BMW X7 2019 vs. Lincoln Navigator, Mercedes GLS, Audi Q7 and Range Rover: How Do They Compare?

BMW X7 SUV has been a long moment in the making. But when it goes on sale early next year, it will enter an extremely competitive segment of luxury SUVs full size.

According to us, the main competitors of the X7 will be its German rivals, the Mercedes-Benz GLS and proven Audi Q7. All three can accommodate seven passengers, so you can put the rest of your offspring well for a family outing. We also expect the X7 to face the grandfathers of the world of luxury SUVs: the Range Rover and Lincoln Navigator.

Some of the most significant differences between our five SUVs come in the form of engine choices. Of the five vehicles, only Mercedes offers a true performance-oriented variant, the GLS63, although the Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic is close. BMW offers a turbocharged V8 in its X7 xDrive50i and the Mercedes GLS is also compatible with a twin-turbo V8. Audi's most powerful engine choice in the Q7 is a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6, an engine that is not going to shake the pillars of paradise.

The Range Rover is available with a multitude of engine options, including a plug-in hybrid, a supercharged V6, a supercharged V8 and a diesel. The more powerful variant of the Rangie V8 comes closest to the AMG in terms of absolute brutality. The Navigator is only available with one engine, the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, also in use in the Ford Raptor.

If the story gives any indication, we are certain that BMW will introduce other powertrain variants into the X7 lineup, but for now, there are only two choices:

Engine and transmission comparison

Vehicle	Engine	Power (hp)	Couple (lb-ft)	Transmission
BMW X7 xDrive40i	3.0 liters turbo I6	335	330	Steptronic 8-speed
BMW X7 xDrive50i	V8 4.4-liter turbo	456	479	Steptronic 8-speed
Audi Q7 2.0 TFSI	2.0 liters turbo I4	252	273	8 speed Tiptronic
Audi Q7 3.0 TFSI	3.0 liter turbo V6	333	325	8 speed Tiptronic
Mercedes-Benz GLS450 4Matic	3.0 liter turbo V6	362	369	9G-Tronic 9-speed
Mercedes-Benz GLS550 4Matic	V8 4.7 liter turbo	449	516	9G-Tronic 9-speed
Mercedes-Benz GLS63 AMG 4Matic	5.5 liter turbo V8	577	561	7 speed AMG speed control
Lincoln Navigator	3.5L turbo V6	450	500	Selectshift with 10 speeds
Land Rover Range Rover 400e	2.0 liter hybrid turbo I4	398	472	Automatic hybrid ZF 8 speed
Land Rover Range Rover Td6	3.0 liters turbodiesel V6	254	443	ZF 8-speed automatic
Land Rover Range Rover V6	V6 supercharged 3.0 liters	340	332	ZF 8-speed automatic
Land Rover Range Rover V8	V8 supercharged 5.0 liters	518	461	ZF 8-speed automatic
Land Rover Range Rover Dynamic SVAutobiography	V8 supercharged 5.0 liters	557	516	ZF 8-speed automatic

styling

Although the style is incredibly subjective, the first reactions of the Internet peanut gallery suggest that the size of the X7 kidney grids pushes the boundaries of good taste. It's a polarizing vehicle, but some people will like it. The Audi is the most sober of the pack. It does not push the design envelope at all, but it's not necessarily a bad thing. The Benz is big and elaborate, with many lines of characters and folds, but it is less aggressive than the Bimmer and more stylized than the Audi.

The Navigator has a lot of chrome and is upright (perhaps reflecting its truck-body chassis roots), but it's nice all the same. The Range Rover is an iteration on a theme, but we believe that the current generation of Rangie is one of the most seductive versions to be released for a long time.

Price

The X7 is halfway in pricing. The X7 xDrive40i starts at $ 74,895, while the X7 xDrive50i starts at $ 93,695. The smaller Audi Q7 has a much more aggressive price. Premium base trim starts at $ 50,875, thanks in part to its standard 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. With the supercharged V6 under the hood, the high end Prestige the model starts at $ 66,475.

At $ 71,145, the Mercedes-Benz GLS Class may have a slightly lower starting price than the X7, but thanks to its 577 horsepower AMG variant, the base price of the GLS is $ 127,145. The GLS550 – which starts at $ 96,745 – is on a par with the X7 xDrive50i.

The Navigator is on par with our three Germans, but the Range Rover, with its engine options, wheelbases and finishes, can exceed its price of $ 200,000, hindering the "scenic" AMG.

