BMW X7 M60i 2023

Between an all-new vehicle's debut and its replacement with a fully redesigned model it typically receives a "midcycle refresh." The manufacturer updates a few bolt-on, easily changed bits, such as bumpers and exterior lights, to achieve a slightly fresher appearance (hence the term "refresh"), and maybe it swaps in some new paint colors, wheel designs, and new features, too. It's all usually just enough to tide a car over a few more years. For 2023, BMW put its relatively new X7 three-row luxury SUV through the rigmarole, stuffing in an all-new dashboard topped by its latest displays, replacing the six- and eight-cylinder engines with new ones, and offering the brand's first-ever 23-inch wheel option. The lineup shrinks from three main variants to two: the six-cylinder X7 xDrive40i and the eight-cylinder X7 M60.

Face It: People Will Be Talking About the X7's Face

Donning our tinfoil hats for a moment, we have a theory: All this newness serves to counterbalance the 2023 BMW X7's most arresting update—its face. We're not saying a conspiracy is afoot, but just look at the X7. BMW going well beyond the usual spate of midcycle changes three years into the new-for-2019 X7's existence has us rubbing our chins and thinking maybe, just maybe, there were some reservations in Munich about how the brutalist mug would play with customers.

After all, BMW's designers appear to have put the pre-refresh X7's headlights, foglights, intakes, and kidney grilles in a blender, then splattered it Jackson Pollock-style all over the SUV's nose. The treatment mimics what BMW did to the latest 7 Series sedan and its electric counterpart, the i7. We're still not quite sure what to make of it all yet, but one thing's for sure: It's hard not to notice the new X7.

Moving Along …

The 2023 BMW X7's cabin remains on the tighter side among full-size luxury three-row SUVs, but BMW's changes have made it a whole lot nicer overall. The ride and handling improve thanks to a retuned (and standard) four-corner air suspension, adaptive dampers, and rear-wheel steering (standard on the M60, optional on the xDrive40i), and the pair of new engines that replace last year's turbocharged I-6 and twin-turbo V-8 choices bring a lot more muscle. While the sales-volume-leading X7, the six-cylinder model, retains its xDrive40i moniker, the V-8 model adopts a new xDrive M60 badge.

During our drive near BMW's Spartanburg, South Carolina, plant, where it builds its X-badged SUV models for America and other global markets, we spent most of our time in the xDrive40i. A brief spin in the 523-hp M60, though fun, mostly reinforced how strong the volume-seller I-6 engine is. The six-cylinder engine itself isn't new, but it is new to the X7, and runs the Miller combustion cycle for reduced fuel consumption, in addition to sporting 48-volt mild-hybrid augmentation. It delivers 40 hp more than the inline-six it replaces, bringing its total output to 375 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque. The majority of X7s are so equipped, and now surge forward with gusto and plenty of power for family-hauling duties (and beyond—go ahead, parents, have a little fun pressing the go-pedal). BMW claims the new six-cylinder X7 is 0.5-second quicker to 60 mph, reaching that speed in 5.8 seconds. As ever, BMW's powertrain polish is excellent, with the I-6 delivering a muted but pleasant snarl and nary a vibration, and pairing beautifully with the retuned eight-speed automatic transmission.

The M60's 4.4-liter V-8 engine is new, too, but produces the same 523 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque as the old X7 M50i's engine. The previously available X7 xDrive50i with a lower-output V-8 disappears from the lineup. With the M60, you really should have a good reason for needing that extra power before you splurge on it, though it also comes with a host of M performance bits and a firmer suspension tune. Oh, and the kidney grilles on the nose light up. Both the I-6 and V-8 are augmented by a 48-volt mild-hybrid setup incorporating a 12-hp, 148-lb-ft electric motor sandwiched between them and the transmission. Not only does this boost low-engine-speed torque, it delivers seamless engine stop-start capability for saving fuel when stationary as well. Speaking of, both engines are more efficient than the ones they replace, elevating fuel economy figures across the board by 1 mpg.

BMW is proud of the newly available 23-inch wheels, a rim-size first for the marque, and though we'd probably skip them—can you imagine replacing a 23-inch tire?—they highlighted the improvements made to the X7's ride. The xDrive40i we spent most of our time in had the big 23s, and other than some tire-slap over expansion joints, and elevated tire noise overall, they didn't seem to have a big impact on the ride, which was more comfortable and better-isolated than before. We noticed the 22s on the more stiffly sprung M60 we drove rode about the same as the 23s on the non-M X7, which suggests the smaller rims (20s are standard) would deliver an even better ride on those less sporty models.

Screentastic Cabin!

The 2023 BMW X7's cabin sees an even more thorough changeover than the brutalist schnoz, adopting a new dashboard with the 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and 14.9-inch touchscreen from the iX electric SUV. Those two displays live in a single curved-glass panel, leaving very few physical buttons elsewhere on the dashboard. A volume knob lives next to some defroster controls below the central screen, headlight controls live to the left of the steering wheel—and that's it. The center console plays host to the starter button, as well as ride-height, drive-mode, and shortcut buttons (plus the iDrive control knob) to key menus.

Integrating what BMW refers to as its "Operating System 8," which is both a software and hardware designation for its latest displays and their underlying electrical architecture, was more involved than finding someplace to mount those screens. Regardless of the effort, the result appears effortless—these screens look as though they belonged here all along. Whereas some refreshed cars' late-add displays can look tacked on or strange, the X7's all-new dashboard looks like it was designed from the outset with these displays in mind. The screens' graphics are sharp, too, as is the touchscreen's response to inputs.

BMW incorporated a few new features, too, including a trailer back-up assist that utilizes the iDrive knob or on-screen touch inputs to "steer" a trailer where you want it to go when backing up, expanded sensor capabilities for the collision warning system, and enhanced "learning" capabilities with which drivers can "record" low-speed parking movements—say, pulling into their driveway and garage—and be able to exit the X7 and send it on its way. Standard equipment grows more generous as well, with every X7 getting heated front seats, a SensaTec (faux-leather)-wrapped dashboard, keyless Comfort Access, a panoramic sunroof, four-zone climate control, and a wireless phone charger.

Pricing for the 2023 BMW X7 comes in at $78,845 for the xDrive40i, while the more powerful M60 starts at $104,095. Both prices include a relatively modest (for 2022, at least) $995 destination and delivery charge—remember, the X7 is built right here in America, so it needn't travel far to reach dealerships. If you dig the new look, the X7 is notably better than it was before, with better engines, better ride quality, and better tech. It's so much more than a typical refresh, even if we wish the styling hadn't gone as far as the other changes.