BMW 7 Series hybrid running costs
Running costs are generally likely to be low for the BMW 7 Series hybrid, but insurance will be pricey
| Insurance group | Warranty | Service interval | 2021/22 company-car tax cost (20%/40%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 3yrs / unlimited miles | 2yrs / 18,000 miles | From £1,752 / £3,504 |
For a car like the BMW 7 Series Hybrid, you’d be forgiven for thinking running costs wouldn’t be at the forefront of most buyers’ minds. However, the 745e is likely to be popular with chauffeuring companies, so its fuel efficiency does matter. Officially returning up to around 140mpg in short-wheelbase form, the 745e looks great on paper. However, realising that figure in the real world relies on charging regularly to maximise range.
Topping up the 12kWh battery using a home wallbox is likely to cost just a pound or two, assuming your electricity provider is charging you around 14p per kilowatt-hour. So if you mostly do short-distance trips, you could run the 7 Series hybrid for a fraction of the cost of a non-plug-in-hybrid alternative. For company-car users, the Benefit-in-Kind rate for the 745e in any trim level and the 745Le in entry-level form stands at 11% during 2021/22; the 745Le M Sport, with its larger wheels and over 50g/km emissions, is in the 14% band.
BMW 7 Series hybrid insurance group
The BMW 7 Series hybrid sits in insurance group 50, which is the highest possible category. This means it'll likely be very expensive to insure.
Warranty
Buyers of the 745e get a three-year warranty from BMW, with unlimited mileage allowed in that time. This is the same deal offered to Mercedes S-Class hybrid customers.
Servicing
BMW says you should have the 7 Series hybrid serviced every two years or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first. Mercedes S-Class hybrid drivers need to book in their cars more regularly, at intervals of one year or 15,500 miles.
Road tax
As this is an ‘alternatively fuelled vehicle’, Vehicle Excise Duty – colloquially known as road tax – costs £480 for both the short and long-wheelbase versions, which includes an annual supplement of £335 applied to all cars with a list price greater than £40,000 the first five times their tax is renewed. Thereafter, road tax costs £145 annually.
