There's a lot of talk on this forum about 7 versus S. Noise vs comfort, etc. While the post FL 7 isn't for me, I am still blown away by how pretty the interior is of the pre FL 7.

Anyway, there's a lot of objective data here as well wrt cabin noise, etc, and a lot of subjective data here wrt comfort, etc.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/bmw/7-series

Sharing so people can discuss and those who are considering either or both of these cars can have a review since real life experiences always reign supreme!

 

Autocar's tests are seriously excellent.

Like I have discussed before, I really labored between these two cars and I drove them for hours back to back trying to make up my mind. Both cars have significant plusses and significant downsides which are really frustrating IMO.

Plus for the S Class is the traditional elegant looks, downside for the 7 is the polarizing in your face chunky looks.

Plus for the 7 is the interior with very few cheap materials (too much gloss black in it too), downside for the S is cost cutting and build inside are below what the 7 offers, and the 7 has much better seats. Despite the quality I also don't love many of the design choices in the BMW interior, I don't like the way the stitching is done on the seats etc...but I also don't love the iPad displays on the S...I much prefer the interface and displays in the S Class to BMW's.

Engine models the M176 in the S Class is more refined, the transmission in the 7 is much better. The i7 takes the 7 to another plane and in the end that was what I was comparing, S580 to i7. I found the gas models of the 7 felt kind of ponderous and were less buttoned down at speed than the S Class...i7 thats not an issue I presume because of weight. i7 though then you have the issues with travelling in an EV.

Honestly I don't think there is a right or wrong choice, I think both cars are a compromise and if those compromises don't trouble you then you have a great car either place. I think if you take styling out of the equation on the balance the 7 is the better overall product, but the styling is a major consideration.

Unfortunately the refresh models IMO don't solve the difficulty I choosing between the two. The refresh 7 looks better outside, but the inside now becomes a huge compromise IMO. The refresh S looks to have improved some of the interior issues (have to feel it in person), but the exterior IMO moves away from its understated elegance...and I am concerned the cross plane V8 will feel less relaxed...

Contrast to when I was shopping in 2020 I also really labored between the S560 and 750i, but then I felt like neither car had huge drawbacks it was just what appealed to me more. With what these cars cost there is too much compromise IMO

 

I have owned a lot of Mercedes’s (number 71&72 are in my garage now), and while I have had many S Class sedans I chose first a 22 750 and then the 760 over the S Class this time (though I did also have a S560 coupe and then traded that for a S 63 coupe so I suppose I still had some type of S Class). I have done a few things to the front end of the 760 to make more palatable at least to me, but I just thought the 7 series was just a better all around vehicle though it did take a while to find the right color combination and options I wanted ( no folding screen ). I am not a fan of the facelift car especially the interior so it looks like I will be keeping this one for a while. I don’t think you can go wrong with either car and everyone has different preferences so it’s basically which one works best for you.