BMW’s new SUV is enormous and impressive but bigger isn’t better when compared to the cheaper X5, writes Geraldine Herbert What is it? The BMW X7 is officially the largest BMW – think of it as an X5 on steroids. But at more than 5.1m long, it is one of those cars that no matter how carefully you park, it always looks nonchalantly abandoned by overhanging conventional parking spaces. And if somehow the sheer mass slips you by, the enormous kidney grille up front means you will stand out among the procession of SUVs jostling to reach the school gate or corporate car park. Is it a looker? The muscular front bonnet along with the 21-inch wheels give it a menacing exterior presence, while the roof rails and the sweeping chrome trim-strips hint at a go-anywhere capability. What about the interior? At the launch, BMW was understandably keen to point out the differences between this X7 and the smaller and, crucially, cheaper X5. In terms of size, it is 26mm longer and 63mm wider. The extra space makes the most difference to rear passengers, there are three rows of seats all with decent legroom, and even the third row has two full-size seats with space between them. BMW also has a six-seat configuration not offered by any competitors. Boot space is a generous 326 litres and increases to a maximum 2,120 litres when the backrests of the seats in the second and third rows are folded down. There is also a two-section split tailgate that opens and closes automatically and hands-free. Under the bonnet? There are three different engines on offer, one petrol and two diesels, ranging from the family-friendly xDrive30d to the M50d M Performance model – a  sublime blend of power and economy. And on the road? On the road it is effortless and wafts you along smoothly. Despite its size, it is impressively dynamic but at all times supremely comfortable. It’s also simple to park, thanks to the numerous driving aids on tap and reassuringly given its size, the parallel parking aid will squeeze you in so tightly to a parking space you will wonder how to get out of it. How safe is it? It’s also crammed with safety aids and standard features including a collision and pedestrian warning with city braking which can alert the...