We are 8 months and 6,000 miles into X1 ownership. Whilst it is an outgoing model, I have to say that there’s very little that I would change about it. As the new X1 isn’t due out until the end of this year and no official information has been released, articles such as this are always speculation (albeit sometimes informed speculation) but it’s interesting that the things I would change aren’t mentioned, but one change is apparently proposed that would be a retrograde step IMHO.
BMW’s iDrive is universally recognised as the best in car multimedia system on the market. Whilst it has full touch screen functionality, part of the reason that it is so widely praised is the fact that you can use the rotary controller as well, which is far easier, safer and more precise to use when driving than stabbing around on a touch screen. I use the rotary controller 100% of the time and was glad to see the back of the awful system that we had in our previous VW. Removing the rotary controller would be a really backward step IMO, so I seriously hope that this doesn’t happen.
One thing that really does need to change is the addition of Auto-Hold. I’ve had it on all our cars over the last 10 years or more and 8 months in the X1 I still miss it. The standard seats are poor. I am eternally grateful to my wife for persuading me to order sport seats. I feared that they would be too firm but they are superb. Seat comfort is so important. I did a couple of long journeys in my mates new Hyundai Santa Fe recently and my back was in half. Whilst I’m not a fan of digital dashboards, the instrument binnacle in the current X1 is too small. I got around this by adding Head-up Display which pretty much renders the instrument panel redundant, but not everyone wants to do that as it’s an expensive option.
The only other thing that I would change is the addition of more soundproofing. The 20i engine is whisper quiet, which means that you can hear a bit more road noise on coarse surfaces than you’d want to as there’s no engine noise to drown it out.
I shall look forward to driving the new model when it comes out, but I suspect that if we get one it may be a private purchase. I fear that it may not appear on Motability given the way that the scheme is deteriorating and, even if it does, I suspect it might only be the less desirable models. That being said, if we go the private route next time then all sorts of other options come into play. Mrs Glos Guy always fancied a Porsche Macan but has started saying that she now thinks that the Cayenne may be more suitable ? Better start saving ?