Three rows luxury SUV pricing

Vehicle	Price (incl Destination)
BMW X7 xDrive40i	$ 74,895
BMW X7 xDrive50i	$ 93,695
Audi Q7 2.0 TFSI Premium	$ 50,875
Audi Q7 3.0 TFSI Premium	$ 57,475
Audi Q7 2.0 TFSI Premium Plus	$ 54,875
Audi Q7 3.0 TFSI Premium Plus	$ 61,475
Audi Q7 3.0 TFSI Prestige	$ 66,475
Mercedes-Benz GLS450 4Matic	$ 71,145
Mercedes-Benz GLS550 4Matic	$ 96,745
Mercedes-Benz GLS63 AMG 4Matic	$ 127,145
Lincoln Navigator Premiere	$ 73,850
Lincoln Navigator Select	$ 77,850
Lincoln Navigator Select L	$ 82,345
Lincoln Navigator Reserve	$ 83,000
Lincoln Navigator Reserve L	$ 87,495
Lincoln Navigator Black Label	$ 95,500
Lincoln Navigator Black Label L	$ 101,245
Range Rover SWB Td6	$ 91,855
Range Rover SWB Td6 HSE	$ 97,045
Range Rover SWB P400e HSE	$ 96,145
Range Rover SWB 3.0 V6	$ 89,855
Range Rover SWB 3.0 V6 HSE	$ 96,045
Range Rover SWB 5.0 supercharged V8	$ 105,845
Autobiography of Range Rover SWB 5.0 V8	$ 142,990
Range Rover SWB 5.0 V8 Dynamic SVAutobiography	$ 178,195
Range Rover LWB 5.0 V8 supercharged	$ 109,890
Range Rover LWB 5.0 V8 Dynamic SVAutobiography	$ 208,895

Tech and security

The X7 features many advanced technologies, including a 12.3-inch display in the instrument cluster, complemented by a 12.3-inch infotainment display placed at the top of the center stack. Other standard features include a 20GB hard drive-based navigation system, in-vehicle Wi-Fi, six USB ports, wireless charging, and a 205-watt 10-speaker audio system. A high-end Harman Kardon audio system is a standard feature of the X7 xDrive50i.

The Audi Q7 and the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class are not as techno heavy. The Q7 comes standard with a 7.0-inch multimedia information display, a 10-speaker audio system, and a satellite radio. The Prestige-trim Q7, however, includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, in-car navigation, satellite radio, Bose audio system with 198 558-watt speakers and 12.3-inch Audi's beloved Virtual Cockpit display.

The Navigator is not really at the cutting edge of technology, but it is also not stuck in the Stone Age. It offers Ford's well-upgraded Sync 3 system with a well-placed 8-inch touch screen. The optional Revel stereo is excellent and can be hung at the Bang & Olufsen unit of the Benz and is far nicer than the Audi Bose system. The Meridian base system of the Range Rover is good, but the optional reference system is totally different.

Range Rover's dual-display infotainment configuration is slow, a significant improvement over previous offerings, but remains slow compared to the iDrive or later version of Benz's COMAND configuration.

Although much more expensive than the basic Q7, the Mercedes-Benz GLS450 is not much better with its standard technology. All you get is a 7-inch screen, an HD radio and an SD card reader. The GLS550 is a little more flash with its 8-inch screen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, integrated navigation, satellite radio and a Harman Kardon audio system, but the new MBUX system has not made the leap yet in this platform.

The rugged suite of X7's standard driver assistance systems match its abundance of standard technologies. With the Big Bimmer, you benefit from automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, a rear cross traffic alert, recognition of traffic signs as well as of a lane departure warning system.

The xDrive50i will park in parallel with front and rear parking sensors and a 360-degree camera system. It also receives a front cross traffic alert, head-up display, Lane Keeping Assist and adaptive hands-free cruise control. The xDrive50i also benefits from semi-autonomous driving features, such as auto-assist collision avoidance and automatic lane change, automatic high beam and adaptive LED headlamps.

Q7 and GLS, on the other hand, are older platforms and, as such, their list of standard security technologies is not as long. The Q7 offers only automatic emergency braking with front and rear parking sensors as standard. Prestige trim includes LED headlights, blind spot monitoring and 360-degree camera coverage.

