BMW X7 vs BMW iX

The X7 is BMW’s flagship SUV, providing more space, luxury, and seats for new car buyers looking for a bigger utility vehicle but wanting to stay in the BMW fold. It arrived for the 2019 model year, received a substantial update for 2023, and continues into the 2025 model year without major changes. Its diverse competitive set includes the Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator, Land Rover Range Rover, Lexus LX, Infiniti QX80, and Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class.

Verdict: BMW loyalists will find more of what they love about the brand, while the X7’s superb driving dynamics and reasonable pricing (for this high-end segment, that is) should give customers of rival brands something to think about.

The BMW iX receives minor styling updates for the 2026 model year, along with a reworked lineup that includes a much more affordable entry-level model and a more widely available M Sport Package. But the big news is the improved battery technology, which adds modest gains in power and range. These changes improve an already-appealing midsize electric SUV, but are they enough?

Verdict: The dizzying pace of change in the electric vehicle segment is how a likable luxury SUV such as the iX can seem like yesterday’s news after just a few short years. The 2026 BMW iX is competitive with the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, but pales in comparison to the Lucid Gravity and the Rivian R1S.