One Big, Beautiful Luxury SUV: BMW Alpina XB7 Tested!
BMW refreshed the X7 lineup for 2023, and while the base model we tested got some things right—namely performance, tech, and a simplified cabin—the xDrive40i isn’t the all-arounder we hoped it would to be. As a result, the luxury full-size SUV sits fifth out of seven in the class in MotorTrend sUltimate Car Rankings.
The 2025 BMW Alpina XB7 top trim doesn’t solve the X7’s cargo space woes and makes it only a little easier to get into the third row of seats. What makes the flagship special, however, is its Alpina tuning. The third-party builder touched the XB7’s 631-horsepower 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 mild hybrid, suspension, and interior design elements to create the ultimate X7.
BMW sent us a 2025 Alpina XB7 to see how well it does. We looked at our past testing results to stack it up against the previous version, as well as against rivals like the Mercedes-AMG GLS63 4Matic+.
Massive Braking Power
Stopping from 60 mph in a straight line, the previous XB7 is a bit more capable than the new one. Its best effort is 100 feet, 3 feet shorter than our Alpina. The AMG needed more space, though, taking 107 feet to come to a halt. None of these numbers is anything to sneeze at given each SUV’s weight.
Perhaps more amazing, the weight is virtually unnoticeable from the Alpina XB7’s driver’s seat during panic stops. The chassis manages to control dive well, and the big luxury SUV never felt squirrely, even in repeated stops from 100 mph and with antilock brakes activated. The BMW’s shorter-travel pedal loads up predictably, too.
Tallboy Fancy Footwork
Everything this vehicle does at or near its dynamic limits is impressive, especially considering it’s an almost-three-ton box on wheels. Plus, any of the chassis’ floatiness from previous incarnations seems all but eliminated.
The Alpina-grade grunt and suspension tuning, which includes adaptive pneumatic dampers and active roll stabilization, facilitate some of the magic. Our luxury rig also came shod in wide and sticky standard Pirelli P Zero tires, a substantial 285-width in front and even meatier 325 in back. An included M Sport rear differential and exhaust also contribute to the 2025 BMW Alpina XB7’s thrilling driving manners.
Average lateral acceleration for the 2025 XB7 is 0.89 g, a little worse than the previous model’s 0.95 g, but that’s only part of the story. In our racetrack-mimicking figure-eight test, both old and new had an average lap time of 24.8 seconds, but the newer model manages transitions better, eking out a slightly better 0.81 g average compared to the older model’s 0.78 g despite near equivalent acceleration and slightly lower maximum lateral grip.
Like the braking test, the AMG is roughly a half step behind the Alpina. The GLS63 delivered a skidpad average of 0.77 g and averaged a slower 27.7 seconds at 0.65 g around the figure eight.
Who Is the BMW Alpina XB7 For?
Like other X7s, the Alpina gets dinged for not being as spacious as rivals. The V-8 model’s poor fuel economy is another demerit, which effectively hasn’t improved since the previous gen, but even our AMG bogey manages a worse 14/18 mpg city/highway. Some others in the class are only slightly better.
Indeed, little about the 2025 BMW Alpina XB7 makes practical sense. Even at its base price of just more than $157,000, there are more capacious, better packaged, even more upscale rivals in the segment that cost about as much.
Here is where BMW would argue the Alpina XB7 is singular, and it’s somewhat right. The eager SUV delivers a fun, uncompromised driving experience that one of our test drivers said feels more like an M product than does the M5 Touring. That’s some high praise.
If a crew hauler is what you need but driving excitement is what you want, and you know the drill with stiffer-riding performance cars—plus you have the necessary coin—the latest Alpina XB7 packs the kind of BMW punch that can make everyday a rush. No “M” required.
