How the BMW X7 elevates everyday life for families

Telegraph

27-05-2025

As most busy families will understand, a car isn't just about getting from one place to another. It's a moving extension of the family home. It has to be safe – a buffer between loved ones and the elements outside. But it also needs to be a place of calm, particularly for younger kids who might need to nap or mellow out. It should present distractions for longer trips, preserving parents' sanity as the miles clock up and also have the flexibility to accommodate the bulk of everyday life, be that buggies and food shops or surfboards and pedal bikes.
Acclaimed chef and BMW 'friend of the brand' Paul Ainsworth knows this as well as any busy father. Based in Cornwall, where long drives are standard practice and the weather is unpredictable, his BMW X7 M60i has become the lynchpin of both family life and work logistics.
First and foremost, the focus is on safety. 'My daughter's school is 30 miles away, so we're on the A30 a lot,' Ainsworth explains. 'You need to feel the car's solid, that it's got you covered – and the X7 gives you that. It feels strong and sturdy. You just know your family is secure.'
The X7 is full to the brim with safety-first features, such as Lane Control Assistant, Frontal Collision Warning with City Collision Mitigation, and the optional Driving Assistant Professional, which includes steering and lane control support. For those who regularly drive longer distances, especially with children in the car, these features are invaluable. Add to those the Surround View and Parking Assistant Professional – letting you spot even the smallest obstacle and manoeuvre accordingly – and it's easy to see why the X7 offers peace of mind.
Then there's the matter of keeping the screeching down and everyone entertained. 'In terms of how they travel, we definitely had them in the right order,' Paul laughs. 'CiCi, my elder daughter, is quite chilled and goes with the flow. She always has. Audrey, my younger one, is completely different. She's all about the routine. If that routine gets disrupted, you know about it.'
Keeping the whole family happy on the road has never been so easy or pleasurable. The X7's third-row seating gives space for up to seven people in comfort, which is a boon for the Ainsworths. With two kids in the back, the rear entertainment screens are also a lifesaver. Plus, the four-zone climate control, the eight USB-C ports and generous storage compartments throughout means everyone can settle into their own comfort zone.
The optional panoramic Sky Lounge sunroof is another road trip hero. On the A30 school run, it turns early morning drives into a visual experience. 'It's a long drive, and often we're doing it while it's still a bit dark, but we get sunrise over the moorland and that's a real favourite of Cici's,' Ainsworth says.
And then, of course, there's the space. Living in Cornwall means loading up the car, which isn't just during a once-a-week grocery shop. 'I need a big boot,' says Ainsworth. 'You've got the wetsuits, the dog, Cici's skateboards, bikes, buckets – all the stuff. It just gets loaded in.' The BMW X7's electrically split tailgate and height-adjustable air suspension makes it easier to load heavy gear. The third row of seats folds away at the touch of a button, freeing up more than 750 litres of cargo space when needed.
'When I'm not filling the boot with produce for the restaurants, I'm filling it with all the stuff our life demands,' Ainsworth says. 'I think it's almost a prerequisite of living in Cornwall – you have to have hobbies that involve a lot of kit.'
His wife Emma, he notes, is the only low-maintenance one in the household. 'She just needs a pair of fully charged AirPods and she's off for a long walk along the coast with her favourite podcasts.' His daughter CiCi, on the other hand, is constantly levelling up her interests. 'If it's not surfing, it's skateboarding. And now her surf coach has recommended surf-skateboarding, so adding yet another board to add to the pile.'
The flexibility of the X7's boot space, combined with its thoughtful family-first features, makes it uniquely suited to this kind of lifestyle. Whether it's heading to school, the beach, or London for a work meeting, the car adapts seamlessly.
What stands out about the BMW X7 is its ability to merge performance, space and comfort in one attractive package. 'It's really everything,' Ainsworth says. 'You've got the height, the views, the comfortable seats – but also that family-friendly flexibility. It doesn't feel like a compromise. It works for us.'