Compare the2024 BMW 7 SeriesVS 2023 Rolls-Royce Phantom

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 Phantom doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The BMW 7 Series has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Phantom doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The 7 Series has a standard Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Phantom doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The 7 Series offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Phantom doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

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

Both the 7 Series and Phantom 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 Phantom’s Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the 7 Series and the Phantom have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver 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 Phantom’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 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Phantom:

The 750e can travel with zero emissions for 35 miles. The Phantom can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the 7 Series’ fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Phantom 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. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Phantom 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 Phantom (3). This means the 7 Series produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Phantom every 15,000 miles.

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

For better traction and acceleration, the 7 Series has larger rear tires than the Phantom (285/40R20 vs. 255/50R21).

The 7 Series’ standard 255/45R20 front and 285/40R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series front and 40 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Phantom’s standard 50 series tires. The 7 Series’ optional 255/40R21 front and 285/35R21 rear tires have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile than the Phantom’s optional 45 series front and 40 series rear tires.

For better maneuverability, the 7 Series’ turning circle is 3.3 feet tighter than the Phantom’s (39.7 feet vs. 43 feet). The 7 Series xDrive’s turning circle is 4.9 feet tighter than the Phantom EWB’s (40.4 feet vs. 45.3 feet).

The BMW 7 Series may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 1050 pounds less than the Rolls-Royce Phantom.

The 7 Series is 1 foot, 11.6 inches shorter than the Phantom EWB, 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 Phantom 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 Phantom doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The 7 Series has .2 inches more front legroom, 1.6 inches more front shoulder room and .1 inches more rear headroom than the Phantom.

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 Phantom 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 Phantom 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 Phantom does not have an oil pressure gauge.

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 Phantom doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 7 Series first among upper midsize premium cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Phantom isn’t in the top three.

The BMW 7 Series outsold the Rolls-Royce Phantom by almost 81 to one during 2022.