• Almost no buttons inside, which we do not like
• Very modern infotainment system
• Cheap feeling materials if you really look

How is the quality and layout?

Step inside the BMW X1 and the first thing you’ll notice after settling into the supportive driver’s seat is the 10.25-inch infotainment screen, which not only controls the media and satnav, but the heating and cooling too.

Most elements of the heating, including the fan speed, are on a sub menu. This is irritating to use on the move. At least the temperature is displayed at the bottom of the screen, meaning making things warmer or cooler is a single tap rather than a multiple prod.

15

Look beyond the screen and you’ll find a classy and well laid out cabin. It’s very modern and minimalist, in that it’s very button light. The steering wheel houses controls for the media and adaptive cruise control, while beneath the screen are buttons for demisting the windscreen and rear window.

Cast your eyes to the gear selector and you’ll most likely touch a bit of cheap feeling plastic. It’s no worse than what you’d find in a Mercedes-Benz GLA but it does seem at odds with an otherwise nicely constructed interior.

Infotainment and tech

Back to that infotainment screen. All models come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto if you want to ignore the BMW software as much as possible. But this does mean missing out on BMW’s clever augmented sat-nav tech. This relays a live video using the X1’s forward-facing camera with directional arrows overlaid, showing you exactly where to go.

The screen itself is big, bright and pin-sharp. BMW’s voice control works well and picks up on plain English. For instance, when we said, ‘turn the heated seats on’ it would successfully turn the heated seats on.

15

There’s a great big wireless phone charger too. It clasps over a phone in a manner similar to a rollercoaster’s safety bars. However, the clasp feels a bit cheap to touch; we wonder if it’ll still neatly confine a phone in a decade’s time.

Comfort

• Firm seats
• Lots of room
• Man-made and leather trims

As a compact SUV, the X1’s seating position is higher than a typical family hatchback, giving you a commanding view of the road ahead. The seats themselves depend on which spec you go for. We’ve found the faux-leather, vegan friendly pews in the xLine model to be excellent long distance companions with lots of side support.

Other models come with sport seats, which hug the driver a bit more. They’re more supportive, but will also be stiffer and potentially less comfortable on longer journeys.

15