The BMW i7 has been embraced wholeheartedly by India’s ultra-high-net-worth buyers. Since its launch in 2023, it has dominated the high-end luxury sedan space, and interestingly, has consistently outsold its own petrol sibling. In fact, around 60 percent of 7 Series buyers have opted for the EV. With the 2026 i7 now being locally assembled in India and the i7 50 xDrive priced at Rs 1.95 crore, exactly at par with the petrol 740, BMW expects the scales to tilt even further in favour of the electric version.

BMW has also introduced the significantly more powerful i7 M70 xDrive. However, as a full import priced at Rs 2.65 crore, it commands a substantial Rs 70 lakh premium, which is likely to limit its appeal. For most buyers then, the locally assembled i7 50 xDrive is expected to remain the sweet spot of the range.

BMW i7 50 xDrive Exterior Design and Engineering – 8/10

BMW has made substantial changes to the i7’s styling. The DRLs are now longer and slimmer, and feature a crystalline effect that looks absolutely stunning up close. The oversized kidney grille has also been redesigned and, like before, remains illuminated. The air dam adopts a more rectangular design, the headlamps are vertically oriented, and the excessive black treatment has been done away with completely.

New 20-inch alloy wheels replace the outgoing version’s 21-inch units. While some might argue they appear slightly undersized, owners are unlikely to complain given the ride comfort benefits that come with the higher-profile tyres.

Like the front, the rear has also been cleaned up. There’s a new diffuser, broader tail-lamps, and a neater bumper design. Overall, this iteration looks significantly more palatable than its predecessor, and in the optional two-tone paint finish of our test car, road presence was immense.

BMW i7 50 xDrive Interior Space and Comfort – 9/10

The i7’s dashboard has been completely redesigned, adding much-needed freshness while also previewing the direction BMW’s future interiors are expected to take. The biggest talking point is the deletion of the conventional instrument cluster. In its place sits a new panoramic head-up display positioned right at the base of the windscreen, projecting a wealth of information. It is highly customisable and, besides essentials like speed, charge status and warnings, can display motor speed, navigation, compass information, audio details, date and time, outside temperature, air quality, or even one of BMW’s Art Cars as a decorative element in the remaining six slots. The display is sharp, brilliantly executed, and sits naturally within your field of vision without becoming distracting.

As for design, the new steering wheel is far more divisive. Its octagonal shape, combined with spokes extending from the horn boss at the 12 and 6 o’clock positions, makes it look unconventional. The light-coloured finish is also likely to be difficult to keep clean — you may even find yourself asking your chauffeur to wear gloves. On the plus side, it feels pleasant to hold, and the controls, though limited in number and not individual buttons, are satisfying to use.

There’s also a new 17.9-inch free-standing touchscreen along with a smaller passenger display, both adopting a parallelogram shape. Curiously, the top-right corner of the central screen appears as though it has been chipped off, although that isn’t actually the case. Generous ambient lighting, crystalline detailing for the drive selector, volume controller and start-stop button, silver speaker grilles, and an overall light-coloured cabin theme further elevate the sense of luxury.

Expectedly, the seats are supremely comfortable. All four seats get heating, ventilation and massage functions. Additionally, the rear-left seat features a one-touch relaxation mode that transforms it into a lounge-like position, complete with a raised ottoman, a fully-forward front passenger seat, and a fold-down footrest. Sadly, like the outgoing model, the spare wheel remains mounted on the boot floor, significantly compromising luggage capacity.

BMW i7 50 xDrive Features and Safety – 10/10

The i7 50 M Sport comes loaded with virtually every feature luxury sedan buyers could ask for. The new panoramic end-to-end head-up display replaces the conventional instrument cluster and is not only unique and highly customisable, but also exceptionally well executed. The 17.9-inch touchscreen is new too, and now benefits from additional shortcut keys in addition to permanently displayed climate-control functions, making it marginally easier to operate than before. However, the user interface still feels somewhat overwhelming, with an abundance of functions buried within multiple sub-menus.

Also new is a front passenger entertainment display, though we suspect it will be of limited relevance to most owners. The new 31.3-inch 8K rear theatre screen, on the other hand, is likely to see much greater use, particularly on longer journeys.

Carried over from the outgoing version and continuing to add a sense of occasion are the powered doors, which open and close at the touch of a button.

The highlight, however, is the outstanding Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System with Dolby Atmos and a whopping 35 speakers. It even delivers a 4D experience, with a pronounced thump felt through all four seats. The result is an incredibly immersive audio experience that is sure to impress even the most discerning audiophile.

