You don’t know a automotive till you’ve roadtripped it. That’s at all times been our mantra and one which we apply as a lot as doable with something we drive and write about. And for us the final word highway journey often concerned a number of days, unimaginable surroundings, difficult roads and one thing energetic alongside the way in which. So a plan was hatched to move from Chicago to Yellowstone, as much as Montana and again. Myself, my two sons and loads of mountaineering and tenting gear. We simply wanted to seek out the final word roadtrip machine.

Given the size of the journey and the state of the charing infrastructure within the US, we couldn’t go electrical. And figuring out we’d be off highway occasionally and a hatch would turn out to be useful, one in all BMW’s SAVs (crossovers) made probably the most sense. 

The X3 is probably the most economical and rewarding when it comes to the drive however with two of us at 6’2″ it wouldn’t have been probably the most comfy selection. The X5 might have simply been the candy spot however we had our eyes on what we might name the final word roadtrip machine. 

Enter the BMW X7 M60i

The primary ever X7 with an actual M engine, The BMW X7 M60i has 523 hp (at 5,500–6,000 rpm and 553 lb⋅ft (at 1,800–4,600 rpm). That motivates the 5,895 lbs M60i to 60 mph in solely 4.7 seconds. Given the dimensions and weight of the X7 that feels appropriately fast.

In a transfer that seemingly will enable for additional energy bumps, this engine has been detuned from the 617 hp is makes within the present M5 Competitors and has similar energy to the non-M engineered V8 that was within the pre-LCI X7 50i. So what’s the distinction? Noticeably faster responsiveness, faster revs and a broader energy and torque band. Oh and it additionally begins up within the conventional M method – aggressively loud.

Additionally new within the M60i is a revised suspension, M exhaust, M compound brakes and a number of M styling accents. The result’s an attention-grabbing dichotomy between a big luxurious crossover and a muscle automotive. Fortunately the latter solely exposes itself when referred to as up making the M60i docile and finally very livable. 

The 2024 BMW X7 LCI – What’s New?

The 2023 BMW X7 is a radical refresh of an already profitable product. Simply three years into its lifecycle, the X7 has far exceeded BMW’s expectations of gross sales and as at occasions even flirted with eclipsing your complete MINI model’s gross sales within the US. However BMW is consistently transferring and evolving as a model. A type of more moderen evolutions was leaning into luxurious and separating the very best finish segments from its smaller, extra reasonably priced merchandise. And a part of that’s creating a definite face of luxurious and class. Queue the 2023 BMW X7.

The entrance fascia is a giant change. However in particular person the size of the automotive mixed with the dimensionality of the entrance altered our quick impressions. In brief the brand new look works on the X7 primarily as a result of it’s such a big automobile and one that’s inherently extroverted. The brand new format truly has a shrinking impact to the entrance of the automotive when it comes to top and seems to present it a extra angular, emotional look. Whereas it gained’t be to everybody’s style, this new path for the X7 is actually greatest judged in particular person.

The 2024 BMW X7 M60i Inside

Inside the obvious add is the IX’s massive curved twin show design. However look previous that and also you’ll see BMW went additional than most LCIs. There’s the radically rethought air vent system and redesigned higher vents and speaker grilles as properly. It’s a mixture of minimalism with (to our eyes) questionable patterns and illuminated shapes that time to BMW going a bit too far. 

The revised X7 contains most of the BMW XI’s missteps in eradicating bodily buttons and transferring performance into the dislay. The result’s a automotive that’s tougher to make use of with options which might be borderline harmful to have interaction with whereas driving.

The one worst a part of the brand new X7 is the overly complicated new BMW OS with key performance now residing in sub menus. Heated and cooled seats and the heated steering wheel now residing in a complicated and garish interface which itself is within the “local weather” menu within the new BMW OS. A operate like seat massagers use to be a single click on of a bodily button. Now it requires a click on of a haptic button on the door (did it click on?) and a prime of a menu after which a swipe of a digital toggle. The time and cognitive load requires isn’t huge however multiply that with a handful of options used each day and you’ve got a automotive that’s merely tougher to make use of than it was beforehand.

Even worse they (for some motive) typically retain your final setting making it much more essential flip them on and off shortly.

It could sound pedantic however any consideration paid to overly complicated interfaces and never on the highway is nothing lower than distracting and finally harmful.

Fortunately the criticism ends there as the inside is mostly distinctive each the place you flip. Save for the sluggish motors that energy and lift the third row, the X7 inside delivered distinctive consolation and utility on our journey. 

The Final Roadtrip Machine

The journey itself was as epic as you’ll be able to think about. Our first day was a protracted one, heading out of Chicago, via Wisconsin, Minnesota lastly stopping in the midst of South Dakota. 9.5 hours of driving with massaging and cooling operate turned as much as the max on each entrance seats does assist. As does the Assisted Driving operate. Sadly as a result of provide chain points, this early manufacturing LCI X7 didn’t have the brand new Freeway Help function and solely provided full hands-free up 40 mph. Whereas that function was unusable on highways, the Energetic Driving Assistant Professional just about did the identical factor albeit with palms required to be on the wheel repeatedly.

It could not sound like full self driving, however having a automotive that takes nearly all of the cognitive load of small corrections and mild cornering actually does assist whenever you’re driving for 8-9 hours a day.

The seats up entrance featured each heating, cooling and massaging features – the latter two had been on nearly 100% of the crew. Whereas the most recent technology of massaging seats discovered within the new 7 Sequence have elevated the output depth, something helps whenever you’re going tank to tank and setting stationary for hours at a time.

