3 Reasons to Buy (and 2 Reasons to Avoid) the 2023 BMW 7 Series, According to MotorTrend

As BMW’s flagship luxury sedan gets its most significant overhaul in years, it comes with a host of new tech and divisive looks. But pushing boundaries is inherent to the BMW 7 Series lineage. With the 2023 BMW 7 Series, luxury takes center stage inside, giving you features you didn’t realize you wanted. Here, we break down MotorTrend’s analysis of the latest BMW 7 Series to see why you should consider this large barge for your next full-size sedan.

Reasons the 2023 BMW 7 series is a good choice

That rear-Seat screen

If you’re truly living in the lap of luxury, the 2023 BMW 7 Series boasts a wealth of back-seat appointments. Let someone else handle the driving while you track the latest business news or plan your next European excursion. You can also host video calls from the back seat of your 7 Series thanks to the built-in Wifi. All of this takes place on a massive 32-inch display that flips down from the ceiling. And before you worry about your driver using the rearview mirror, know that there’s a digital mirror display up there, so your screen isn’t inhibiting their rear view.

Luxurious seats everywhere in the 2023 BMW 7 Series

Whether you’ve decided to give your chauffeur the day off or you’re riding comfortably in the back, the 2023 7 Series surrounds you in comfort. All four main seating positions get heat, ventilation, and massage to relax and comfort you in any weather. You can even recline the rear seats, and the executive seating option adds a luxe center console complete with a drink cooler.

Chassis Refinement

The previous BMW 7 Series was soft to a fault. Wallowy and vague, it went beyond ultra-luxurious into uninspired territory. With the new 7, BMW has improved engagement without losing comfort. The chassis gets sharper with revised damping and geometry, while the seats help maintain that sense of premium comfort you expect. In 2023, the 7 Series isn’t just a cozy ride. It recalls classic BMW emotion in equal measure.

Why to avoid the 2023 BMW 7 Series

It looks like…that

BMW designers took a risk with the new 7 Series design. Much like other radical BMW designs of recent memory, the new 7 is the mayonnaise of the auto enthusiast world. You either love it or hate it. Inherently, it feels mismatched.  Some ugly cars are ugly for a reason. Take the pig-snout BMW M cars, for example. But with all of the objectively excellent improvements inside the 2023 BMW 7 Series, the exterior look seems radical for radical’s sake.

Legendary engines get the boot

Both the exhilarating V12 and plug-in hybrid engine choices are absent in the 2023 BMW 7 Series. While we can accept the V12 disappearing as times change, losing the plug-in hybrid is truly disappointing. The all-electric i7 is on the horizon, but a plug-in hybrid is an accessible way to test drive electrification, and its loss feels like a misstep for the brand.d

Buy it for luxury, not for looks

If you demand the ultimate luxury driving (or riding) experience, the 2023 BMW 7 Series is the executive sedan you’ll want. But if you’re looking for something that will make you smile in the driveway, you may want to pass on the flagship BMW four-door.