The BMW X7 is a three-row SUV that boasts luxury and passenger capability. Its starting price, as well as its fuel economy ratings, help the 2020 BMW X7 top the large luxury SUV rankings. Even amongst some strong rivals, the 2020 BMW X7 stands as one of the best full-size, three-row SUVs, offering the power and technology you’d expect from the high-performance BMW brand.

Why the 2020 BMW X7 is one of the best three-row SUVs you can buy

MotorTrend experts place the BMW X7 SUV near the top of its “Best Luxury Full-Size Three-Row SUVs for 2020” list, calling it one of its “favorite luxury people movers.”

The BMW X7’s exterior design is large, aggressive, and imposing. But BMW leaves the aggressive styling strictly on the exterior where it belongs. In the interior, buyers will find subtle, classy, high-quality materials to match its spacious, three-row comfort. 

Large enough to seat up to seven passengers, the BMW X7 still manages to deliver good, “crisp acceleration” and potent power, even with the base 335-hp V6 engine. Upgrading to the available 456-hp V8 engine delivers even more impressive power.

The base engine also allows for good fuel-economy ratings for the segment, earning up to 25 mpg on the highway. Although fuel-economy ratings of the V8 engine are less efficient than the V6, these variants still earn up to 21 mpg on the highway – impressive for both the engine size and the large SUV segment.

The interior of the larger, three-row BMW X7 is loaded with the technology and comfort buyers expect from BMW. The cabin of the X7 is quiet and enjoyable to ride in, offering plush seating and exceptional options for drivers and passengers alike.

According to the experts at U.S. News, the 2020 BMW X7’s “mix of performance, interior quality, and practicality make it an excellent pick in this segment.”

Even base X7 variants come standard with a 12.3-inch touchscreen display and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, as well as a slew of active safety equipment that includes a rear-view camera, driver-drowsiness monitoring, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear-cross traffic alert.

What keeps the 2020 BMW X7 from being the best in its segment

The 2020 BMW X7 may offer good fuel economy ratings and a powerful powertrain, but that means sacrificing a little space. Compared to others in the segment, the X7’s third row is a bit small and less roomy for passengers.

Simply put, the BMW X7 is considered smaller than other full-size SUVs. In addition, the X7 doesn’t handle corners and bumps well, seemingly odd for its smaller body and potent engine. The X7’s interior is loaded with tech – as to be expected from the BMW brand – but this technology may be difficult for some users.

Are there better full-size SUV options?

The 2020 X7 fares well in testing, but even on MotorTrend’s list, the X7 is still “average” for the segment. Sitting in the middle of its “Best Luxury Full-Size Three-Row SUVs for 2020” list at No. 3, the X7 outperforms rivals like the Lexus LX and the Infiniti QX80 with its interior quality, fuel economy, and pricing.

But others in the segment prove to be a better buy than the X7, with both the Mercedes-Benz GLS and Lincoln Navigator ranking higher than the BMW X7. In fact, according to MotorTrend’s luxury full-size three-row SUV testing, the 2020 Lincoln Navigator’s overall score of 8.3/10.0 stands more than an entire point above the BMW X7’s overall score of 7.2.