Let's Talk About the BMW X7's Interior

Yesterday BMW launched the X7 with two models: the X7 xDrive40i and X7 xDrive50i. I think it’s fair to say that the exterior design is, at best, controversial among members of the press and design communities. The trademark dual kidney grill is certainly very large and there’s the usual discussion about whether BMW should even be making a product like this. I have my own opinions, obviously, but I’d like to skip all that for now and just focus for a minute on the X7’s interior. Specifically, I’d like to critique the interior designer’s use of color and materials.

According to BMW’s press release the interior upholstery is available in the usual shades of black, various browns and tans, and ivory. Most of these options are leather but the xDrive40i is available with black SensaTec, a synthetic leather-like material.

However, the press package photographs show an optional treatment with, as BMW describes it, “a two-tone Ivory White/Navy Blue Full Leather Merino interior, with a Navy Blue leather dashboard and a Navy Blue Alcantara headliner.” This is extremely unusual in the modern age and it looks exceptionally nice when combined with the light colored trim on the doors, dash, and center console. Other very nice touches include the crystalline shift handle and knurled texture on rotary controllers and select switches. BMW should be praised for this, I think, even though it has a certain resemblance to the Black Label editions of the Lincoln Navigator.

However, I can’t help but be disappointed by the lack of premium textile interiors. Volvo is leading the way here with their “Blond Textile” fabric available on the 2019 V60. You don’t have to be a vegan to appreciate the wide design envelope that woven cloth allows or the comfort fabric offers on a very hot or very cold day. Black SensaTec as the lone non-leather option, and then only for budget reasons, should no longer be considered sufficient in an otherwise thoughtfully designed luxury vehicle.