NosherN – Like you, I haven’t ruled out extending our current lease. I wouldn’t want to keep it 2 years more, but the advantage of extending is that you aren’t tied to it so as soon as something decent that you like comes on the scheme you can order straight away. Of all the cars on the shortlist, the X1 is the one that I most like the look of and from a drivers perspective I am sure that it would be the best by some margin. My wife doesn’t like it but I’m now the sole driver. My comments were based on having owned loads of BMW’s (3, 5 and 7 series) over the years and when we were looking in 2018 I was driving a 5 Series at the time and the quality of the X1 cabin was miles behind my 5 series. Another issue that we had was that the seats were far too small, but I believe that they have improved them a bit since. I think that the sport seats might be too firm for my sciatica though. I don’t really want to have to add loads of optional extras, but the X1 doesn’t have a lot of things that I would now miss. My heart says the X1 but my head says keep other options open.
Before my disabilities cut my career short I was an engineer in excess of 25 years within the motor industry, both manufacturing and retail. I have owned upwards of 40 brand new vehicles during my lifetime of which six have been BMW’s and I have a seventh BMW presently on order which is a BMW X5.
My wife had a Mk2 Tiguan R-Line 190ps at the same time I acquired my Motability X1 and I have to confess that there was very little in terms of practicality regarding boot space. In fact the overall and official volumes difference between both models is about 15 litres in favour of the Tiguan. Where the X1 beats the Tiguan is material quality. Even comparing the latest 2021 Mk3 Tiguan to the current F48 X1, the X1’s trim quality is far superior than that of the Tiguan, most notably door trim and seating materials. Yes the Tiguan is more technologically improved but VW and BMW are of different ‘premium’ classes of vehicle and so can only be compared by size classification.
Regarding your concern over the X1’s seating being firm. On the X1 X-Line the standard seating is more softer and less sculptured than the sport seat option. As someone who unfortunately, has oesteoathritic hips, lumbar facet syndrome and sciatica amongst other muscoskeletal disabilities I have found the sport seats most comfortable and with reasonable adjustment without specifying the option of electric adjustment. Your comparison of seat size is again a consideration to prioritise, but you cannot compare the seat size of an X1 with your previous experiences of your 5 Series. The X1 seats are dimmentionally the same size as what are fitted in the 1, 2, and 3 series along with the X1, X2 and X3 with slight styling variances. Larger and more accomodating seats are fitted to what are considered ‘business luxury class vehicles’ which includes X5, X6, X7 along with the 5 and 7 series.
If push comes to shove and you need to change your current Tiguan I do not think you will be disappointed with the X1. I think your wife will find ingress and egress excellent as the X1 body height is slightly higher than a conventional saloon/hatchback but not as high as a full fat SUV. And I believe if the Tiguan can accomodate your wife’s wheel chair then I am certain the X1 will with ease given that there is an option of sliding rear seats (was a no cost option) coupled with a secondary boot floor.
Most importantly, is selecting a choice of car that both your wife and yourself are happy with. I sure you, being such an articulate guy with what appears very good knowledge of the motor industry, you will make all the right decisions!