[Frenetic]

I may get an X7. The reason I want to move out of my X5 is the abysmal rear-seat legroom.

After some research, I’ve discovered that the beach seat offers a few inches more legroom than the Captain Chairs. The one I might buy unfortunately has Captain Chairs.

Can anyone tell me how much more legroom there is between the Captain Chairs and the X5?

[toddwalton]

I can't speak to the X5, but I've got a X7 with Captain's Chairs and we carry full-sized grown adults in the 3rd Row very frequently, often for 4+ hour trips, and they marvel at how much room they have.

Furthermore, the Captain's can move forward several more inches providing even more 3rd Row legroom. So I find it hard to believe that the Bench can do better.

If you are talking about 2nd Row legroom, no worries with the Captain's there either.

Bottom line is there is nothing abysmal about the legroom in any of the rows of the X7. Luggage capacity, that's a different story.

[jsmonet]

this same topic started a minor holy war not that long ago haha

[13 NF]

Hi
I am in the same position, I am looking at X7 my children are 16yrs 6ft,5 and shoe size 14.5 my 13 yr old following and clearly will be bigger!
I am 6,4 . My wife is tall ish.
We have an X3, which is a great car but with the 16yr old in the front, the rear turns into a Z4. !
I have a X5 G05, leg room is ok but when we go away the X5 has every optional roof box etc to cope with the 'stuff' we take.
So X7 seems the answer, I took my older son to my dealer and we sat in the 6 seater, it was very comfortable, and my son was very impressed, as was I. Sat in the bench option and was also impressed and seemed more practical.
But it dawned on me that the six seater, doesn't have the ability to fold it seats down for those lovely times we have to go to IKEA 😕, so whilst I couldn't notice the difference,the extra practicality goes to the bench seat option, haven't told my 16 yr old yet.!!

[Eugr]

When I was shopping for a car, I looked at X5 too, and I found that there is more legroom in X7 even with Captain's chairs even when the chairs are in their "base" position. However if you move them all the way back, there is significantly more legroom (at the expense of 3rd row passengers obviously).

In X5 I had to move my seat forward to accommodate a rear-facing child seat behind me, and in X7 I didn't. Bench gives you even more legroom, but captain's chairs are also adequate.

[Eugr]

Originally Posted by 13 NF

Hi
But it dawned on me that the six seater, doesn't have the ability to fold it seats down for those lovely times we have to go to IKEA 😕, so whilst I couldn't notice the difference,the extra practicality goes to the bench seat option, haven't told my 16 yr old yet.!!

Well, that's the only thing I miss with my 6-seat configuration, although so far I managed to survive our IKEA trip without the second row folded down. I may regret it again when it's time to get a Christmas tree as I would usually just wrap it in tarp and slide into my previous Mazda CX-9 with 2nd and 3rd row folded without an issue. Could easily fit a 7 foot tree there. I think I might be able to squeeze it between captains too or buy cross-bars and just put it on the roof...

[bradythedog12]

The captain’s chairs are far more comfortable. So if 6 seats is enough and comfort is at the top of your list for the 2nd row, then do get the captain’s chairs.

If for the one or two times you need to fold both rows down and need it to be completely flat and comfort for the second row isn’t as much of an issue, then get the bench seat.

[Frenetic]

Originally Posted by jsmonet

this same topic started a minor holy war not that long ago haha

lol, I read through the entire thread.

[Eugr]

Originally Posted by bradythedog12

The captain’s chairs are far more comfortable. So if 6 seats is enough and comfort is at the top of your list for the 2nd row, then do get the captain’s chairs.

They are not THAT much comfortable and the bench gives you more legroom. I was surprised how comfortable the bench was when I sat on it. Captain's chairs (besides being a bit more comfortable and upscale) also make the 3rd row a bit more pleasant and less claustrophobic, and give an option to squeeze between the chairs to the 3rd row, so if one is OK with 6 seats and wants to carry passengers (mostly kids) in the third row on the regular basis, that's the way to go.

You do have to deal with limitations and decreased max cargo space though.

I wanted the bench, but could only find M50i with captain's, but they work well for me so far.

[crackerjack15]

Originally Posted by jsmonet

this same topic started a minor holy war not that long ago haha

the biggest conflict was where to measure from. A problem since the beginning of time.

[Wanderer73]

I've got an X7 with bench seating and just sat in an X5 the other day. I can tell you with 100% certainty that with the bench back, an average-sized adult has noticeably more room in the X7. My brother-in-law has an X7 with captain chairs, which is also very roomy.

[West01]

Originally Posted by Frenetic

I may get an X7. The reason I want to move out of my X5 is the abysmal rear-seat legroom.

After some research, I’ve discovered that the beach seat offers a few inches more legroom than the Captain Chairs. The one I might buy unfortunately has Captain Chairs.

Can anyone tell me how much more legroom there is between the Captain Chairs and the X5?

I changed over from an X5 to an X7 and the difference in leg room is huge. I cannot speak for the captains Chairs, they don't have them here in Oz.

If it's leg room your after, the bench will not disappoint

[LowerEast]

I ordered my car with the bench for the extra leg room, the extra load space (which I probably take advantage of once a month or so) and also the dog being able to sit on the bench between my two kids.

There are a bunch of use cases that would make the captain chairs a better choice for some people, but for my use, the bench was an easy choice and I’m very happy I went that way. I wouldn’t have bought the car if the captains chairs weee the only choice.

[JoeyDDD0919]

Originally Posted by Frenetic

lol, I read through the entire thread.

Where is the war...want to see...

[crackerjack15]

Originally Posted by JoeyDDD0919

Where is the war...want to see...

https://g05.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1901194

[1230vani]

I think newly introduced cargo net only works with one

[Wild Blue]

2nd row legroom is one of the big reasons why I was drawn to an X7 over an X5 to begin with. And that was me looking at specs before official release, which said something tiny like an additional 0.2". But in reality, it's much more than that.

I'm tall, drive with other tall people. I chose captain's chairs. No regrets. Much better 2nd row legroom than X5.