Test drive BMW X7 vs Range Rover

Between them are six years of production, that is, an entire era by the standards of the modern car industry. But this does not prevent Range Rover from competing almost on equal terms with the new BMW X7.

Admit it, you, too, when you first saw the BMW X7, were surprised by the striking resemblance to the Mercedes GLS? Our staff correspondent in the United States, Alexei Dmitriev, was the first to test the largest crossover in the history of BMW and found out from the designers how it happened that the Bavarians began to imitate their eternal competitors. The answer to the question of concern to everyone can be found here.

I got acquainted with the BMW X7 already in Moscow reality, immediately plunging it into a burgundy traffic jam on Leningradka, and then thoroughly dipping it into the mud in the Domodedovo area. Not to say that that "X-seventh" was from the first batch, but clearly the just appeared model should, in theory, make a splash even in Moscow. The new BMW, under a new name, with a monumental silhouette and on 22 rims. But no - it turned out that the "X-seventh" managed to surprise me before.

Take a closer look: there are really a lot of X7s in Moscow. Of course, the score is still in the tens, but the Bavarians absolutely hit the mark. After all, bigger, faster and higher is all about the older BMW. The interior, tailored to the patterns of the updated 7-Series, clearly surpasses all overgrown crossovers. With fused nostrils of unimaginable sizes, a cunning squint of laser optics and a tall glass line, the X7 is absolutely elegant in any of the colors.

This BMW understands gestures, knows how to do without a driver (so far, however, not for long), and it also has amazing acoustics - is there any need to list the options when I spent a pack of Snegurochka on printing the specification and brochure?

The monstrous dimensions by BMW standards (length - almost 5,2 m, height - 1,8 m) almost did not affect the X7's habits. He was taught to ride by the best engineers in the world, so there is no overweight complex here. A crossover on an advanced pneuma is able to give a head start to a compact and much more nimble SUV. And do not be confused by the 249 diesel forces in the TCP. The three-liter diesel engine produces as much as 620 Nm of torque and accelerates the 2,4-ton crossover to "hundreds" in just 7 seconds.

However, we also tried the top-end variant of the X7 M50d. Here, the same three-liter diesel engine, but with a more powerful supercharging and a different cooling system, produces 400 forces and 760 Nm of torque. The reserve of traction is insane: it seems, just a little more, and the X7 will begin to roll asphalt on the TTK. But something else is striking: one of the most powerful cars on the market burns 8-9 liters per 100 km in the city. Diesel, we will miss you!

Choosing a competitor for the BMW X7 is harder than it seemed. By the start of filming, Mercedes had not yet brought the new GLS to Russia, and it is completely incorrect to compare the X-seventh with the old one. Lexus LX, Infiniti QX80? These cars are about something else. The Audi Q7 is still too small, and the Cadillac Escalade is no longer suitable for ideological reasons. As a result, the only competitor in Russia is the Range Rover - no less huge, just as thoroughbred, but also fast and extremely comfortable. But the design of the Range Rover is already more than six years old - won't this be fatal for the Englishman after such a powerful debut of the BMW X7?

Let's be honest, are you even wondering what kind of engine this Range Rover has? How long does it take to accelerate to 100 km / h? Or up to 150 km / h? How many liters of fuel does it burn for every 100 kilometers? If yes, then you and I look at this car differently.

I'm sure if there was a design standard in the SI system, it would be a Range Rover. That is why the only thing that really worries me when we talk about this car is its price. And it is, of course, impressive: from $ 108 for the version with a 057-liter diesel engine to $ 4,4 for the version with the same unit, but in the SV Autobiography version.

One thing is for sure: for this money you will get a car, the design of which will be relevant for another 10 years (it seems that I greatly underestimate the real forecast). Well, first of all, Land Rover has proven everything with its previous models. In case you suddenly forgot, the design of the same "range" did not change too much from 1994 to 2012. At the same time, the appearance of Range Rover from year to year remained attractive and relevant, like the eternal beauty of young Audrey Hepburn. Secondly, almost seven years have passed since the release of the fourth generation of the SUV, and the feeling that it appeared only yesterday.

That is why I do not think that the X7 is anything superior to the Range Rover in terms of looks. Moreover, judging by the way we drove to the shooting, both cars arouse approximately the same interest in the stream.

We figured out the appearance, but this, of course, is not the only plus of the SUV. For example, I was impressed by the comfort that this car provides. Seriously, I only felt better on vacation on a sun lounger by the pool. And now I'm not talking about the famous commander's landing and so on, but only about the suspension. She generally does not make it clear what kind of coverage under the wheels: whether you are driving on a dirt road, a highway or a racing track - the sensations are the same.

And although I sincerely believe that this is not important in this discussion, the whopper accelerates to 100 km / h in just 6,9 seconds (they still could not do without numbers) and can pick up speed up to 218 km / h. In terms of equipment, there are no surprises here either. It has everything the same as the competition (well, maybe, except for gesture controls). I also think the Meridian audio system is incredible.

Everything rests, as I said, in the price. But it is great only for me, but the motivation of people who, other things being equal, choose not this car, is a mystery to me. In my case, there would be no options. However, this is the same conversation about taste and color that has set the teeth on edge, because even my friend and colleague Roman disagrees with me.