BMW 7 Series hybrid interior & comfort
The BMW 7 Series hybrid is exceedingly comfortable, although the interior could feel more special
The interior of the BMW 7 Series hybrid has a clean and uncluttered appearance, although you could argue that a car this expensive should feel more special. Aesthetically at least, the Mercedes S-Class hybrid has the BMW beaten, although the functionality of the BMW is very good indeed and the materials used are of a high quality.
As you’d expect, the 745e is very comfortable, with extra-thick glass windows and sound insulation limiting the amount of noise entering the vehicle. That said, the S-Class hybrid is on another level in this department thanks to its even comfier seats and better ride.
BMW 7 Series hybrid dashboard
The dashboard is smartly laid out, with an infotainment screen sat at the top of the centre console. Below that are the air vents and vehicle-start button, followed by a spread of buttons with which to control the air conditioning and seat heating. The steering wheel houses a host of buttons as well, ensuring that essential features and media playback can be controlled on the move without the driver needing to take their hands off the wheel.
Equipment, options & accessories
Standard equipment includes adaptive LED headlights, 360-degree parking cameras, wireless smartphone charging, soft-closing doors and a Harman/Kardon premium sound system. The longer-wheelbase 745Le also gets a glass roof as standard too. Sadly, lots of the additional toys are steeply-priced optional extras.
The ultra-luxury, airline-style rear seats are an expense that’s only likely to be justified among business buyers catering for VIP clients. The most advanced active safety systems also cost extra, with several bundled into BMW’s Technology Pack. This adds remote control parking, lane-departure and collision warning systems, speed-limit assistance, a head-up display and many other things besides, although you need to pay more than £3,000 for the privilege.
Infotainment, apps & sat nav
The 7 Series hybrid features BMW’s excellent iDrive system, which is intuitive to use and one of the best available in any car right now. It can be controlled by the touchscreen or via the rotary dial on the centre console; voice control and gesture control are also available, although the physical buttons are much easier to use. Sat nav and Bluetooth are included as standard, with smartphone connectivity provided, too.
