Plum Crazy
When you talk about a big luxury SUV, the very first vehicle that comes to mind is the opulent BMW X7. The X7 is the flagship premium transport chosen by many a government official or billionaire businessman, used to whisk them around town to their next big meeting.
Related: The extravagant BMW X7 launches in SA
The X7 is so much more than a 5 star mobile meeting room though and can also hold its own in a straight line drag race and can even tackle off-road terrain if needed, traits which bely it's city-slicker nature.
We took this heavily spec'ed offering on a tour around town to see if this is the type of car you drive or get driven in.
Styling
The first thing you immediately notice about this X7 is that it is not black or white or even silver but rather this stunning Ametrine Metallic colour. The name references a type of gemstone I believe but to me it looks like a plum-purple which is very good looking and stands out from the bevy of dull monotone colours available today on just about every make and model.
Upfront it is equipped with BMW's signature massive grille which has divided opinion so much as of late but on the voluminous X7 is not that noticeable. The laser headlights add a touch of technology while the brushed brass finish on the grille and insets completes the look of the front bumper. The X7 does look somewhat slab sided and has a blocky side profile, this is no sleek supercar but rather a brute that does not slice through the air so much as punch its way through.
The relevant M badging is in place as well as a set of 22 inch wheels that let you know that despite its size, this is still a sports vehicle.
The Drive
There is a tremendous sense of power that one gets when you have enough torque under your right foot to move a small moon. Jam your foot down on the accelerator from a standing start and the X7 lifts up its skirts and heads for the horizon. It does this with barely a hint to those inside but for those on the outside its all sound and fury.
In Sport mode there is a bark from the exhaust on up and down shifts with a firmer ride, flipping it over into Comfort, things calm down a bit and the the ride becomes as soft and supple as your favourite lounge chair. This is thanks to the air suspension and chassis control meaning that the X7 can go from punishing bruiser to light fluffy cloud at the flip of a switch.
Performance
The M50i is of course the top end of the X7 offering, being powered by a 4.4l V8 petrol engine mated to an 8 speed Step-Tronic auto transmission. The drive train will churn out 390kW and 750Nm which is more than ample to propel the X7 around town and blow past just about anyone on the freeway.
The X7's off-road prowess is very often overlooked with its AWD system, it can take on light obstacles, it has a 25 degree approach angle, 18 degree break over and 22 degree departure angle, enough to handle the worst, potholed, rural road.
Should you desire to get somewhere quickly, 0-100km is dispatched in 4.7 seconds and you could theoretically hit a top speed of 250km/h but I don't know why you would. Although the X7 is capable of aggressive speed it is ultimately built for comfort and convenience and that you will get in spades.
Space and Comfort
The X7 is big, at just over 5m long, 2m wide and just under 2m high, space is not an issue. The interior is draped in a plush Cognac coloured leather and very comfortably seats four due the rear seats being single units. A flick of a switch and the third row seating raises from the 750l boot floor allowing space for another two. The rear passengers each get a media screen which are connected to a DVD player and also feature the interior controls for the rear passengers convenience settings and individual climate control.
Driver and passenger each get heated and cooled massaging seats as well as the Bowers and Wilkens audio system with gesture control. There is of course wireless Apple Car Play and Android Auto, Bluetooth connect, satellite navigation, hands free electric tail gate, lower opening mini tailgate and a host of other amenities to long to list here.
The rest of the interior is as opulent as you would think with brushed aluminium controls, crystal inserts, wood grain paneling and velour carpeting, just being a passenger is an experience unto itself.
Safety
With all that power and luxury you can bet that BMW has packed the X7 with safety features. You get 7 airbags, ISOfix on the rear seat, surround view camera, tyre pressure monitoring and a full spare wheel. ABS (anti lock brakes), TCS (traction and stability control) , BSM (blind spot monitoring) , hill start and decent control as well lane keeping assist, night vision and traffic sign recognition.
Due to the obvious size, the X7 is equipped with parking assist as well as PDC (park distance control) to help you manoeuvre through the tightest of shopping mall parking garages.
Fuel Consumption
One would think that with a great big 4.4l V8 upfront and pulling around just over 3 tons, that the fuel economy wouldn't be so great. BMW claims 11.6l / 100km, and heres the surprising thing, our mixed driving returned just 14.5l /100km which is not bad at all considering the two factors above. I suspect that with open road cruising at the national limit, on a downhill, with a tailwind you could get down to the claimed figure but in real world testing you can expect a decent return of 14- 15l /100km.
Price
The stock standard X7 M50i will set you back R 2 055 000.00 but you will most likely want options. In the case of our test unit it was spec'ed to the hilt to the tune of R 324 300.00 bringing the total cost up to R 2 397 642.00. You will get BMW's 2 year / Unlimited km warranty and a 5 year / 100 000km service and maintenance plan.
Verdict
The X7 M50i is a Jekyll and Hyde machine. It's sheer brute power and dynamism calls for you to drive it but once you sample the luxury in the back you will constantly wish that you had a chauffeur. If you have the means, the X7 M50i is the pinnacle of premium motoring offering a thrilling experience both behind the wheel or as a passenger.
*Pricing correct at time of publication*
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