Compare the2024 BMW i7VS 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 i7 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.

Both the i7 and Ghost have rear cross-traffic warning, but the i7 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 i7 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 i7’s 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 i7’s warranty.

The i7 M70’s electric motors produces 59 more horsepower (650 vs. 591) and 85 lbs.-ft. more torque (749 vs. 664) than the Ghost Black Badge’s optional 6.6 turbo V12.

On the EPA test cycle the i7 gets better mileage than the Ghost:

The i7 can travel with zero emissions for 274 to 321 miles (dependent on model). The Ghost can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the i7’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Ghost doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The i7, as a pure battery electric vehicle, has no need to “idle” its motors in traffic: they only burn power when moving. The i7’s climate control systems still work completely when the vehicle is stopped. The Ghost still runs its internal combustion engine whenever it’s stopped, burning excess fuel.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the BMW i7 higher (10 out of 10) than the Rolls-Royce Ghost (3). This means the i7 produces up to 36.3 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Ghost every 15,000 miles.

The i7’s 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 i7 is 1.7 inches wider in the front than the track on the Ghost.

The i7 xDrive60 handles at .95 G’s, while the Ghost pulls only .90 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The i7 xDrive60 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Ghost (24.5 seconds @ .78 average G’s vs. 25.3 seconds @ .75 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the i7’s turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the Ghost’s (40.4 feet vs. 42.7 feet). The i7’s turning circle is 5.5 feet tighter than the Ghost Extended’s (40.4 feet vs. 45.9 feet).

The i7 is 6.1 inches shorter than the Ghost, making the i7 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

For excellent aerodynamics, the i7 has standard flush composite headlights. The Ghost has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

The front grille of the i7 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 i7 has 1.6 inches more front shoulder room, .5 inches 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 i7’s 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 i7 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.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the i7 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 i7 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Ghost doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

The i7’s Parking Assistant can parallel park or back into a parking spot 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 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 i7 is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The Ghost doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.