New Audi A1 vs new Mini 5dr: infotainment

The original A1 may have been small, but it was also luxurious and great to drive. Has Audi repeated, or bettered, that trick with the latest model, or would you be better off with a Mini 5dr?...

Audi A1 infotainment

Infotainment

Audi A1

A rotary controller has been dropped in favour of an 8.8in touchscreen, which is more distracting to operate on the move. However, it’s sharp and pretty responsive and its menus soon become fathomable. Smartphone mirroring is standard, but for sat-nav you need the upgraded Technology Pack, which includes the bigger 10.1in display pictured. Standard stereo is punchier than the Mini’s.

Mini 5dr infotainment

Being based on BMW’s iDrive, Mini’s system is as good as it gets in this class. It’s easy to use via the rotary controller by the gear selector. The standard screen is 6.5in, and you can add sat-nav and Apple CarPlay through the Navigation Pack (the larger 8.8in screen shown comes with the around-£2000 Navigation Plus Pack). The stereo sounds flat, but the upgraded 12-speaker Harman Kardon system is far more exciting.


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