There's no getting around the fact that the BMW 7 Series is a big luxury sedan (hunk of metal), but the one quietly appeared in the Car Tech garage is somehow even larger. The elongated model adds 5.5 inches to the wheelbase which directly translates into extra legroom for rear seat passengers. It's packed to the gills with comfort and amenities, but BMW's big diesel 7 Series surprised me with its ability to handle corners like a much smaller sport sedan.
Diesel power
The big Bimmer is powered by a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged diesel engine in an inline six-cylinder configuration. At a stated 26 mpg combined (which breaks out to 31 mpg highway and 23 mpg city) the 740Ld isn't a fuel sipper, but it is the most fuel-efficient variant of the 7 Series long wheelbase chassis -- beating the ActiveHybrid 7 by 1 mpg across the board.
Like most turbo-diesels, the 7's 3.0L (codenamed N57) boasts modest power, but big torque. We're talking 255 horsepower and an impressive 413 pound-feet of torque -- the latter being available as low as 1,500RPM, which makes the 740Ld a great freeway cruiser. There are few situations where the 740Ld finds itself short on torque; it's almost never in too tall a gear for a pass. The big sedan pulls away from the line with satisfying thrust, reaching 60 mph in a respectable 6.1 seconds.
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Torque gets sent through an excellent eight-speed automatic transmission manufactured by ZF, which is the only gearbox available for the 7 Series, before being split between the four contact patches by BMW's xDrive all-wheel drive system. This setup defaults to a rear biased 40:60 torque split, but under slip can theoretically direct 100 percent of available torque to either the front or rear axle -- though, in practice, such extremes rarely occur.
The driver can select from five configurable driving modes to customize the character of the Bimmer's drive. Eco Pro is the mode most focused on maximum efficiency and tweaks the throttle response and climate control systems to save fuel. This setting also changes the digital instrument cluster to an eco-driving gauge and offers the driver fuel saving tips on the infotainment display. Comfort is the default setting, focused on casual driving and shifting that coddles the driver and passengers. Comfort Plus further smooths the shift pattern, throttle response, and (if equipped) adaptive suspension.
Sport is a more responsive mode for spirited driving, tweaking the throttle curve, suspension and steering, and shift pattern for better responsiveness where acceleration and handling are concerned. The instrument cluster becomes an aggressive and minimal red display that highlights engine RPM, speed, and gear selection. Sport Plus further loosens the reins of the Dynamic Stability Control system to allow a bit more rotation when cornering hard and a bit more wheel slip before the xDrive system starts intervening.
M Sport edition
When I think big sedan, I don't typically think "sport package," but our example was equipped with the M Sport edition package ($4,000). This suite of upgrades mostly consists of styling tweaks to the interior and exterior, as well as the addition of a few Executive package amenities that we'll get to later. Where performance is concerned, going M Sport unlocks access to our 20-inch light alloy wheel and performance run-flat tire upgrade ($1,300).
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Responsive dynamic damper control and a self-leveling rear air suspension are standard features, but an optional upgrade to Adaptive Drive with ARS ($2,500) adds a truly adaptive suspension setup that can be tweaked via the drive mode selector to actively the characteristics of the sedan's handling.
Thusly equipped, the 740Ld surprised me with its road handling when piloted down my favorite testing grounds. The big sedan is not what I'd call a canyon carver, but the suspension setup and stickier tires grant the saloon the tenacious grip of a car half its size. The ride is still soft and still largely isolates the passenger compartment from and texture of the road. There's a noticeable amount of lean in the turns and float over undulations, but the suspension setup keeps the tires stuck securely to the tarmac and the chassis going where you point it.
In its Sport setting, steering is responsive, but feedback is a bit lacking. You can't really feel the road through the tiller, but you can at least trust that the Bimmer will respond to your inputs. The optional M Sport edition wheel is thick and falls nicely in the hand and puts paddle shifters at the driver's fingertips. The brakes leave very little to be desired, with great stopping power without sacrificing smooth application in traffic.
Spacious and comfortable during relaxing passages, yet powerful and quick when taxed, it's almost as though the gigantic 740Ld shrinks into a slightly smaller, slightly sportier sedan the faster you push it. The plentiful torque of the diesel engine is the icing on the 740Ld's cake, adding an effortlessness to the acceleration that constantly had me glancing at the speedometer and exclaiming, "whoa, I didn't realize I was going that fast!"
iDrive 4.2 with Touchpad
Being a modern Bimmer, the 740Ld features the latest generation of the automaker's iDrive infotainment system, version 4.2. With twist and a click of the iDrive control knob on the center console -- the BMW's display is not touch sensitive -- the driver gains access to excellent web-connected 3D navigation, digital media, vehicle information and settings, and even a digital vehicle manual.
With powerful hardware operating behind the scenes, this is the snappiest implementations of the iDrive control scheme that I've ever tested. While I still think the organization of BMW's software can be a bit overwhelming, but I like that the automaker gives the driver a good deal of control over how the vehicle's amenities and systems operate and what information is displayed on the infotainment screen.
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It's no surprise that the 2015 BMW 740Ld xDrive is a comfortable cruiser, but the big Bimmer handles like a much smaller sport sedan.
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