The BMW 7 Series range has long been regarded as the epitome of luxury transport, offering plenty of space and technology to go with highly refined progress and potent performance.

For the latest generation of its largest saloon, BMW took the bold decision to dispense entirely with conventional petrol and diesel engines. Today the bulk of 7 Series offerings are of the fully-electric i7 variety, but for those still not prepared to make the complete step to electric there is a plug-in hybrid model, the 750e.

This is now effectively the entry-level to 7 Series motoring, which gives an idea of just where this car sits in the business motoring pantheon as all versions command six-figure prices. It has to be said, however, that driving a 750e one does not feel as if one is in anything like an entry-level car…

First impressions

The 7 Series has always commanded an impressive visual presence and the current generation takes that to new levels. This is a big car, almost 5.4 metres long and 2.2 metres wide, with a front end in particular boasting such a large grille that as a driver of another car you would be forgiven for feeling intimidated as it approaches in the rear-view mirror.

Design

Generally the design of the 7 Series is geared to announcing the car’s presence, something it certainly achieves. The grille is perhaps the most controversial aspect – in an age when such front ends are disappearing altogether with the switch to electric, BMW goes against the grain with a front view of such dominance that will certainly divide opinions.

It is this marmite styling that has produced the most comments about the 7 Series as a whole – the front end is certainly, well distinctive, particularly when compared to the rather slab-sided profile and almost ordinary rear.

Interior

The interior of the 750e is well constructed and plush, as you would expect from BMW, though our reviewer was somewhat bemused by some of the trim – the combination of wood and cut glass merges into finely cut metal plate in a chequer pattern over the audio speakers. The individual slots and holes of the ‘crystal detailing’ are impressive, though seemingly slightly random, and they do feel rather coarse in an environment where they are surrounded by surfaces softer to the touch.

The driver’s environment is particularly impressive, both the digital driving information display and the central infotainment touchscreen contained on one long panel that sweeps across the front cabin in a gentle curve.

Unfortunately, however, BMW is one of those manufacturers that has dived fully into the touchscreen era, so that such basics as adjusting the interior temperature requires employing either the screen or the big rotary control at the base of the centre console – between the two a whole host of functions are looked after and adjustments can be a bit fiddly. A simple dial for such essentials as the climate control temperature would have been preferable and quicker to use.

Rear-seat passengers travelling in our test car will no doubt be impressed by the fact that each gets their own touchscreen, built into the inside of the door and allowing them to adjust seats, temperatures and entertainment to their personal preference – it’s a bit like the kind of environment one gets when turning left instead of right when boarding a plane…

The 750e also ticks much more basic boxes – while space in the rear cabin is very generous indeed, it’s matched by the gargantuan boot of 525 litres, outstretching its main rivals.

Equipment

Time is long past when to buy a BMW was to spend hours perusing over an options list that ran to many pages – today such choices are mainly focused on seat finishes and colours with plenty of the technology once considered an expensive desirable extra now included as standard.

As an example our test car includes a smartphone wireless charging tray, head-up display, interior camera, an impressive sound system and all sorts of electric adjustment on the seats.

In truth choosing the M Sport trim level of the Business Motoring test car over the Excellence specification does not add that much of significance. The alloy wheels grow from 19 to 20 inches and it gains such niceties as a leather steering wheel, spoiler and paint options, helping to convince onlookers that you are driving one of the brand’s renowned M cars and not what is actually the slowest car in the 7 Series range, even with a sub five-second 0-62mph time.

Of course being a top-level BMW there are several desirables available as extras, especially if the car’s intended purpose is for high-end chauffeured transport. The Executive Pack, a whisker over £11,000, adds ventilation to all the seats and features that transform the rear into what BMW describes as an ‘executive lounge’ with such delights as a rear console, roller sunblinds, massaging seats and even a theatre screen which folds down from the inside of the roof and measures more than 30 inches, enabling rear-seat passengers to plug in their own devices and while away motorway miles with visual entertainment.

There is also the Sky Lounge Pack, which for £890 adds a panoramic glass sunroof, and the Technology Plus Pack, with extra driving aids, a Parking Assistant and an upgraded Bowers & Wilkins surround-sound audio system. This adds close to £6,000 to the price.

Safety

The BMW 7 Series is one of the few models that has not been subjected to a Euro NCAP crash test programme. That said, being a BMW it comes with a full specification of safety equipment including a long list of ADAS safety aids, so we reckon it would not disappoint if it under went the crash-test programme.

Powertrain

The 750e mates BMW’s established six-cylinder turbocharged 3-litre petrol engine to an electric motor mounted in the transmission and powered by a 18.7 kWh battery. Fully charged this will allow this big and heavy car (tipping the scales at just under 2.5 tonnes) to cover up to just shy of 50 miles on electric power alone.

The car is all-wheel-drive, and very swift indeed. A total of 498hp, combined with 700Nm of torque, results in this heavyweight completing the 0-62mph sprint in a mere 4.9 seconds, and going onto an electrically limited 155mph.

In terms of fuel economy, and ignoring the official WLTP figures which for plug-in hybrids are virtually meaningless, the 750e averaged in the mid 30s during our week with it and will get close to 40mpg on longer runs at constant speed

On the road

Once in the driver’s seat one gets an initial firm impression of being in a big car, but this soon dissipates as the 750e is such a delightful car to drive – in fact the petrol part of the powertrain is so smooth and quiet in operation it feels more like driving a full EV.

The 750e is right up with the best in terms of refinement, riding on standard-fit air suspension and with changes in the auto transmission almost impossible to notice. Carrying the company management in the rear seats will not be a concern to any driver employed on chauffeuring duties…

A choice of driving modes is available, with names some of which are familiar, such as ‘Sport’ and others less so, such as ‘Expressive’ and ‘Relax’ – has BMW been taking lessons from sister brand Mini? In the standard hybrid mode it works very well, using electric power at slow speeds and letting the engine do the work when power is needed on the motorway.

While this is a motorway cruiser par excellence, it responds very well if driven more enthusiastically. Excellent grip from the all-wheel-drive chassis and finely tuned suspension help keep the car poised and upright in corners, belying just how much weight you are propelling through a bend. All in all it’s very impressive.

Costs

BMW 750e prices start at £105,510 on the road for the Excellence model, with our M Sport variant retailing at £110,010 before options are added. With an all-electric range of 48 miles and 26g/km CO2 emissions it attracts a 2025-26 benefit-in-kind tax rate of 9%.

Costing almost three times the Expensive Car Supplement deadline of £40,000 it will of course be subject to vehicle excise duty of £510 per year after year one – something that probably matters less to buyers at this end of the market.

Summary

The 750e certainly ticks all of the luxury limousine boxes – it is supremely comfortable to travel in, swift enough for most and brimming with lots of the luxury technology one expects to find at this level.

The car is not quite as good as its fully-electric sister, which is not really that much more expensive all things considered. It’s also a very expensive proposition overall. But the plug-in hybrid 7 Series does offer plenty of credentials to keep it well up at the top of the executive saloon market.

Business Motoring First Drives are the initial test of a new vehicle, of usually between 50 and 100 miles. Business Motoring Full Reviews are usually conducted over a full week, completing several hundred miles.