Introduced in 2018, the X7, along with its sedan sibling, the 7 Series, introduced the enormous BMW Kidney Grille up front, a design element that is making its way down to smaller BMW products. Its controversial looks aside, there is no denying that the X7 is an ultra-luxurious SUV that offers the raised ride height and space that buyers in this market are after.
|
|
BMW X7 M50d |
BMW X7 M50i |
|
Engine |
3.0-litre, 6-cylinder, quad-turbo diesel |
4.4-litre, 8-cylinder, twin-turbo petrol |
|
Power/Torque |
294kW/ 760Nm |
390kW/ 750Nm |
|
Transmission Type |
8-speed automatic |
8-speed automatic |
|
Driven wheels |
All |
All |
|
Fuel Consumption (claimed) |
7.3 L/100 km |
11.6 L/100 km |
|
0-100km/h(claimed) |
5.4 seconds |
4.7 seconds |
|
Price |
R2 068 386 |
R2 078 460 |
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Five models, three engines
The X7 range consists of a line-up that includes five models, four trim levels and three engines. For our comparison, we are going to exclude the X7 xDrive30d models, of which there are three, leaving us with the two M Performance models that are identical in terms of standard specification and are very similar in terms of their respective list prices.
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The petrol
The engine under the bonnet of the X7 M50i is a de-tuned 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine shared with the M5 and M8 Competition models. It still produces a mammoth 390 kW and 750 Nm of torque though, which is sent through all four wheels by an 8-speed torque converter automatic. Despite weighing in at over 2 500kg, the M50i is not short on performance, sprinting to 100km/h faster than many performance cars with a figure of 4.7 seconds. Its heft and large engine mean that you’ll pay at the pumps, with the claimed consumption figure of 11.6 L/100km.
The diesel
The diesel model badged the M50d, features a soon-to-be-discontinued engine that is one of the most insane engineering exercises undertaken by BMW. The 3.0-litre diesel motor in the M50d features no less than four turbochargers, all designed to eliminate lag, optimise performance, and reduce fuel consumption. With 294kW and 760Nm of torque, the M50d strikes an impressive balance between performance and fuel economy, sprinting to 100km/h in a claimed 5.4 seconds while sipping fuel at a rate of 7.3 L/100km.
Analysis
Picking between these two X7 models may come down to a matter of personal preference as their respective features' lists are identical. Niceties such as air suspension, 21-inch wheels, a head-up display, panoramic roof, electric seats, LED headlights and a surround-view camera system are just some of the standard specification items fitted to both vehicles.
Looking at the figures, we see that the turbo petrol model offers a performance edge while the diesel variant offers improved fuel consumption. The M50i and M50d can both tow 3 500kg, offer 221mm of ground clearance and seven airbags as standard. Both models feature a 5-year/ 100 000km maintenance plan and 2-year unlimited distance warranty as standard too.
Verdict
When we consider that these are both large, luxury SUVs with a performance twist, one may be tempted to go for the faster and more powerful petrol. However, with over 1000km of fuel range on a single tank, a mountain of overtaking torque and a marginally lower list price, the M50d offers all the right ingredients one might want from a sporty seven-seat luxury SUV, leading to it taking the victory in this comparison.
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