• Interior is vast with room for seven
• Two seating options available
• Electric adjustment for all seats and boot

How much space is there?

That upright bodywork liberates a considerable amount of interior space, but it’s unlikely you’ll feel inclined to risk damaging the high-quality interior furnishings by turning it into a makeshift van.

All X7s have three rows of seats, just like the similarly sized Audi Q7, Land Rover Discovery and Mercedes-Benz GLS, but BMW offers the option of specifying two individual middle-row captain’s chairs instead of a bench with a trio seats to customers who want a bit more comfort.

With these captain’s chairs, which turns the X7 into a six-seater, you get a much wider range of adjustment and a pair of armrests to feel more like a seat found in the front of the car.

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In either configuration, the middle-row seats are electrically adjustable making them exceptionally comfortable. Having them move forwards out of the way to access the third-row seats is also electrically powered, but they operate at such a pace that you’ll get wet on a rainy day waiting to climb aboard. Passengers in row two can slide the bench back or forth by up to 14.5cm, as well as tilt the backrest, and foot-space is generous with an almost flat floor.

Climbing back to row three is a bit tight, but there’s generous room for fully grown adults once seated (as long as the middle is moved forwards slightly), with armrests, cupholders, heated seats and, optionally, air vents and a climate-control panel. Although the side windows are rather small for the rearmost row, it still feels airy thanks to an elevated view ahead and high roof, a separate glazed roof panel overhead, third-row-specific climate control buttons and ambient lighting strips just like the rest of the cabin.

There are Isofix child-seat anchors too, so you’re not forced to clip small kids into the middle row, which also makes accessing the third row harder. The more opulent six-seat version is more comfortable and spacious for six, and the gap between the seats makes it easier to walk through to the back row – just.

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Boot space and storage

The boot area is spacious, well-trimmed and peppered with electrically powered conveniences. The tailgate is horizontally split – both sections operate electrically – while the lower portion can be used as a seat, able to hold a combined weight of 150kg.

As you would expect, the boot volume is limited (326 litres) when all seven seats are upright with enough space for a couple of squashy overnight bags, but with all rear seats folded, total capacity is a cavernous 2,120 litres. In five-seat mode, it offers 750 litres of space. You can also fold all seats from switches in the boot, saving you clambering around and faffing with levers.

Should you need to load some heavy cargo into the boot, you can also lower the car by 40mm to help slide it in thanks to standard-fit air suspension. If you’d like to use your X7 for towing, then there’s further good news: factory-fitted tow bars are available and all versions can haul up to 3.5 tonnes where trailers are fitted with brakes.

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Safety

• Yet to be tested by Euro NCAP
• Plenty of driver assistance tech available
• Smaller X5 achieved five stars

The X7 hasn’t been tested by Euro NCAP, but the latest X5 has and received a five-star rating, so there’s little reason why the larger, more expensive X7 should fare any differently. A suite of airbags throughout the car should ensure the occupants are kept safe in the event of an accident, while a wide array of safety and driver assistance tech is available.

The standard-fit front collision warning detects oncoming traffic when turning right, as well as pedestrians or cyclists when turning left. Included in the Driving Assistant Professional package and Lane Change Assistant, meanwhile, is Active Cruise Control, Steering and Lane Control Assistant plus Active Lane Change and Merging Assistant.

Also featuring on post facelift X7s is Manoeuvre Assistant. This can store individual manoeuvres that can then be replicated by the car when a pre-determined location is reached. So for example, if you need to navigate your X7 into a tight underground parking spot, the Manoeuvre Assistant can take over the accelerator, steering and gearshifts. From 2023, this will also be available from the BMW mobile app.