When BMW slipped the 730i into their flagship luxury saloon line-up, it was almost as if they were hoping nobody would notice. Quite why is unclear, as the entry-level petrol derivative has a lot going for it. Perhaps it's BMW's quite reasonable expectation that the 730i is going to be given a good pasting in the sales charts by its 730d diesel sibling that has prompted the almost invisible product promotion. Whatever the truth, let's give this quiet contender it's moment in the sun.

The 730i isn't, as most would expect, the most affordable 7 Series, BMW charging nearly £1,500 more for the petrol car than the 730d and in so doing, pitching it well above Jaguar's comparable XJ. Still, buyers can expect to find the revolutionary BI-VANOS fully variable camshaft control and a whole host of cutting edge electronic driver aids. In its latest form, the unit has been thoroughly overhauled for more power and torque, ensuring that it will continue to give entry-level versions of the Mercedes S-class a tough time.

If you're not put off by the pricing which starts at £50,120, you'll be buying into a hugely satisfying luxury BMW. With the same 258bhp magnesium aluminium composite engine under the bonnet that 3 and 6 Series models call upon, the 730i is fitted with a state of the art six-speed automatic gearbox. This offers a greater spread of gear ratios, improving acceleration and fuel economy while reducing noise. Steptronic buttons mounted on the steering wheel allow drivers to manually override the gearbox for even greater control.

The current 7-Series has been the subject of some slight revisions. The super observant may spot that the front grille and bumper have been subtly altered along with the headlamps but that unorthodox 7-Series shape remains intact. Three trim levels are available, entry-level, Sport and SE. All bar the Sport trim are offered with the long wheelbase configuration that BMW offers. Standard equipment in the entry-level versions includes servotronic power steering, xenon headlamps, a sophisticated cruise control system and BMW's controversial iDrive control system, although the iDrive has been simplified in the current models. The SE variants add 18-inch multispoke alloy wheels, satellite navigation, a GSM telephone, an 8.8" LCD display and a BMW Professional radio, presumably for those who make their living listening to car radios. The £55,895 730i Sport adds sports suspension, 19-inch alloy wheels, nappa leather sports seats, and a combination of high gloss window trims and matt wood interior trim.

"The cabin of the 730i is a paragon of elegant, pared down design"

BMW will point to the fact that 66 per cent of all new 7 Series models sold in 2001 were supplied with a six-cylinder engine, but as ever there are lies, damned lies and statistics. A lot has happened since 2001, much of which hinges around the growing popularity of diesel models. Mercedes had to withdraw the S320 petrol model when the S320CDI obliterated it in the sales charts but BMW are pushing ahead with the 730i in spite of this. There will always, they assume, be some buyers unconvinced by the benefits of the black pump, perhaps the 730i can carve a small niche for itself.

As you'd expect from BMW, the driving characteristics are predictably superb. In order to cope with the additional power on tap, there have been wide-reaching enhancements to the 7 Series chassis. A 14mm wider track promises improved lateral stability and the all aluminium suspension has also been updated. Customers can also specify two separate suspension choices depending on their ride comfort preference. Those looking for a more dynamic steer can opt for the Sport model. The Adaptive Drive feature combines BMW's Dynamic Drive active anti roll bar and Electronic Damper Control (EDC). This quells body roll during hard cornering, converting roll energy into hydraulic pressure to deliver uncannily composed cornering for such a huge car. EDC offers the driver three ride settings - Comfort, Normal and Sport.

The iDrive system dispenses with most of the previous car's 117 separate switches, levers and buttons in favour of a rotary dial that accesses a menu-based system that flashes up on an LCD screen. Get the system right and you'll look like some sort of techno guru, a few deft nudges of the serrated silver knob where the gearstick should reside causing the computer to access a dazzling array of electronic functions. Get it wrong and you'll be thankful for the comprehensive help facility but you should be less likely to do so with BMW having simplified the control interface.

Due to the fact that so many functions are marshalled by iDrive, the cabin of the 730i is a paragon of elegant, pared down design. Everything from the carphone, the satellite navigation (if fitted) and the audio system right through to changing the setting on the adaptive damping system from Comfort to Sport are controlled by iDrive, so you'd better put in the time to learn it. As you will have deduced, a conventional gear lever is dispensed with in favour of the six-speed automatic gearbox, evidence of which comes in the form of dinky chromed buttons on the steering wheel.

Whether you can make a case for the 730i depends upon whether you can justify its premium pricing. That, coupled with the fact that many owners will select the no-cost 'badge delete' option from BMW's options list, will make a clearly identifiable 730i a rare sight indeed on British roads. Perhaps this car's invisible introduction to our market was justified after all.

TOP 2 7 SERIES DEALS

The results below show the top 7 SERIES deals on buyacar

	BMW 7 Series 730i SE 4dr Auto (Pre-model) Saloon
	ETR	Mthly £1,154	Saving £6,263	Price £47,232
	BMW 7 Series 730i Sport 4dr Auto (Pre-model) Saloon
	ETR	Mthly £1,237	Saving £6,730	Price £50,390

typical 11.92% APR

PCP finance quote over 48 months,  10,000 miles pa,  deposit of £1000