I remember when the BMW X5 was launched in 1999. It was the German manufacturer’s first foray into the world of the SUV. The emphasis was more on sporty on-road driving rather than off-road prowess. I must confess to coveting one, and once a year or two had passed, I did contemplate a second-hand purchase, but values remained strong.

Fast forward twenty-five plus years, and BMW now offers a raft of SUVs for their affluent customers’ delectation, some more desirable in my opinion than others. X1 is the smallest offering, with mid-size X3 and X5 completing the sensible line-up. And of course, the emphasis is now on their electric cars, the number of which increases every year.

All hail then the BMW X7, which has been on sale for many a year, with refreshes along the way. Most are powered by large diesel engines, and cars like this will doubtless disappear from the new car lists in the next few years. However, I couldn’t resist one last go, and the BMW press office was happy to oblige.

First impressions are the X7’s rather gargantuan dimensions and the bold front grille. It’s not a car to discreetly go about one’s day-to-day business. You do get noticed, and not all looks I suspect are positive. Noticeable are the rear doors, unusually larger than those up front, which makes getting into the rearmost seats a far more dignified experience.

The X7 can be ordered with a petrol engine, but diesel really does suit this sort of car. The engine produces 347hp, but it’s the gargantuan torque figure of 720Nm that really counts. Acceleration is excellent for one so large, with 60mph from rest achievable in less than six seconds. However, when gently cruising at motorway speeds, the engine sits at around 1,500rpm. Bury your foot however, and the slick gearbox will shift down a couple of cogs, great for swift overtakes. The engine sounds really good when extended too.

BMW quotes around 35mpg for the combined cycle, and although I was travelling alone, this seems readily achievable with a little restraint. Emissions are high at 215g/km, so company car users will be looking elsewhere.

Motorway cruising is an X7 forte with excellent straight-line stability and the almost complete absence of wind and road noise. Set the adaptive cruise control and relax. I tackled one of my favourite cross-country routes, an exciting mix of fast A and B roads. The X7 proved to be surprisingly capable and easy to place despite the car’s considerable girth.

However, you cannot overcome physics, and ultimately the X7 rolls rather more on the bends than other X models I’ve driven. You can firm things up in sport mode, but better to take things steady and enjoy the X7’s cossetting ride, even with 22-inch alloy wheels and run-flat tyres. Air suspension is fitted.

My off-road excursions demonstrated the BMW’s credentials. Snow, sand, gravel and rock modes, along with raised suspension and excellent traction, ensured a distinct lack of drama. Capable and reassuring when the going gets tough. I didn’t venture very far, as I didn’t want to scratch the paintwork on overgrown lanes or mark those shiny optional alloys.

BMW claim the X7 is a paragon of quality, delivering outstanding luxury and a full complement of advanced equipment features. And luxurious the X7 most certainly is! Sumptuous merino leather covers almost every surface, with metal or soft-touch plastics elsewhere. Build quality is first-rate.

The seats are supremely comfortable not just up front, but in the two individual centre row seats too. You can specify a three-seat bench. Access to the rearmost seats is surprisingly good, those large doors coming into their own. My six-foot frame was easily accommodated and with the optional five-zone air-conditioning fitted, keeping cool back there would be no problem.

Even with all seats occupied, there is 326 litres of boot space, extending to 2,120 litres with all the rear seats electrically folded away. All cars come with a three-part glass roof which bathes the cabin in natural light, and this can be opened too if one so desires.

Equipment count is exhaustive, but there is still the option to personalise BMW’s largest SUV. Over £16,000 worth of goodies was fitted to my test car. I would take them all.

How then to sum up the BMW X7? Almost unique in its offering, the X7 offers Range Rover luxury and Defender seven-seat versatility – no mean feat. The Land Rover offerings will ultimately take you further off-road, but as most owners are likely to do little more than tackle a little wet grass or snow-covered road, an X7 will serve most very well.

The interior’s comfort cannot be understated and there are hints of BMW’s sporting prowess when ensconced behind the wheel. The bold styling may not be everyone’s taste and the car’s sheer size may deter the urban driver. But for an owner who boasts a larger family and a healthy bank balance, the X7 is a very desirable product and a well thought out part of BMW’s SUV range.

Fast Facts
BMW X7 xDrive 40d M Sport
Price £93,005 (£116,074 with options)
347bhp 3.0-litre diesel engine
Torque 720Nm
0-62mph in 5.9 seconds
Top speed 152mph
Combined economy 35mpg
Emissions 215g/km CO2
Length 5.15 metres, width 2.0 metres