By switching to the GLS450, you benefit from collision mitigation braking, a driver-aware windshield wiper and windshield wipers. The GLS550 adds adaptive LED headlights with automatic high beams, blind spot monitoring, Lane Keeping Assist, and self-parking parallel with a 360-degree camera.

The Navigator can be equipped with a number of advanced driver assistance systems, including blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, self-parking capability, etc., but nothing particularly revolutionary for the driver. segment. Range Rover's ADAS suite is similar, but features a number of off-road systems that make things more fun and safer when things go wrong.

Loading space

The maximum loading capacity of the BMW X7 is commensurate with its price: it is in the middle of the package with 90.4 cubic feet. The smaller Q7 offers a lot less cargo space – only 71.6 cubic feet. This is comparable to SUVs that belong to the entire size class of the food chain. The relatively cavernous GLS could almost swallow smaller SUVs with a cargo volume of 93.8 cubic feet.

In short, we will not know for sure until we drive it, but the BMW seems like a good choice if you want a big three-row SUV with the latest technology and the most powerful and capable of to bear appearances. The Audi remains a good deal if you are ready to live with the reduced load capacity and the older architecture of the infotainment and security system. The GLS is arguably the most beautiful of the pack, will carry the most things from the three Germans and can be purchased with a hand-crafted AMG V8.

The tall American takes the cake when it comes to having a large cargo area. With the seats folded down (and with a second row seat), the Navigator L can hold 120.2 cubic feet. The shorter version will still hold an impressive 103.3 cubic feet. The Range Rover must assume that you will have a jack to carry your stuff for you because it has the smallest boot in the group at just 65.5 cubic feet. The long wheelbase version is identical to the short version in terms of load capacity.

Cargo volume comparison

Vehicle	Seats (cubic feet)	Seating folded (cubic feet)
X7	46.8	90.4
Q7	14.8	71.6
GLS	16	93.8
Navigator	19.3	103.3
Navigator L	34.3	120.2
Range Rover SWB	25	65.5
Range Rover LWB	24.3	65.5

Headroom and Legroom

The headroom is important in any vehicle, and if you have too long a torso or an elegant neck, look to the big Benz, because it leads the pack in front of the margin under the hair, with a hair of more than 42 inches. Things do not go down the second row either for the Mercedes, where she is tied to the short-wheelbase Lincoln at 40 inches, to the nose. The way back is not really meant for tall people, but they may not be too miserable in the Benz, which features the most vertical piece at 38.9 inches.

Legroom is a concern for everyone because no one likes to get their knees stuck in a dashboard or folder. With more than 43 inches, Lincoln offers the most room to stretch your rods in the front seat, while the Range Rover sits at the back of the bag with only 39.2 inches. The second row is where things start to get interesting, thanks to the long wheelbase versions of the Navigator and Range Rover. Here, Rangie is really gaining traction with incredible leg and legroom, the X7 scrapes the bottom of the barrel with 12.2 inches less space.

The third-row passenger generally receives the least possible attention with regard to leg room. The browser has the most with 36.1 inches, which is OK for a small adult. On the other hand, if you plan to drive an Audi Q7, do not associate with the third row unless you can sneak into tight spaces. Otherwise, you will have a bad time thanks to the 29.2 inches. Ingolstadt engineers in Germany have awarded you.

Free height / legroom Comparison

Vehicle	Free space in front	Legroom before	Free space 2nd rank	2nd row of legs	Clearance	3rd row legs
X7	41.9 "	39.8 "	39.9 "	37.6 "	36.6 "	33.3 "
Q7	38.4 "	41.7 "	38.8 "	38.8 "	35.9 "	29.2 "
GLS	42.1 "	40.3 "	40 "	38.5 "	38.9 "	35 "
Range Rover SWB	39.3 "	39.2 "	39.3 "	39.3 "	N / A	N / A
Range Rover LWB	39.3 "	39.2 "	39.3 "	46.8 "	N / A	N / A
Navigator	41.8 "	43.9 "	40 "	41.1 "	37.3 "	36.1 "
Navigator L	39.5 "	43.9 "	37.9 "	41.1 "	37.4 "	36.1 "

When it comes to driving pleasure and how these different space and powertrain measures feel in the real world, we'll have to wait until we get to grips with the BMW. X7 2019 for a first test in due form.

Until then, however, Audi, Mercedes and the rest of the SUV's top-of-the-line three-row vehicles had an interest in watching their backs, as the gigantic X7 grille would probably overload their mirrors.