The new BMW 7 Series has been leaked. Images on the internet give us various details of the upcoming luxurious sedan.

While the new model continues to be unmistakably a 7 Series, BMW has implemented a few style changes. For instance, the taillights have been made bigger and sleeker. They now cover a much larger portion of the boot lid. While the quad exhausts remain the same, the rear bumper has been tweaked.

On the inside, the new BMW 7 Series gets more screens. There is an added display on the front passenger side. The layout of the screens has also been altered. To add more freshness to the cabin, the German brand has even given the steering wheel a makeover.

The new BMW 7 Series leaked images also tell us that the M760e xDrive variant of the car is a plug-in hybrid with a 6-cylinder petrol engine that makes 612 PS. This model can do 0-100 kmph in 4.2 seconds.

On the other hand, the i7 M70 xDrive variant has 680 PS and can sprint from 0 to 100 kmph in 3.8 seconds. The luxurious electric sedan offers a max range of 686 km (WLTP cycle).

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The Nissan Qashqai is comfortable and versatile, the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson are great value and reliable, while the sharply styled Mazda CX-5 has a premium cabin and excellent dynamics. None of these cars comes as a hybrid; if this is important to you take a closer look at the Lexus UX, which is closely related to the C-HR.

What to look for

Towing

The 1.2T in manual form can tow 1,300kg; 1.2T autos can pull 1,100kg, but the 1.8 and 2.0 Hybrid models can haul just 725kg.

Gearbox

Very few C-HRs are fitted with a manual gearbox, so it’s CVT mostly. It’s not the slickest transmission, so make sure you’re happy with it.

Safety kit

Entry-level Icon cars have no blind-spot monitoring or rear cross-traffic alert; until the 2019 facelift lane-departure warning was an option.

Cracks

The most popular thread on the UK C-HR owners’ forum is about cracked windscreens, with damage in the top right corner of the glass the most likely area.

Common faults

Some owners complain of wind noise from ineffective window and door seals, plus nav glitches. Shorter kids may find the back-door handles tricky to reach, and the cabin is gloomy once they’re in there.

Interior

The C-HR’s dashboard is far from bland, but it’s not over-designed. Indeed, it’s very user-friendly, with a decent blend of physical and touchscreen controls. The cabin is also very well made, with plenty of premium materials and more space than you might expect. There’s room for five adults if they’re not too big, and boot space is okay, at 377 litres with the rear seats in place, or 1,164 litres with them folded; many rivals are better, but these figures ensure a decent level of practicality.

Running costs

All C-HRs need to be serviced every 10,000 miles or 12 months, with maintenance alternating between minor and major. No fresh cambelts are required because the engines are chain-driven. The battery warranty will run for up to 15 years, plus if you’re hit with an unexpectedly large bill, some dealers offer up to six months’ interest-free credit to pay. An array of service plans is available, which don’t save you cash, but let you to pay on a monthly basis.

Recalls

The C-HR has been recalled six times so far, all of them between December 2017 and November 2019. The first campaign was launched because the hybrid powertrain hadn’t been bolted together properly and could work loose; the second came in January 2018, because some cars were fitted with fuel tanks that could leak.