Why you don't have to sacrifice luxury when you choose an SUV
Chef Paul Ainsworth knows the value of this duality. Running a spread of successful businesses across Cornwall, he juggles the demands of his high-level hospitality venues with a lifestyle that pulls him away from paved roads almost daily. If he's not heading down muddy lanes to suppliers, he's loading the car up with all the kit required for a family day at the beach.
'Quite often my job takes me to places where I'm meeting farmers, fishermen and suppliers,' Ainsworth explains. 'You could be going down to a farm, onto a beach or into woodland – it's really important to have a vehicle that's just as good off-road as it is on the tarmac.'
One of those locations is the Porthilly oyster farm. 'We're often pulling onto the beach, following the old tractor tracks,' he recalls. 'There are big rocks and silt if the tide has just gone out. But with the BMW X7, I've never once thought, 'We're going to get stuck here.' It just goes straight over it.'
The X7 M60i xDrive is equipped with BMW's intelligent all-wheel drive system, but for those wanting a bit of extra off-road confidence, the optional xOffroad Package adds four specific driving modes: xSnow, xSand, xGravel, and xRocks. Each of them optimises traction, torque and stability based on the terrain. Ground clearance can also be increased, thanks to the height-adjustable air suspension, which is controlled via a physical button, rather than buried in menu screens. 'That's what I love,' Ainsworth says. 'You just press the button and lift it up – it's so simple.'
The suspension system also includes Executive Drive Pro with active-roll stabilisation. This means the drive will still feel seriously smooth and safe even if the ground is uneven. Plus, the Integral Active Steering makes low-speed manoeuvring on tight trails a doddle.
But the X7's off-road strengths aren't only about helping Ainsworth while he works. They're just as essential for his personal pursuits too.
'For me, going down onto the beach is really important,' he says. 'It's my happy place. When I first moved to Cornwall, I loved the landscape, but now, with my daughters, it's everything. That connection to the coast, the outdoors – that's where I feel most grounded.'
A favourite family destination is Port Quin, a remote Cornish cove that's accessible either by Rib from the sea or by quite a challenging drive. It's worth it when you get there though. 'It's a real paddleboarding kind of place,' Ainsworth explains. 'You've got this amazing crystal-clear water, and it's like this secret, tucked-away spot. Getting there by car isn't easy as it's quite out of the way, but the X7 makes it completely doable.'
If it's not beach days as a family, Ainsworth is taking off for a solo cycle. 'I'm a keen cyclist,' he says. 'Sometimes I start from home, but I've also driven to Dartmoor with the bike in the back to get a good starting point for a longer route. It's brilliant for that.'
Dartmoor's varied terrain and remote tracks might present a challenge for the average car, but then, the X7 is anything but average. The xOffroad Package and adaptive suspension are perfectly designed for tackling unsealed roads and gravelled parking spots. 'There's a lot of stuff involved in cycling,' Ainsworth adds. 'Shoes, helmets, fixing kits… I'm quite organised with it all. It's all sorted in tubs, so the space and layout of the X7 really help.'
For families who want a car that can genuinely keep up – on and off the beaten path – the BMW X7 is an impressive proposition. From ferrying produce back from a farm, navigating a soft-sand beach at low tide or pulling into a trailhead for a day in the saddle, it's adaptable.
'It just does everything,' Ainsworth says. 'You can go off-road, load up the back, take the dog, the kids, whatever. It looks beautiful, feels amazing to drive and it gets you where you need to be – no matter what the road looks like.'
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