BMW has joined the seven-seat SUV segment with the new X7. The SUV targets Cadillac’s money maker with three rows of seats, brash design and a certain German cache.
The two SUVs are nearly tit for tat when it comes to dimensions. The BMW X7 measures in at 203.3 inches in length, 78.7 inches wide and 71.1 inches tall and a wheelbase length of 122.2 inches. The Cadillac Escalade is slightly longer at 203.9 inches, wider at 80.5 inches, taller at 74.4 inches, and its wheelbase is just four inches longer.
Matching the big Bimmer’s proportions are an exaggerated kidney bean grille, slim headlights and taillights, and rear doors that are actually longer than the front to emphasize the space inside. BMW said the longer rear doors also help ease entry and exit in the X7. The rear is typical BMW design with a chrome strip spanning the taillights to maximize its behemoth-like presence.
SUVs like the X7 quickly make the Escalade begin to look dated, and that’s especially true when seeing the X7’s interior. This is certainly no GM interior with trim surfaces framed with electroplated accents on the instrument panel and center console. The final design feels more exquisite, and that’s saying something since the Escalade arguably offers Cadillac’s poshest interior. The Escalade is just starting to look rather old in comparison.
Inside, customers can make do with the standard seating configuration with two full-size seats in the third row, or opt for a six-seater configuration. The latter places captain’s chairs in the second row, which offer identical support and comfort to the front seats. Armrests and comfort cushions are included, should six seats make do over seven.
On the powertrain front, the X7 will feature a standard 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine with 335 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque. While that’s a far cry from the 6.2-liter V8 engine making 420 hp stuffed in the Escalade, an optional 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine outdoes the Cadillac’s small-block. The boosted V8 makes a healthy 456 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are matched with an eight-speed automatic transmission and BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system with an optional locking rear differential.
The standard Escalade rings in at $74,500, including destination, for a base model, which matches up well with the X7’s $74,895 starting price, also including a $995 destination fee. However, those looking for V8 power will be required to spend at least $93,595 for the xDrive50i model. By that point, an Escalade customer can have a very well optioned Escalade with standard V8 power.
And it’s Cadillac’s move; the brand will have an all-new Escalade for the 2020 model year.
Comments
Is the new X7 an SUV or CUV?
Looks of cars are very subjective I know but I don’t like the exterior or interior of this car. However, I do like the roof glass on this vehicle.
The funny part is that 3.0 liter inline 6 take X7 from 0 to 60 in 5.8 seconds while Escalade 6.2L V8 is 5.9 seconds. Besides BMW will handle much better while Escalade feels like driving couch in the swimming pool. Escalade got New Roaded.
Ryan.
Escalade competes with Navigator.
The X7 will compete with the Mercedes GLS and the Land Rover Range Rover. The latter two, like the X7, are purpose built large SUVs whereas the Lincoln and Caddy are BOF products based on their respective makers’ pickup trucks. The German and English products are unfortunately in a totally different league from the two domestics.
From a store that sells all four mentioned brands, Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Lincoln, the Escalade definitely gets cross shopped with GLS and Navigator. Escalade tends to outsell its competition here every time. I do however expect the New BMW X7 to steal some sales, but not much.
I don’t think many consumers are intimately aware of the structural differences between an Escalade and an X7, therefore I don’t buy the idea that they aren’t cross-shopped.
They’re both 3-row, full-size, luxury SUV’s. To create an artificial distinction between them is the work of marketers.
GM/Cadillac better step up their Interior game ASAP or every other Auto Maker will leave them in the Dust. Wooooooow
Maybe I underestimate, but one thing it seems JdN could have addressed (relatively) quickly would have been interiors.
Johan had no time. GM Bean Counters wouldn’t allow him the autonomy he and his team needed from GM to bring Cadillac back to true Tier One Luxury in the marketplace. All the cars on sale now were already on the market when he arrived and the XT4 was already started. This next batch of Cadillac vehicles will truly showcase to the World if GM is actually being serious about bringing Cadillac back to where they deserve to be. Styling inside and out is obviously extremely subjective but interior materials and technology is not. We shall see in a couple of months where future Cadillac will rank going forward. I think Johan wanted to have Cadillac become the best and I fear GM is all too comfortable with Cadillac being above just good enough. Hence why GM will not kill off the 3.6 HF Family V6 from the Cadillac lineup when they have the Cadillac exclusive 3.0TT.
I think this interior is terrible!
Cadillac Escalade ESV is the longer overall length which is around 224″ inches.
I’m sure this new BMW X7 will be a great vehicle. But trying to figure out if they will take share from others may be hard to do.
The German luxury brands have come out with so many new models, but I think these some of these new models may take share from other similar BMW’s and German brands.
I’m also not sure about the new grill design on the X7?
There is a mistake in the Escalade wheelbase. According to the arrival the BMW is 122.2 and Escalade is only 4 inches longer. That would put the Escalade at 126.2. There are 2 wheelbase on the Escalade 116 and 130. That would put the BMW in the middle of the 2 of them.
Design is subjective, but that interior looks like quality. Hope the XT7 can compete.
No offense, but I don’t think the interior design is even subjective. I think the interior design is just awful to look at and that people that say otherwise are crazy. However, when you take into account the different materials and how they interact–wood, metal, leather, etc–it gives off a really nice vibe. I doubt there’s a touch point that’s not pleasurable either.
In comparison to the Bimmer, the Bimmer is a farm implement with it’s archaic solid axle which nobody has used for decades in the Luxury segment.
This is what I meant to say.
In comparison to the Bimmer, the Slade is a farm implement with it’s archaic solid axle which nobody has used for decades in the Luxury segment.
This new BMW will probably be superior to Escalade in every way possible.
But what good is that when the front end of that Bimmer is so homely that it makes the new Camaro look like the best looking car on the market.
Oh yea because we know the BMW will stay-out the mechanic’s hands…….
I’m impressed, the X7 turned out much much better than I expected, both inside & out.
Although I don’t like this particular blue\white interior configuration, they nailed the interior. Materials, Design, Execution (fit & finish) & Attention to details. Just look at the trunk\3rd row area & compare that to the Escalade\Navigator. Also did you see that SkyLounge roof? The Escalade doesn’t even have a panoramic roof.
The new Escalade have to be beyond excellent to compete. It’s not just the X7 Cadillac have to worry about, Mercedes have an all new GLS coming soon as well.
And by the way, this is not the last word we hear about the X7. There’ll be an X7 M50i & a 4 seater executive X7 in the coming years alongside the already announced regular X7, M Sport, M50d & Individual models.
Good enough ain’t gonna cut it anymore, this ain’t 1999 any more.
The 6.2 is an excellent motor for an base Escalade. I’m assuming the 4.2 tt v8 will be an option and an optional hybrid will be available for the 2020 redesign with the IRS and improved interior, if not the Escalade is done..
I noticed some people complained about the BMW grill but I thought it looked impressive and reminded me a a Bently or Rolls. It looks a lot better than I thought it was going to be and am impressed. While both vehicles are impressive I prefer the buttoned fown look of this X-7. Good review.
Excuse me for my typo errors. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder but I prefer the look of the BMW.
The ’20 Escalade will bring it. Nothing to worry about. According to some, behind the scene sources, I read that the next gen. Escalade was shockingly good and will make the competition yesterday’s news.
The current Escalade still a very good vehicle in its own right and sales will remain steady, fall a bit, for the final year of the current cycle.
The X7 is nice. We should watch this vehicle closely and see how much damage it will bring to the competition.
The Escalade is a 10 speed automatic- not 8