It’s a BMW, so there’s no shortage of luxury with the all-new X7. Add in some serious swagger, and the X7’s 2019 debut merits serious attention. A week-long test drive of the X7 sports activity vehicle put quick acceleration and smooth braking in perfect sync with the dynamic ride and handling characteristics. The three-row X7 doesn’t short-change rear seat riders, beginning with the ease of entry and exit thanks to rear doors that are longer than the front doors. There’s also full-electric adjustments for front, second, and third row seats. Cargo capacity is ample with 48.6 cubic feet when third row seats are folded, and more than 90 cubic feet with second and third rows folded. All occupants can take in skyward views via an electronically controlled 3-panel panoramic glass sunroof, one of many standard features.

The tested X7 xDrive40i was powered by a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline 6-cylinder producing 335 horsepower between 5500-6500 rpm and 330 pounds-feet of peak torque from 1500-5200 rpm. (A twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 powers the X7 xDrive50i model.) Engines mate to an 8- speed automatic transmission with new control electronics. The 122.2-inch wheelbase X7 provides 8.7 inches of ground clearance. A cockpit button can adjust that ground clearance 1.6 inches above the standard setting, while a button in the cargo area can lower the vehicle 1.6 inches for the loading/unloading of items. The tested 2019 BMW X7 xDrive 40i collects estimated mpg of 20 city/25 highway and carries a base MSRP of $73,900.