The verdict:
Versus the competiton:
My kids keep me on the move. If I’m not running upstairs to investigate suspiciously silent moments, then I’m surely flying downstairs to keep them from jumping over baskets of clean, folded laundry, ducking under banned flying Frisbees or putting an end to the “music” being produced by vivacious pounding of stockpot lids. Come to think of it, I should consider cranking up the speed of the aforementioned exercise combination, which would give my gluteus maximus a much-needed workout.
Lucky for my backside, it got a little R&R in the BMW 750i’s driver’s seat, thanks to the simply divine butt-massage setting. Once I added heat into the mix and extended the optional knee support, not even the call of chocolate could lure me out. I concocted errands just for the sake of getting more tush time. Also, that seat adjusted in just about every way possible, including a blissful option for head support that was similar to those found on some airplanes. With the push of a button, the sides of the seat pumped up and cradled my ribs and shoulders in a snuggly, hug-like way. Since my week in this dreamy car was all about comfort, I disregarded the fact that when in snuggly-huggy mode it was almost impossible to hand anything off to my 3-year-old in the seat directly behind me. Instead I opted to surround my little guy with all possible snacks and drinks from the get-go to keep my involvement to a minimum. Don’t scoff – luxury is a tempting proposition!
While I was enjoying these blissful conditions, which were almost too good for driving, the kids had their own entertainment in back. The two side window shades and the rear shade became the new toys for the week. Fortunately, there was a lock button in the front on the driver’s side so I could squash this activity once it got out of control. Of course, as soon as that happened they started fiddling with their own seat-heater buttons on the rear center armrest, which are accessible when the armrest is in the down position. Because I’d loaded up the back with snacks – specifically in the spacious storage compartment in the rear armrest – they were eventually distracted from continuous button pushing by continuous chewing. (I was very surprised that neither of my button-happy boys noticed the two lighter buttons at their feet. Kudos to the snackies! Whew!)
There were plenty of features to keep me occupied, as well. While waiting in carpool I used a clever notepad function in the voice recognition system to make a list of trivial to-dos in an effort to extend my car time. If the butt-massage and heat setting weren’t enough, I could also have used the residual heat feature during the carpool wait, which ingeniously heats the interior of the car after it’s been turned off, using stored heat. Another feature with wow factor is BMW’s night vision, which uses an infrared camera to display a thermal image in an effort to more easily recognize people or animals on the road. Last but not least, there are the Latch connectors. While I fiddled around, desperately seeking the connector, my fingers repeatedly bumped into a sharp, screw-like object. Ouch! I shuddered at the thought of having to do this with freezing cold hands.
Some cars are a battle with little wee ones and deliciously dreamy with older kids. This is one of them. Take the car seats out of the equation, and a pampered mom of older kids might just find this car a dream come true.
*For more information on the BMW 750i and its safety features, visit Cars.com. With questions or comments regarding this review, write to editor@motherproof.com.
LET’S TALK NUMBERS
Latch Connectors: 2
Seating Capacity (includes driver): 5
IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT
Storage Compartments (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Fair
Cargo/Trunk Space (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Fair
SENSE AND STYLE
Family Friendly (Not Really, Fair, Great, Excellent): Fair
Fun Factor (None, Some, Good Times, Groove On): Good Times
Specs
Base price: $75,800
Price as tested: n/a
Engine: 360-hp, 4.8-liter V-8
Fuel: 17/25 mpg
Length: 198.4″
Width: 74.9″
Ground Clearance: n/a
Turning Radius: 19.8′
Cargo space: 18.0 cu. ft.
NHTSA Crash-Test Ratings
Frontal Impact
Driver’s side: Not Rated
Passenger’s side: Not Rated
Side Impact
Front occupant: Not Rated
Rear occupant: Not Rated
Rollover resistance: Not Rated
