A Quick Guide for a Weekend of Camping with the BMW X7

February 28th, 2024 by

A Quick Guide for a Weekend of Camping with the BMW X7

When you think of the BMW name, a few things probably run through your head—tons of amenities, first-class infotainment, and exciting performance are all associated with the famed marque. One thing that generally doesn’t come to mind is its ability to conquer the great outdoors, though. We think that’s a shame, considering it’s every bit as capable as large SUVs with more rugged reputations.

Just because it’s a luxury brand, doesn’t mean it can’t camp, overland, and run trails with the best of them, and to prove it, we decided to take a BMW X7 out for a weekend in nature.

Choosing the Right Engine

The 2024 X7 is available in three different editions, each with their own unique powertrains and specs.

BMW X7 xDrive 40i:

  • Engine: 3.0-liter BMW TwinPower Turbo inline 6-cylinder
  • Horsepower: 375 hp
  • Torque: 398 lb-ft
  • Zero-to-sixty: 5.6 s

BMW X7 M60i:

  • Engine: 4.4-liter BMW M TwinPower Turbo V-8 engine
  • Horsepower: 523 hp
  • Torque: 553 lb-ft
  • Zero-to-sixty: 4.5 s

BMW XB7:

  • Engine: 4.4-liter BMW ALPINA Bi-Turbo V-8
  • Horsepower: 631 hp
  • Torque: 590 lb-ft
  • Zero-to-sixty: 3.9 s

Obviously, the eight-cylinder options offer a ballistic ride, but for our purposes, we decided to put the base engine to the test. All trims come standard with BMW xDrive, so no matter which motor you’re packing, the X7 treads the wilderness with confidence.

Packing For the TripChoosing the Right X7 Engine

Regardless of which trim you choose, the X7’s interior dimensions are the same across the board. While it isn’t quite as spacious as larger truck body SUVs, it’s noticeably longer than competitors like the Range Rover and Lexus LX, which translates to more interior room. There’s ample seating for six or seven adults, as well as flat-folding second and third row seats that allow for various cargo configurations.

For our little camping jaunt, we had two adults, two kids, and a toddler. Masochistic? Maybe a little bit, but we were determined to make it work.

Since none of us are too keen on sleeping on the ground, we decided to tow our pop-up A-frame trailer. Regardless of which version of the X7 you have, they all have a towing rating of about 7,500 pounds, so it’s able to haul small-to-medium-sized travel trailers with ease. Thanks to a special rack on top of the trailer, we were even able to bring a kayak along for the ride.

As far as seating went, we opted to put the little one’s car seat in the second row behind the driver seat, then let the two older ones fight over who had to sit next to him. In order to fit our cargo, we folded half of the third row down, and this left us ample space in the back for two big coolers for all our food and water, a couple of padded sleeping mats, a large suitcase for all of our clothes, and a couple of backpacks for good measure.

Then, we just had to figure out where to put the other essentials: an awning, a two-burner camp stove, some folding chairs, pillows, blankets, and a few other odds and ends. The answer? Factory roof rails, which came standard. All we had to do was grab a rack and cargo carrier prior to the trip.

Just like that, all our things were packed and everyone had a comfy place to sit with room to spare.

Hitting the Road

At its price point, it should come as no surprise that the X7 is incredibly well-appointed with creature comforts, making it one of the all-around best family SUVs for road tripping. We were particularly fond of the multiple climate zones that allowed us to set different temperatures for each row.

The tech offerings were a big hit too. We sprung for the Highway Assistant package, which worked like a dream in tandem with the Dynamic Cruise Control. The curved infotainment display worked glitch-free thanks to the BMW OS 8.5, and the navigation system kept up on the right path without a hitch.

Once we got close to the campground, the trail got a little trickier, but the X7 handled it like a champ. Dynamic Stability and Traction Control and the self-leveling air suspension worked remarkably well—so much so that not a single piece of cargo budged an inch, which our third-row passenger was grateful for. The 21-inch run-flat tires handled the terrain with zero fuss, and as predicted, the BMW all-wheel drive system had zero trouble getting us to our campsite, despite some pretty gnarly sand and mud.

Hitting the Road in Your X7Setting Up Camp

Now, for the moment we all were waiting for.

After getting to our modest campsite and unpacking, we got to work setting up our sleeping arrangements. The plan was to have the two adults and the toddler share the trailer, while the kiddos got to sleep in the back of the X7.

With the touch of a button located in the cargo area, the second and third row seats fold down automatically. The third row folds down completely flat, while the second row folds at a slight incline, giving us a whopping 90.4 cubic feet of space to work with, which proved to be more than spacious enough room to lay a padded sleeping mat down for two kids to sleep on. In fact, being the largest BMW SUV available, we realized it would even work for a couple of full-sized adults; the ample, flat-folding cargo area was one of the main draws of the X7 for us.

We also decided to do it up a little extra on the inside. In order to make the back of the X7 feel a little more homey, we added some battery-powered lights around the interior for reading, and bought a set of window covers and sun shades from the dealership for a bit of added privacy. We also made sure to bring an outdoor floor mat to keep any sand and dirt out of the interior. With this setup, the kids had a blast having their own space to retire to after a day of activities, and they definitely didn’t mind the built-in Wi-Fi hotspot either.

With the SUV camper all set up, all we had to do was raise and level our trailer, and vacation had officially begun.

Ending the Journey

When the time came to finally break down camp, everything packed away quick and easy—the whole process only took us a leisurely 45 minutes. We also made a quick detour to the car wash on the way home to dust off the excess grime; it’s a lease, after all.

After a couple of fun-filled days of hikes, campfire grilling, and general shenanigans, we returned home with a newfound confidence that the BMW X7 isn’t just a great luxury family SUV, but one of the best SUVs for camping.

If you’re looking for one of the best all-around family adventure vehicles with upscale amenities, Braman BMW Miami has you covered. Give us a call at (786) 577-5220 to schedule a test drive, or contact us online to see our fantastic BMW lease and finance specials.