BradleyWarren Photography

A classic SUV profile.

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   BradleyWarren Photography

   A classic SUV profile.

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   BradleyWarren Photography

   Don't get distracted by the big honking grille—the X7 is the best three-row luxury SUV on the market.

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   BradleyWarren Photography

   The 7-series influence on the X7.

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   BradleyWarren Photography

   The massive kidney shaped grille and LED headlights.

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   BradleyWarren Photography

   The X7 is a big unit.

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   BradleyWarren Photography

   Max passenger setting leaves decent room for cargo.

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   BradleyWarren Photography

   With the third row folded flat, there's 48.6 cubic feet (1,376L) of cargo space.

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   BradleyWarren Photography

   The spare tire should go here.

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   BradleyWarren Photography

   The X7 has a split hatchback. Gimmicky? Not if you have to change a diaper.

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    BradleyWarren Photography

    Yours for $112,245.

Back in the days when BMW attended auto shows, it would show off a dizzying array of vehicles. Coupes, roadsters, hybrids, SUVs, fastbacks—you name it, and BMW sold it. Yet there was one glaring omission as one wandered through BMW's cornucopia of cars: a three-row SUV. If you were a fan of the Ultimate Driving Machine but had outgrown the X5 due to an accumulation of children and/or stuff, there was no choice but to look elsewhere for your luxury SUV needs. With the launch of the full-size, three-row X7, BMW has not only given its fans a reason to upgrade—it has built an SUV that anyone looking at a GLC, Q7, XC90, or Land Rover Discovery should look long and hard at.

At first glance, the X7 cuts a familiar profile. It has the same general outlines as the compact X3 and mid-size X5, but this vehicle has nicer proportions than either. At the front is a super-sized kidney grille bracketed by a pair of slim LED headlights. It's classic SUV silhouette from the side, with the most noticeable feature being the longer rear doors, designed to make entry into the third row easier. The back side sports slim LED lights and a chrome bar that spans the rear liftgate, a design feature borrowed from the 7-series sedans.

No matter what your viewing angle is, one thing is crystal clear: this is a serious, full-size SUV built for doing full-size SUV things. For most folks contemplating full-size SUVs, that means being able to transport six or more passengers in ample comfort. The X7 excels here. But what about going off-road?

Off the beaten path

Eric Bangeman

A BMW X7 navigating an off-road course

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   Eric Bangeman

   A BMW X7 navigating an off-road course

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   Eric Bangeman

   About to climb a very steep hill. The hill descent setting made coming down the other side at a steady 3mph a snap.

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   Eric Bangeman

   The front camera lets you see what's in front of you on steep climbs when you can't see over the hood.

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   Eric Bangeman

   Uneven terrain poses no challenge for the X7.

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   Eric Bangeman

   The X7 takes a plunge.

My first experience with the X7 came as a passenger during a BMW event earlier this year. (The same one where I tried out the new Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV.) I took my place in the right seat, and with the ride height raised to its max setting (about 1-2/3-inches or 40mm above the standard setting), I sat back and experienced the xDrive all-wheel drive system doing its thing.

The off-road course was set up to show off the car's ability to handle steep climbs and descents, water, uneven ground, and the type of terrain one might find while venturing down a rutted track that disappears into a forest—in short, nothing you'd want to touch with a sedan. BMW's Dynamic Stability Control combines with an electronically controlled rear differential lock to send the power where it's needed. If you end up in a position like the picture above, where you've got a wheel off the ground, power will be sent to the other three wheels.

The X7 made it through the course undaunted by any of the obstacles. I was jostled a little bit, but I found the car's ability to deal with the artificially severe terrain while cushioning me from the worst of the rattle and roll very impressive. If you do hear the siren call of off-roading, however, be prepared to shell out an extra $2,950 for the off-road package. Beyond some graphics in the instrument cluster, the package adds a mechanical differential lock; additional off-road driving modes for snow, gravel, sand, and rocks; and some underguard trim in the front and back.

Price-wise, the X7 comes in two basic flavors: the $73,900 xDrive40i and the $92,600 xDrive 50i. The biggest difference between the two models is the engine. The cheaper model gets a 3.0L inline-six with AWD capable of 340hp (250kW) and 332lb-ft (450Nm) of torque at 1,500-5,200rpm. It has a top speed of 152mph (245km/h) and can make it from zero to 60 in 6.1 seconds. I drove the XDrive50i, which has an eight-cylinder, 4.4-liter power plant that churns out 462hp (340kW) and produces 479lb-ft (650Nm) of torque from 1,500-4,750rpm. Both engines are paired with an eight-speed Steptronic transmission.

The EPA rates the inline-six at 25mpg on the highway and 20mpg in the city, 22mpg overall. The xDrive 50i is rated at 21mpg highway, 15mpg city, and 17mpg combined. I was pleasantly surprised to average 20.2mpg in a week of driving that included a trip up the interstate to Wisconsin along with way too much time stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic.