The BMW 7 Series Returns to Take on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class in Petrol PHEV Format

The BMW 7 Series has returned to take on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, this time in petrol PHEV format. The M760e is a luxurious saloon that offers a surprisingly characterful growl from its straight-six engine, giving it an air of interest that plug-in hybrids frequently avoid. The car is powered by a 3.0-litre engine, supplemented by a gearbox-mounted electric motor with a 22.1kWh (gross) battery slung under the floor. Although not as big as the X5 50e’s 25.7kWh, the M760e still manages between 46-48 miles on a charge, making it a great option for those who want to drop into the 8% benefit-in-kind tax bracket.

Multiple Powertrains, Same Car

As ever with BMW, the strategy here is multiple powertrains, same car. So the 760e on test sits on the same CLAR platform as the i7 and indeed the pure-ICE cars that are available in other parts of the world. The UK misses out on the diesel and mild-hybrid options like the V8 760i, but a lesser 750e is available here. All cars come as standard with four-wheel drive and air suspension.

Luxurious Interior

This generation of the 7 Series is long wheelbase only (at 3215mm), so inside there is plenty of rear leg room. The car has an optional £11,025 Executive pack, which means the incredible 31in drop-down rear screen and airline-style reclining chairs. It’s certainly one heck of a statement piece, but it would be nice if the screen was a bit further away. As it is, it feels a bit like sitting in the front row of the cinema. All cars also come with touchscreens in the rear doors, dubbed BMW Touch Command, which work well and double as another way to keep the kids entertained. Up front, life is equally luxurious. The leather feels suitably soft and expensive, while the vast wraparound screen works well in a car of this size. Climate controls are in the touchscreen, but at least the major functions such as media and nav can be controlled by buttons next to the iDrive controller.

Smooth and Seamless Ride

This M760e starts under electric-only propulsion and is, as ever, smooth in this mode. The engine, when it fires, is also barely noticeable (unless you push on, as we discovered earlier) and it’s a great companion for wafting. The acceleration doesn’t feel quite as impressive as the headline 0-62mph time would have you believe (4.3sec), but it’s certainly no slouch. Gearchanges are smooth and seamless and, combined with the ‘fill’ of the electric motor, it’s an uninterrupted accelerative curve towards motorway speeds. Minimal drama, but that’s what you want here.

Trade-Off in Ride Quality

The ride quality of the M760e isn’t quite up there with the electric i7. The PHEV car thrums across ridges more and doesn’t do quite such an easy job of isolating the worst of the Tarmac. Where the i7 has the most wonderfully cushioned damping, this M760e lets the wheel movement enter into the cockpit a bit more, especially under load. If the car is accelerating hard or weighted up in a corner, the air suspension seems unable to cope with the unsprung mass as well as the i7. The upside is a chassis that isn’t quite as susceptible to roll as the weightier i7’s but there’s no disguising the still sizeable heft of the M760e over a series of switchbacks, despite the accurate steering doing its best to keep things in check.

Conclusion

In other words, the trade-off in the ride isn’t worth the upside in a slightly better driver’s car. As such, and despite the interesting engine note, the i7 remains the exec 7 Series of choice. The BMW 7 Series is a luxurious saloon that offers a surprisingly characterful growl from its straight-six engine. The car is powered by a 3.0-litre engine, supplemented by a gearbox-mounted electric motor with a 22.1kWh (gross) battery slung under the floor. Although not as big as the X5 50e’s 25.7kWh, the M760e still manages between 46-48 miles on a charge, making it a great option for those who want to drop into the 8% benefit-in-kind tax bracket.