2023 BMW 7 Series vs. Audi A8 and Mercedes-Benz S-Class: Superlative Sedans Compared

First there was the , and then there was everything else -- or at least that's how the narrative has gone with luxury cars since the 1970s. Stuttgart's biggest bruisers always seem to have led the way, but rival automakers Audi and BMW have long put up a fight. So, following the debut of the 2023 BMW 7 Series on Wednesday, let's see how it fares against these established luxury rivals.

For this story, we'll be focusing on the gasoline-powered 7 Series models. If you want to see how the fully electric i7 compares against other full-size EVs, click here.

2023 BMW 7 Series is Total Tech Overload

+21 More

See all photos

Powertrain and performance

The 7 Series will be offered in 740i and 760i xDrive forms. The former is powered by a 3.0-liter turbocharged I6 engine, while the latter has a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8. Both use 48-volt mild-hybrid technology, but only the V8 is paired with all-wheel drive.

Similarly, the new S-Class is offered in two models: the S500 and the S580. The former will be powered by a 3.0-liter inline-six, replacing the turbo V6 currently offered as the base engine in the 2020 S450. The S580 gets Mercedes' exquisite 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8. Both feature EQ-Boost mild-hybrid technology and are only offered with 4Matic all-wheel drive.

For 2022, the Audi A8 is only available with a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6. If you want V8 power, you'll need to spring for the higher-performance S8.

2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Evolves the Flagship

+71 More

See all photos

Infotainment and safety tech

Arguably the most important factor in a modern luxury automobile is its technology, and all three of our competitors are packed to the gills. The most important update for BMW comes in the form of a highway driving assistant that allows for extended-range hands-free operation at speeds up to 85 mph. Automatic lane changes are included in this technology, and BMW offers automated parking assist, too. The latter can even be controlled via a smartphone app from outside the vehicle.

Moving inside, the 7 Series has BMW's latest iDrive 8 infotainment suite. A single housing holds a 12.3-inch gauge cluster as well as a 14.9-inch multimedia touchscreen. Back-seat riders are treated to a pair of 5.5-inch digital control panels on the doors, which allow passengers to operate things like the multimedia system, sun shades, seat controls and more.

BMW's coolest new feature, however, is the Theater Screen: a 31.3-inch display that folds down from the roof. It can display content in 8K resolution (overkill, frankly) and has Amazon Fire TV streaming software built in. There's even a fully immersive theater mode where the 7 Series raises its sun shades, dims the ambient lighting and plays the audio output in surround sound. In terms of in-car entertainment viewing options, it doesn't get much better than this.

Enlarge Image

The big change for this generation of S-Class is the move to a new version of Mercedes' MBUX system, which improves on the first-gen software that made its debut in the A-Class a few years ago. The new version has 50% faster processing power and runs on a 12.8-inch tablet-style OLED screen. The updated electrical architecture of the S-Class means that not only is MBUX possible, but a whole slew of other exciting features become available, too. For example, the head-up display is available with augmented reality to project navigation data onto the road ahead. There are also comfort features like fully climate-controlled seats and a three-dimensional digital gauge cluster, and even a fingerprint scanner to adapt the interior environment to each driver's preference automatically. It's a whole new landscape.

From a safety standpoint, the new S-Class has no shortage of the good stuff, either. There's a new rear airbag system that offers increased passenger safety thanks to a bag that deploys more gently, reducing the risk of some injuries. A revamped driver attention monitor called Attention Assist uses an infrared camera to detect driver drowsiness. And there are also around a dozen standard driver assistance systems on the new S-Class, ranging from Mercedes' version of adaptive cruise control to lane-keeping and lane-change assist, active brake assist, active blind-spot assist and more. The S-Class has always been big on safety and that trend continues today.

But Audi isn't exactly asleep at the back of the class. The A8 offers competent suites of advanced driver-assistance systems that include all the greatest hits like adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking and more. The A8's air suspension also has a precollision system that can instantly raise one side of the vehicle to better distribute the force from an impact. The latest version of Audi's MMI Touch infotainment system is straightforward to use, feature-rich and responsive.

2022 Audi A8 Gets a Little Nip and a Tiny Tuck to Freshen Up

+6 More

See all photos

Dimensions

When it comes to exterior dimensions, these cars are all huge, and these days, are only available with one wheelbase length. Inside, the accommodations are similarly large. There's nothing else to analyze here; we'll let the numbers below do the talking.

Price

Because the Audi A8 is the oldest of these competitors, it's also the least expensive. But considering how much more comfort, convenience and tech features are offered in the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class, it arguably makes the higher MSRPs worth the added coin. The Audi A8 and Mercedes-Benz S-Class are on sale now; the 2023 BMW 7 Series is expected to arrive in the US before the end of 2022.