2019 BMW 7 Series 740Le xDrive Review

The competition in the luxury sedan market has always focused on "balance" — it needs to hold up in business settings while also meeting the practical needs of everyday family use, with power and configuration keeping up with modern demands. The 2019 BMW 740Le xDrive, as the brand's plug-in hybrid luxury sedan, boasts the key selling points of "fully loaded luxury features + fuel economy of hybrid power." Through this in-depth test drive, we aim to see if it can strike the perfect balance between "luxury" and "practicality."

From the exterior, the 2019 740Le xDrive continues BMW's solid and stable styling of its large cars. The front features the iconic kidney grille complemented by LED angel eye headlights, which ensure high recognition; the side profile of the car displays smooth lines, with a waistline extending from the hood to the rear giving the body a more elongated appearance. Additionally, the width of 2169mm ensures a stable and sturdy feel. The rear features smoked LED taillights that echo the dual exhaust layout, ensuring the design does not appear overly dull. The attention to detail in every part of the car is commendable, such as the chrome trim on the door handles and the bright strips on the window frames, enhancing the luxury feel. Even when parked next to a competing model of the same class, BMW's design characteristics stand out at a glance.

Stepping into the car, the materials and configurations of the interior are the biggest highlights. The dashboard combines genuine leather and wood grain panels, providing a fine texture and no sense of cheapness. The 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment display has high resolution, operates smoothly, and supports CarPlay connectivity. The fully digital instrument panel offers multiple display modes and, paired with the HUD head-up display, allows drivers to access speed, navigation, and more without frequently looking down. The seat configurations are particularly impressive: the front seats support electric adjustment, memory, heating, and ventilation functions, ensuring no discomfort even during long drives. The rear seats are even more extravagant, offering electric adjustments, a massage function, and a BMW Touch Control panel in the center armrest, enabling passengers to independently control air conditioning, multimedia, and even adjust seat angles. In terms of storage, the front central armrest offers deep compartment space, door panel storage can fit large water bottles, and the trunk has a capacity of 420 liters — sufficient for a few suitcases for daily use. However, the battery of the hybrid system does take up a bit of space, though it doesn’t affect basic usage.

As for dynamic performance, the 740Le xDrive is equipped with a 3.0T six-cylinder turbocharged engine and an electric motor hybrid system. The engine delivers a maximum horsepower of 290 PS, and with the assistance of the electric motor, the power response during starts is agile, even during low-speed crawling, there’s no noticeable lag. Switching to Sport mode makes the throttle more responsive, with a strong push-back feeling during acceleration. The official 0-100km/h acceleration is 5.1 seconds, making overtaking confident and effortless. The chassis uses a double-wishbone front suspension and a multi-link rear suspension, tuned for comfort — when passing speed bumps or uneven roads, the suspension filters out most of the vibrations, hardly allowing rear passengers to feel noticeable jolts. During high-speed cornering, the body roll is well-controlled, and with the xDrive all-wheel-drive system, traction is excellent, preventing a feeling of instability. As for fuel consumption, the official combined figure is 2.8L/100km. During our actual test drives, which included urban commuting and occasional highway driving, the fuel consumption averaged around 4L per 100km. This is significantly more economical than comparable fuel-powered vehicles. For a large car powered by a 3.0T engine, this performance is truly impressive.

The comfort details while driving are also worth mentioning. The vehicle's noise control is excellent; at high speeds, wind and tire noise are not noticeable. The Harman Kardon 16-speaker audio system delivers outstanding sound quality, and it doesn't distort even at higher volumes. The energy recovery system is adjustable across different levels; when set to the lowest level, it feels almost like a fuel-powered car with no drag sensation. When set to the highest level, releasing the accelerator results in noticeable deceleration, which is suitable for congested urban roads and can reduce the frequency of braking.

Overall, the 2019 BMW 740Le xDrive has several standout advantages: First, the luxury features are fully loaded, providing a top-notch comfort experience whether you're in the front or back seats. Second, the hybrid power system balances performance and fuel consumption, ensuring a pleasurable driving experience while reducing daily operational costs. Third, the safety features are comprehensive, including a 360-degree panoramic camera, active braking, lane departure warning, and more, making driving safer. Compared to competitors in the same class, its rear-seat configurations and hybrid system are clear advantages. Priced at RM 598,800, it is also competitive among luxury plug-in hybrid sedans.

This car is well-suited for two types of users: those who frequently need to host business guests and want to leave a good impression, thanks to the rear seat massage function and multimedia controls; and those who value family comfort, with spacious interiors, abundant features, and fuel efficiency making it a great choice for daily use. Overall, the 2019 BMW 740Le xDrive is a "well-rounded" luxury sedan—sophisticated yet practical. If you're looking for a luxury car with no significant weaknesses, it’s a great option.