Test-Driving The 2023 BMW 760i xDrive

Nothing feels unimportant when you start up and drive the 2023 BMW 760i xDrive whether you’re headed to a business meeting or to 7-11. The vehicle is dressed, coiffed, gorgeous, expensive and worth it, especially when outfitted with the $12,000 Aventurine Red and Black Sapphire two-tone paint. It is as singular and pleasurable as any Beemer you’ll ever punish.

It wants you to punish it, too, despite its 4,969 pounds. A scorching 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine making 536 horsepower and assisted by a 48-volt mild hybrid motor is all business. Need to zip ahead of a traffic situation on the freeway? Done. Need juice going up an ultra-steep hill? “As you wish.” Cruising side streets on a beautiful night, taking it slow? Heaven. The engine is quiet at any speed, as is the ride.

New driving assistance features make your journey safer and that more plush. The Level 2+ functionality, for example, allows for minor autonomy while driving – eyes on the road, please – with Highway Assistant controlling the car up to 85 mph. A level 3 autonomous system is on its way, says the company. But there’s more. Here are some of the highlights.

Body

From different angles, you won’t necessarily know it’s a BMW- just a large, gorgeous sedan with a compelling color combination, if you go for that option. Come up front and you’ll see the big kidney grill with an LED surround, and there you have the signature BMW look. Coming out of the grocery store, you may not have to remember where you parked – just look for the handsomest car in the lot.

Inside

It’s plush, 5-star, comfy, clean and divine. A flat-bottomed steering wheel lends a particularly sporty air. Cashmere-covered seats are a $6,450 option and there’s a must-have $7,200 Executive Lounge package including a flip-down Theater Screen in the back seat.

Smart-phone-looking tablets are integrated into the door armrests, allowing rear passengers control over lighting, climate, sunshades, and music. The touchscreen is extra large and crisp, with its 31-inches and 8K touchscreen descending from the ceiling. There is elegant cut glass in the cockpit here and there. Everywhere you look and touch, there is elegance and purpose. There may be no more perfect vehicle to park under the stars or at a body of water, and relax – or even be stuck in traffic in.

The Drive

It’s smooth start to finish whether bopping around town or letting ‘er rip up and around the mountain as needed. There’s a smidgen of road noise from the 23-inch tires. It hugged the curves reasonably well but it’s not a corner-carver per se, and doesn’t want to be. It’s just a fast, heavy, reasonably well-handling automobile that’s fun to drive. SPORT mode produces the predictable blast, while BOOST, accessible through paddles, delivered a 10-second burst of speed. Mileage is listed as a combined city-highway 21 miles per gallon.

Beefs

They’ve completely done away with buttons in the cockpit, and I miss them. The iDrive 8 infotainment system worked well, but was difficult to access while driving, and the nav system was a bit slow on the draw. I also dislike wheel shifts, requiring you take your eyes off the road and find it, first, then select the gear. The sound system was rich, crisp and excellent, though.

It’s one of those vehicles one must own and spend time investigating to really appreciate the craft and detail. The more you know about the car, the more you respect what the company has put together – a near-perfect ride experience.

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