BMW X7 40d M — Rome

Seven seats, 352 horsepower, and the kind of road presence that turns valets into conversationalists. The 2024 BMW X7 40d M is a full-size SUV that refuses to compromise — diesel torque for motorway kilometres, adaptive air suspension for cobblestone quarters, and a cabin finished to a standard that makes rear passengers forget they're in an SUV at all. This is the car that earns its keep on longer drives out of Rome. Load the family into the third row, point toward the A1 and let the X7 settle into its stride on the way to Orvieto — 120 km of autostrada where the diesel engine barely raises its voice. Or take the SS218 south through the Castelli Romani, winding past Frascati and Marino toward lake Albano views, where the high seating position and predictable handling make narrow hill-town roads feel manageable rather than stressful. For an ambitious Amalfi extension — 250-plus kilometres each way, much of it on the demanding SS163 — the X7's combination of comfort and composure over a full day of driving is difficult to match in any other body style. Practically, it works in Rome too, with a few caveats. The X7 is wide — Trastevere's tighter lanes are best avoided — but it fits underground parking near Termini and the Vatican without drama. Handover at Fiumicino (30 km west) or your hotel outside the ZTL keeps things clean; the historic centre's camera-enforced restricted zones mean kerbside collection in the centro storico isn't realistic for any vehicle without a permit. One variant sits in our fleet, available from €380 per day. For business guests based around the EUR district who need an FCO transfer and a vehicle that seats clients in genuine comfort, or for families planning a week that mixes city mornings with countryside afternoons, the X7 40d M covers both briefs without requiring two different cars.