BMW 740Li First Drive Review

Why will I buy the BMW 740Li

To annihilate the fastest of sports cars in a straight line. This 6-cylinder petrol version of the 7 Series is also incredibly refined.

Why will I avoid the BMW 740Li

It misses out on driver-centric features like paddle shifters and heads-up display. 

The 740Li doesn’t gain either of BMW’s illustrious ‘M’ or ‘M Sport’ badges, but it sublimely combines raw speed with sumptuous leather and polished wood of the highest grade. 

The latest 7 Series, which arrived at the showrooms last year, is the sixth-gen model and takes the mantle as BMW’s flagship car. Quite simply, the 730Ld that we tested earlier is perhaps the most impressive among all the full-fat luxury sedans when it comes to comfort and efficiency. The petrol-powered 740Li, however, is a different beast – it’s as sumptuous and extravagant as the 730Ld but it’s got the firepower to hang out with cars like the Porsche Boxster and even the entry-level 911. This makes it a good choice for those looking for a comfy limousine with sports-car like acceleration. More on this later…  

To say that the new 7 is huge would be an understatement. Measuring over 5.2m in length, it cuts a seriously imposing figure as it waltzes up the road. This is also down to some of the familiar BMW design details like the bulging kidney grille, the strong shoulder-line and the beautifully detailed headlamps and taillights. The 740Li, in fact, is only available in the Design Pure Excellence Signature trim which uses plenty of chrome bits, but it’s a little too understated as it lacks the visual fanfare of the M Sport trim (available in other variants) that gets you more angular front and rear bumpers with oversized air dams upfront and a faux diffuser at the back.

Despite occupying more road space than before, the new 7 Series is around 100kg lighter than before. This is down to the body being made out of aluminium and carbon-fibre reinforced plastic. The 740Li’s also got more driver-centric technologies like adaptive driving modes and self-levelling air suspension that can raise and drop the ride height.

The outside may lack the drama of the M Sport variant, but the interior more than makes up for it. It’s beautifully crafted with swathes of high quality leather on the dashboard and the seats, with fittings that are finely matched to the surface that they butt up against. The incredible detailing on the lacquered dark wood and the brushed aluminium finish on the controls are some of the quality highlights in here.

There are a wide variety of gadgets, too. You get a fairly massive 10.25-inch touch screen display for the iDrive, 360-degree cameras and 3D imaging. And if that’s not impressive enough, the 740Li also comes with a 7-inch tablet that is neatly integrated into the rear armrest. The tablet can be used to control several functions including front and rear seat adjustment, air conditioning, ambient light and of course, the entertainment functions linked to the iDrive.

The thing with the 740Li is that it isn’t an out-an-out chauffeur-driven choice like the 730Ld. Rather it’s more of a performance limo, one that can be driven by the buyer more often than not. In this regard, the BMW does quite well as comfort levels are top notch, thanks to a gazillion adjustments for the steering and the seat. That being said, rear seat occupants aren’t left out, with masses of head and knee room.

The rear sunroof combined with the multiple ambient lighting options throughout the cabin really elevate the mood. Now for the all-important rear seat, the comfort in the 740Li is truly exceptional with acres of knee room and back support. The backrest and seat base can not only be electrically reclined and adjusted, but also be used as effective stress busters, thanks to the eight-level massage function.

As a flagship limousine, the 740Li is far sportier than you would expect. It’s truly fun behind the wheel – which is almost perverse, given that in a market like ours, cars like the 7 Series are bought exclusively for their rear seat comfort. 

Under the long bonnet of the 740Li nestles BMW’s 2,998cc turbocharged straight-six engine. This sweet sounding motor makes 326bhp and 450Nm of torque and is mated to an 8-speed automatic from ZF. Getting the balance of engagement and comfort right must be a tough act but with the 740Li, BMW has almost nailed it. You can enjoy punting this XXL-sized sedan within the city much harder than most owners ever will. Acceleration off the line on half throttle is buttery smooth and the noise that this thing makes as it picks up pace is rather special, too. Given its limo credentials, the build-up in power is gradual through the rev range and peaks at 5000rpm, meaning if you want to get somewhere quickly, you will be exploiting this motor’s strong midrange and top-end. Throttle response is frankly brilliant; there is hardly any turbo lag and when this 1.8-tonne behemoth gets moving, there is no relenting until you get way past the legal speed limits. 

The 8-speed automatic gearbox from ZF is as suave and precise as ever. Leave it in Sport and it will allow the revs to climb all the way to 6,500rpm before changing up. The gearbox manages to be both supremely smooth around town and rapid when executing full-throttle upshifts. The only disappointing bit is the lack of paddle shifters which is quite surprising for what’s basically a sporty BMW. The 740Li has the kind of mid-range grunt that warrants regular checks of the speedometer because one is bound to find themselves going faster than what the effortless acceleration suggests. In our acceleration tests, this alleged luxury sedan turned out to be phenomenally quick, hitting 60kmph from standstill in 2.79 seconds and 100kmph in just 5.84 seconds. 

Of all the drive modes, Sport brings out the 740Li’s somewhat athletic side. Despite its weight and girth, it handles corners and change in direction surprisingly well. True to its genes, it offers good body control but it is softly sprung and in Comfort Plus, rolls quite a bit. That said, it’s certainly better than the diesel-powered 730Ld when the going gets twisty – the 740Li is flatter through mid-corner bumps and has a front end that is keener to turn in as well. Riding on air suspension, the 740Li simply glides over imperfections, including some of the worst monsoon-stricken roads we could run it through. In Comfort mode, the car is absorbent to the point of feeling floaty whereas in Sport mode, the firmer setting ties it down enough to feel planted over medium to high speeds. We would like to add that one cannot get carried away by the ride as sharp edged potholes sometimes do filter into the cabin.  

The latest 7 Series is undoubtedly the most convincing of all its generations and the new 740Li does a great job of mixing performance with top-notch quality and comfort. It’s a great buy for those who would like to match sports car acceleration while enjoying the luxury of high-end materials and acres of space.

There’s also a 750Li with a 450bhp version of the M5’s 4.4-litre V8 but as we see it, the smaller and considerably less expensive 740Li is plenty quick for our roads and it simply makes more sense most of the time. Speaking of which, the 730Ld diesel is also fairly quick for daily duties, however, you simply cannot miss the refinement of a 6-cylinder petrol from BMW. 

The 740Li is priced at Rs 1.28 crore (ex-showroom) and in between the diesel 730Ld and the more powerful 750Li. The only other six-cylinder petrol limo comes in the form of the Mercedes S400 which makes 333bhp and costs Rs 1.26 crore (ex-showroom). 

Pictures by Kapil Angane

Click here for our first drive review of the BMW 730Ld

Click here for our comparison test between the BMW 730Ld and Jaguar XJL