This is, by some way, the biggest car BMW has ever made. In size terms, it's a fraction larger than a Range Rover and a fraction smaller than the SUV that's probably this X7's closest rival, the Mercedes GLS. This BMW is 5.15m long and 1.81m high - compare that to an X5, which is 4.92m long and 1.75m high. There's a full 2-metres of width too. Like the X5, the X7 rolls down the production lines of BMW's US Spartanburg plant.

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Inside, you sit high and the rear window seems a long way off. Most of the cabin technology and architecture is predictably shared with the X5 - principally the 12.3-inch digital screens used for the centre-dash monitor and the instrument cluster - and there's a huge part-opening glass roof to flood the cabin with light. There's obviously plenty of middle row space (the centre row slides fore and aft) and even those consigned to the third row seats won't feel too short-changed, though getting to them past the forward edge of the rear wheel arch can be challenging. The standard boot capacity is 326-litres. Drop the two rear seating rows and 2,121-litres of carriage space is freed up. A button in the luggage compartment activates a loading mode that lowers the car by 40mm.

Market and Model
Prices start at around £72,000 for the base xDrive30d diesel variant with 265hp. A couple of thousand more gets you the 340hp petrol-powered xDrive40i. You'll need to find over £87,000 if you want the quad-turbo 400hp M50d diesel. All models get seven seats, 8-speed Steptronic auto transmission, xDrive all-wheel drive, air suspension and an electrically-operated panoramic glass roof. Most will want 'M Sport' trim, which gets you an M Sport steering wheel and a BMW Individual headliner in anthracite-coloured Alcantara, plus M-specific detailing for the pedals and driver's footrest.

An M Sport differential is fitted as standard on the M50d and in conjunction with the optional Off-Road package. This electronically controlled rear differential lock also hooks up with the DSC system. This set-up combines to reduce understeer and makes a notable difference when exiting corners. It also increases traction on loose surfaces or roads that require differing levels of grip for the left and right rear wheels. The optional Driving Assistant Professional package includes Cruise Control with braking function, as well as the Collision and Pedestrian Warning with City Braking that can alert the driver when a cyclist is detected, are standard. The optional Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function can bring car to a halt then set it back on its way automatically.

Cost of Ownership
If you've heard talk that diesel engines are planet-polluting brutes, then shelve that for a moment while you examine the black pump-fuelled powerplants on offer here because they're nothing like that. BMW's raft of technological measures includes turbochargers with variable inlet geometry and common-rail direct injection systems operating at pressures of up to 2,500 bar. All model variants comply with the requirements of the EU6d-Temp emissions standard. We'll quote as usual what we've been given, which are fuel figures compiled under the strict WLTP standard and CO2 readings generated through the rather less strict NEDC cycle. The xDrive30d manages 43.5mpg on the combined cycle and 171g/km of CO2. For the M50d, the figures are 40.4mpg and 185g/km. For the xDrive40i petrol, you're looking at 32.5mpg and 198g/km.

What else might you need to know? Well, routine maintenance is dictated by 'Condition Based Servicing' that monitors oil level and engine wear, taking into account how long it's been and how far the car has travelled since its previous garage visit. You can check all of this using menus in the 'iDrive' centre-dash display and the car will give you four weeks' notice of when a check-up is needed so you have plenty of time to book it. To help plan ahead for the cost of regular work, at point of purchase you'll be offered a 'BMW Service Inclusive' package that lasts for three years and 36,000 miles.

Summary
Really exotic super-luxury SUVs like the Bentley Bentayga, the Lamborghini Urus, the Rolls Royce Cullinan and the Range Rover are all very well, but they only actually seat five people. If you want to seat seven with ultimate SUV luxury and you want something a bit nicer than, say, an Audi Q7 or a Volvo XC90, up until now, your only option was the Mercedes GLS. Now though, we think you'll be drawn to this X7.

There'll be plenty of people who'll say that this car is too big for our market. They said that about the Mercedes GLS when it was launched and were proved wrong: they will be again here. Bavaria's most imposing piece of automotive real estate will have a distinctive appeal if you like the brand's cool sporting vibe, have a large family and want the very best. Size matters. But then you always knew that didn't you.

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