Tackling the Massive Horn Mountains

Two belongings you discover straight away once we acquired into the legendary Massive Horns. First the immense torque of this M derived engine means there’s merely no elevation or inline that the X7 M60i has bother with. Second there’s solely so lengthy you’ll be able to disguise 5,895 lbs whenever you’re in demanding mountain roads. The sheer mass of the X7 meant that pushing the automotive out and in of corners needed to be finished with care and loads of consideration of what’s coming subsequent. Whereas engineers have dialed in additional suggestions than you may count on via the wheel, you don’t have the type of connectivity to the highway and even chassis that conjures up confidence that the very best true M automobiles ship.

As our second day got here to a detailed we entered Cody Wyoming, an outdated Cowboy city based by the showman Buffalo Invoice. Leaning into the city’s historical past we stayed on the Irma Lodge, the unique resort based by Buffalo Invoice. The city was precisely what we had been in search of and I ended the evening getting finer factors on the world of rodeo from just a few native on the resort’s well-known bar.

Grizzlies, Geysers and Waterfalls

It’s exhausting to explain Yellowstone Nationwide park succinctly. I might inform you that we noticed 5 bears in two days (4 of them grizzlies) and had been caught in a Buffalo stampede at 11 pm at evening. However none of it does Yellowstone the justice it deserves.

Yellowstone Park lies within the coronary heart of the Rocky Mountains and boasts seemingly countless awe-inspiring landscapes. Towering snow-capped peaks stand over enormous valleys with vibrant meadows. It appears as if nearly each instance of attention-grabbing landforms on earth is impossibly match inside its 3,471 sq. miles.

Majestic waterfalls cascade down rugged cliffs via an nearly everlasting rainbow. Geothermal wonders abound, with effervescent sizzling springs, simmering mud pots, and the enduring eruption of the Previous Trustworthy geyser, reminding us of Earth’s everlasting energy. The ethereal fantastic thing about Yellowstone Nationwide Park, with its untamed wilderness and memorable geology, is a testomony to the magnificence of nature and an invite to immerse oneself in its marvel.

The draw back of that is that different persons are additionally conscious of the pure splendor of this place. And as loopy because it sounds which means visitors. I made liberal use of the Energetic Driving Assistant within the extra congested areas the place sluggish and cease and go visitors was prevalent. Nevertheless that doesn’t imply there aren’t loads of otherworldly roads. Coming from the Yellowstone Canyon to the Lamar Valley is likely one of the higher mountains drives expertise anyplace. The one draw back is that you just’ll be extra centered on the views as you come down via the mountains.

After two very full days in Yellowstone we headed north onto the brand new entrance at Gardiner Montana. A yr in the past the realm noticed catastrophic flooding and elements of the highway into the park from Montana was washed away. The park took fast motion and was capable of modernize and pave an outdated path that wound its means into Yellowstone. As luck would have it, that outdated path is likely one of the greatest, most demanding roads I’ve ever skilled. Think about the Trial of the Dragon with much less forgiveness.

The X7 was a little bit of a beast for one thing as tight and twisty however that didn’t cease me from pushing all 5800 lbs out and in of apexes. Heading out of the park and into Paradise Valley was a good time to replicate on the X7. Any highway journey is a cheat code to attending to know a automotive. However one which encompasses half of the US and over 3,000 miles lets you get check each factor of a automotive. Throughout our time with the X7 M60i there was merely nothing it couldn’t do. It shrugged off the 9 hours driving days, dealt with the mountains roads properly sufficient to really feel partaking but relaxed and swallowed all the baggage we had with room to spare.

The 523 hp V8 delivered all the ability we wanted whereas returning 21.6 mpg over the course of your complete journey. And that’s with me not holding again for one mile over the mountains and even via the dust roads of Montana. It did all of it in complete consolation delivering as near a serene expertise because the roads (or lack there of) would enable.

The Last Leg and Our Last Ideas

We made probably the most of our final evening in Montana by tenting at Pine Creek Lodge seeing one in all their many summer season concert events. That subsequent morning I wakened early and headed into the foothills of the Bridger mountains with simply me, a tall espresso and the X7. The highway shortly turned to dust and at occasions was rutted and muddy from in a single day storms. With traction and DSC off I used to be capable of actually get to the boundaries of the grip and chassis. On the coronary heart of the X7 is certainly a rear wheel drive BMW. As exhausting as it’s to imagine, this behemoth of a crossover can nonetheless play and loves the mud.

Packing up and heading east onto I90 through Livingston all of us had a tinge of unhappiness. It’s by no means simple to go away this unimaginable a part of the world. However experiencing it with my sons and behind the wheel of this $117,045 BMW X7 M60i made this explicit journey to Yellowstone one to recollect.

However is that this new X7 one to recollect? On this endless a part of the journey I saved asking myself that query. The very last thing our world in all probability wants is one other 6,000 lbs crossover just like the X7. They’ve develop into ubiquitous in our city and suburban panorama and pose various longterm security and environmental dangers. And you’ll’t overlook {that a} 5 Sequence wagon (which we sadly don’t get within the US) would supply considerably higher on highway efficiency with solely barely much less mild off-road capabilities.

What it comes all the way down to for me is the virtually absurd mixture of attributes the X7 delivers. Positive the Porsche Cayenne delivers extra efficiency and the Mercedes GLS is simply as large however neither can contact the mix of luxurious, utility and efficiency that you just get from the X7 M60i.

We’ve mentioned it earlier than and it nonetheless rings true. The X7 is one in all BMW’s higher conceived and executed merchandise of the final decade. For its supposed market and objective it excels in opposition to the competitors a means not all BMW crossovers have in recent times. And out right here, via the mountains and on the open highway there’s merely nothing higher.

2024 BMW X7 M60i Photograph Gallery

2024 BMW X7 M60i Take a look at Automotive Specs