Should you buy one?

Definitely. Get past the styling and the BMW X7 is a staggeringly good car. In terms of prestige and opulence it’s just barely edged out by the Range Rover Sport, but the BMW hits back with a better fit and finish, more cutting-edge technology and a sportier driving experience. It’s also more spacious.

Of its German-badged rivals, we’d take the X7 over the Audi Q7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS without hesitation – it’s simply more polished and, providing you can live with its looks, more desirable.

But there’s the rub. The BMW X7 polarises opinion on account of its sheer mass and bluff, glitzy front end, but there’s actually a lot to enjoy once you’re onboard. Quality is impressive, the vast array of technology available is easy to operate, there’s plenty of room and it doesn’t feel too intimidating on the road. Plus, there isn’t a bad engine available. There’s no doubt its mix of luxury, versatility and dynamic ability is unmatched by anything else in this segment at comparable money.

What we like

This is an undoubtedly huge car that’s crammed with tech, yet it’s still more enjoyable to drive than many smaller vehicles. That’s because BMW prides themselves on how sharp its cars are when you’re sitting behind the wheel and that really shows, here.

What we don’t like

The looks really won’t be to everyone’s taste. BMW has gone down a brave route with the styling of its cars and it’s not a stretch to say that some may be put off by it. We’d also love to see a plug-in hybrid version to compete with the Range Rover Sport.