. The interiors are very finely designed and it comes with a lot of technology and screens too. However, it does not feel near as luxurious as a 740e and it does not even intend to. The Panamera E-hybrid is about going fast with four people in an executive sedan with all creature comforts but not luxury overdone. Priced a little more than the Beemer, a choice between these two is pretty easy. If luxury is all you care about, get the 740e. If you like going fast and if you really want to enjoy driving your executive sedan, buy the Panamera E-hybrid.

The BMW 740e is a pretty good luxury sedan that seems to a lot of things right but does not excel in any particular area. It looks pretty decent, is very well appointed in the interior and performs decently well too. Also its fuel economy is not overwhelmingly good even after being a hybrid. The competition seems to do things better than the 740e.

The Lexus LC500h looks stunningly amazing, the Porsche Panamera E-hybrid has class leading performance and the Audi A8L has the best technology. The Beemer combines all of these but not well enough to make it the best package. Also, it's not even one of the better models in the entire 7 series range. If you are really looking for a hybrid luxury sedan, you should consider looking more into the competition than the 740e itself.