BMW i7 vs BMW i5

BMW is applying the EV experience to its flagship sedan. As part of a redesign, the 2023 BMW 7 Series gets an all-electric variant for the first time. And in keeping with the naming convention established by the i3 and i4, that new model is the 2023 BMW i7.

While the i7 is a different take on BMW’s traditional flagship, it’s also a different approach to luxury EVs. Most other high-end electric sedans—such as the Lucid Air, Mercedes-Benz EQS, and Tesla Model S—were designed from the ground up as EVs. But the i7 is an electric version of a gasoline car.

In its launch i7 xDrive60 guise, the electric model is positioned roughly at the same level as the gasoline 7 Series in performance and price. That will change as the 7 Series lineup grows to include, among other things, a cheaper gasoline model and a more powerful M Performance version of the i7. But for now, BMW is essentially offering the same car with gasoline or electric powertrains.