Driven: X7 is a step into (and out of) BMW's comfort zone | IOL Motoring

Tallahassee, Florida - This was always going to be an entirely appropriate place to meet the first-ever BMW X7.

While my co-driver quite rightfully remarked how un-BMW-like it seems in concept, the more I thought about it the more it became apparent that there are BMW drivers out there that have big families or junior soccer teams to haul around, and if BMW doesn't build a vehicle for them then they are simply going to migrate to another brand.

The middle row seats can be shifted back and forth, but if you're leaving enough legroom for those behind, then it's not exactly stretch-out spacious, but tolerable perhaps. Buyers can also ditch the three-person middle-bench for twin individual chairs, featuring arm rests and exactly the same adjustment functionality as the front seats.

As for controlling the climate, a four-zone system serving the first two rows is fitted as standard, and buyers can order an additional climate system, with separate controls, for the third row. The M50d is powered by BMW's monstrous quad-turbo 3-litre diesel engine, which produces 294kW and 760Nm, enough to shunt you from 0-100km/h in 5.4 seconds, BMW insists.

But even if you don't tick that option, you can still automatically raise or lower your X7 by 40mm, thanks to the standard air suspension on both axles.Only the xDrive40i six-cylinder and xDrive50i V8 turbopetrol models were available for our test drive , and because it was a long-distance road trip across four states, no off-roading was on the agenda, although having experienced the Off-Road package in the X5, we can vouch for it being surprisingly capable in the rough.

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