BMW's claimed fuel consumption of 5.8 litres/100km in the European combined cycle was never going to be realistically replicated in the real world. We did not come close to achieving even the official urban average of 7.5 litres/100km, but a reading of 12.9 litres/100km on our test car's computer averaged over a 360km mixed route represents a decent return for a petrol-driven vehicle in this segment.

The last time this writer was behind the wheel of a previous-gen BMW 7 Series, the test car asked for 15.5 litres/100km.

Sedona pricing begins at $26,995, at which point the sliding doors don't move on their own, the seats are cloth, and there's no rearview camera. Moving up through the Sedona hierarchy adds leather seats, power doors, additional paint colors, the backup camera, power folding mirrors, larger wheels, navigation, and more.

Check all the boxes and you'll end up with a Sedona Limited like our test car and a price tag creeping into the mid $40Ks, but a well-equipped, leather-lined EX can be yours for $33,195.

BMW 7 Series having fancy sounding laser lights as fitted in the 740Li, but the standard Adaptive LED headlamps in our 730Li test car is no less sophisticated a piece of lighting hardware. Its built-in DRLs illuminate in a distinctive double-C pattern first pioneered in the facelifted F30 3 Series.

Standard 19-inch alloys ensure that the 730Li is not let-down by under tyred proportions.

Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 - Run Flat. Compared to the average performance of three leading competitors.

Braking distance on wet road from 80km/h to 20km/h, measured by TVSD Automotive in December 2010; Tyre Size: 255/40R19; Test Car: Audi A7; Location: Mireval (FR) & Garching (GE); Report nr: 76244706-1. The Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 received the highest recommendation in various independent tests by experts and magazines across Europe immediately after its launch, including top scores in 2011. "Very Recommendable?" Auto Zeitung (Germany).