Compare the2023 BMW 7 SeriesVS 2023 Rolls-Royce Ghost

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the 7 Series are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Ghost doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the 7 Series xDrive’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Ghost doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the 7 Series and Ghost have rear cross-traffic warning, but the 7 Series has Cross Traffic Warning with braking function (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Ghost’s Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the 7 Series and the Ghost have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The 7 Series’ corrosion warranty is 8 years longer than the Ghost’s (12 vs. 4 years).

There are over 9 times as many BMW dealers as there are Rolls-Royce dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the 7 Series’ warranty.

On the EPA test cycle the 7 Series gets better mileage than the Ghost:

Regenerative brakes improve the 7 Series’ fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Ghost doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the 7 Series’ engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. The Ghost doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the BMW 7 Series higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the Rolls-Royce Ghost (3). This means the 7 Series produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Ghost every 15,000 miles.

For more complete vehicle control the 7 Series has a manually controlled automatic, with the available convenience of an automatic transmission and the complete gear control of a manual transmission without the inconvenience of a clutch. A manually controlled automatic allows the driver to eliminate unwanted shifts and maximize engine braking by down shifting while cornering. The Ghost doesn’t offer a transmission that allows complete gear control.

The 7 Series’ launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Ghost doesn’t offer launch control.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the 7 Series is 1.6 inches wider in the front than the track on the Ghost.

For better maneuverability, the 7 Series’ turning circle is 3 feet tighter than the Ghost’s (39.7 feet vs. 42.7 feet). The 7 Series xDrive’s turning circle is 5.5 feet tighter than the Ghost Extended’s (40.4 feet vs. 45.9 feet).

The BMW 7 Series may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 600 to 850 pounds less than the Rolls-Royce Ghost.

The 7 Series is 1 foot shorter than the Ghost Extended, making the 7 Series easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

For excellent aerodynamics, the 7 Series has standard flush composite headlights. The Ghost has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

The front grille of the 7 Series uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Ghost doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The 7 Series has 1.6 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear legroom and .5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Ghost.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the 7 Series’ trunk can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Ghost doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The 7 Series has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Ghost doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The 7 Series’ instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Ghost does not have an oil pressure gauge.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the 7 Series has standard extendable sun visors. The Ghost doesn’t offer extendable visors.

A power rear sunshade and rear side window sunshades are standard in the 7 Series to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Ghost doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

The 7 Series’ Parking Assistant can parallel park by itself, with the driver only controlling the transmission and speed with the brake pedal. With its available fully controlled system, the driver just activates it and it parks autonomously, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Optional Remote Control Parking will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Ghost’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

The 7 Series is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The Ghost doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The BMW 7 Series outsold the Rolls-Royce Ghost by almost 11 to one during 2022.