Motor Trend: BMW X7 40i 0-60 Mph In 5.4 Seconds

Motor Trend got their hands on the new BMW X7 40i for an extended test drive which also included their usual instrumented tests. According to the US magazine, the large and quite heavy SUV (5,300 lbs) managed to run from 0-60 mph in just 5.4 seconds, “that’s 0.4-0.5 seconds quicker than the 2017 Mercedes GLS 450 and GLS 550 SUVs we’ve tested (the new 2020 GLS gets updated engines) and much quicker than other eight-cylinder competitors including the 2018 Infiniti QX80 (6.3 seconds) and 2018 Lexus LX 570 (7.0 seconds).”

Furthermore, they also compared the X7 40i to the 2018 Lincoln Navigator and the 2015 Escalade, both reaching 60 mph in 5.9 seconds. You can see our BMW X7 review here as well.

The BMW X7 xDrive40i uses the new B58 inline-six engine delivering 335 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque. At the time of its launch, BMW said that the X7 40i will get you from zero to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds, so clearly those numbers were conservative.

Here is an excerpt from my previous review:

“My first impression was that the power output is borderline with what’s acceptable in a car of this size, since the 5,000 lbs heft can be felt more than in the 50i model. The X7 40i takes a bit longer to launch, but as soon as higher torque (max torque from 1500rpm) kicks in, the drive becomes more spirited. It’s essentially the same B58 engine characteristics from other models, so it has a great sound, lineal power delivery across the band and pulls hard when you floor it at higher speeds.”

Another test ran by Motor Trend was the standard quarter mile – 14.1 sec at 97.4 mph for the X7 40i. Even more impressive from our point of view is the stopping distance – from 60 to 0 mph in 105 ft. The X7 uses an updated xDrive system with the torque being split based on the driving conditions, speed and mode selected. If you’re into hauling a small boat with you, then you can also take advantage of the X7’s towing capacity of 7,500 pounds.

While the X7 was not built for speed, but rather for comfort, it’s still refreshing to see that BMW engineers have worked hard to ensure this large SUV is still part of the “Ultimate Driving Machine” family.