BMW 740i vs Volkswagen Polo

What's the difference?

VS
BMW 740i
BMW 740i

2023 price

Volkswagen Polo
Volkswagen Polo

$30,790 - $41,790

2026 price

Summary

2023 BMW 740i
2026 Volkswagen Polo
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Turbo 6, 3.0L

Turbo 3, 1.0L
Fuel Type
Premium Unleaded/Electric

Premium Unleaded Petrol
Fuel Efficiency
7.9L/100km (combined)

5.4L/100km (combined)
Seating
5

5
Dislikes
  • Backwards step in tech ease of use
  • Doesn’t feel quite $300K from the driver's seat
  • Design will be divisive

  • Too expensive, not enough kit for the money
  • Some turbo/DCT lag
  • Firm ride on less-than-smooth roads
2023 BMW 740i Summary

The BMW 7 Series is Munich’s flagship, the car that fans of the blue and white roundel respect as peak plush motoring.

Now, for the seventh 7 Series, BMW has brought electric power to the table in the form of the i7 in order to stay ahead of the curve.

It’s still joined by a petrol-powered variant here in Australia, the 740i, which is a mild hybrid and shares a lot of the luxury specifications of the i7 - including a properly impressive rear seat theatre screen.

But is it forward-thinking enough to fend off the likes of the Mercedes EQS?

View full pricing & specs
2026 Volkswagen Polo Summary

The Volkswagen Polo is about to turn 30 in Australia but, by 1996, it was already 21-years and three generations old in Europe.

As the least-expensive jumping-on point for the brand here today (RIP VW Up!), the Polo has deftly juggled affordability with the premium pricing that its German engineering demands.

But, at nine-years old, and in an era of newer, hybrid and electric vehicle (EV) and often cheaper alternatives from China and elsewhere, is the ageing Polo as convincing?

We test the mid-spec CityLife to find out.

View full pricing & specs

Deep dive comparison

2023 BMW 740i 2026 Volkswagen Polo

Change vehicle