BMW i7 50 xDrive Performance and Refinement – 9/10

The i7 50 xDrive uses a dual-motor setup producing a combined 483hp and 660Nm, which is more than adequate for a luxury sedan of this nature. There’s rarely any need to switch out of Efficient mode because there is always a vast reserve of torque available. The effortless performance feels reassuring, while the accelerator calibration is smooth and progressive during everyday driving.

Press the accelerator beyond the halfway mark and the i7 takes off like a scalded cat. Acceleration is rapid, with this 2.8-tonne luxury sedan sprinting from 0-100kph in just 5.5 seconds and reaching 200kph in a shade under 19 seconds. Owners can also choose to activate synthetic motor sounds that play through the speakers, adding a dramatic, sci-fi soundtrack to acceleration. These can be switched off entirely for a completely silent experience.

There are multiple regenerative braking settings, including Adaptive, High, Mid and Low. Of these, Adaptive stands out for its excellent calibration, intelligently varying regeneration and coasting based on traffic and road conditions. There’s also a dedicated one-pedal ‘B’ mode selectable via the drive selector. It delivers regeneration similar to the High setting but, unlike it, can bring the car to a complete stop without any brake pedal input.

BMW i7 50 xDrive Range and Efficiency – 9/10

The i7 50 xDrive gets a larger 112.5kWh battery pack with NMC cell chemistry, replacing the outgoing version’s 101.7kWh unit. As a result, this version claims a WLTP range of up to 728km. Although we haven’t yet subjected it to our range tests, we expect it to comfortably deliver over 500km in real-world conditions, which is more than sufficient for most users. BMW claims the battery can charge from 10-80 percent in 28 minutes using a 250kW (or higher) DC fast charger. On a 22kW AC charger, a full charge takes approximately six hours.

BMW i7 50 xDrive Ride Comfort and Handling – 10/10

Piloting the i7 may initially seem intimidating given its considerable dimensions, but its light steering and rear-axle steering significantly aid manoeuvrability. The latter allows the rear wheels to turn either with or against the fronts by up to 3.5 degrees, helping the car feel remarkably agile for its size.

What’s truly impressive is the pillowy ride quality. The thick, high-profile tyres add another layer of cushioning, allowing the i7 to shrug off even badly broken roads with ease. It absorbs potholes effortlessly, keeps road shocks well isolated, and maintains excellent body control. Passengers are also spared the uncomfortable side-to-side movements over unusually rough patches.

Selecting Sport mode does firm things up slightly, but while the air suspension becomes tauter and body control improves further, ride comfort never suffers. Handling feels predictable and, thanks to xDrive all-wheel drive, the i7 feels exceptionally planted and offers impressive grip when tackling corners. Rear-wheel steering also does a remarkable job of disguising its size.

In short, the i7 can be driven surprisingly enthusiastically, and for a luxo-barge, it drives exceptionally well. We would, however, recommend leaving the steering in Comfort mode, as it feels unnecessarily heavy in Sport.

Sport mode also lowers the ride height by 10mm from the standard 136mm setting. While beneficial for dynamics, it makes the underbody vulnerable even on relatively small speed breakers. Thankfully, two taps on the touchscreen raise the suspension by 20mm over the standard setting, allowing it to clear all but the most poorly designed obstacles. Cabin insulation is outstanding too, keeping road, wind and ambient noise effectively isolated from occupants.

BMW i7 50 xDrive Price and Verdict – 9/10

At Rs 1.95 crore, the locally assembled i7 50 xDrive is priced exactly at par with the petrol-powered 740 and is even a few lakhs more affordable than its chief rival, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Yet pricing alone isn’t what makes the i7 such a compelling proposition.

What truly sets it apart is the sheer sense of occasion it delivers. Its styling is bold, the cabin feels genuinely special, ride comfort is exceptional, and the level of technology on offer significantly elevates its desirability. Add to that an extraordinary audio system and the effortless refinement that only a luxury EV can deliver, and the i7 feels every bit the flagship it is.

Yes, luggage space remains compromised by the spare wheel placement, and the touchscreen interface isn’t quite as intuitive as that of its chief rival. But in this segment, neither is likely to be a deal-breaker.

The bigger takeaway is that BMW has successfully made the electric version of its flagship sedan the more desirable one. For buyers seeking luxury, comfort and technology, the i7 50 xDrive isn’t merely an excellent EV, it’s quite simply all the luxury car you’ll ever need.