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New Lexus LBX vs used BMW X1 interiors
It's no secret that we think highly of the new Lexus LBX, but, for similar money, you could pick up a year-old BMW X1, so is that the better buy?...
Interiors
Driving position, visibility, build quality
In the Lexus LBX, you sit higher up than you would in, say, a Ford Fiesta, but anyone coming from a larger SUV might feel as if they're sat rather low down. The BMW X1 has a more commanding seating position than the LBX.
The X1's tall windows make it easy to see out of, and while the LBX's view out isn't quite as grand, you still get a good view of your surroundings and it's smaller size makes it easier to pilot in the first place. Each car comes with front and rear parking sensors, as well as a rear-view camera.
The X1's interior has good build quality and features some plush materials. There are quite a lot of plastics, but they feel high quality for the most part. It all feels robust, too – aside from a couple of insecure bits of trim on the centre console.
Lexus has created some stellar interiors in the past and the LBX doesn't disappoint. It has a look and feel inside that's reminiscent of the company's larger SUVs, including the Lexus NX, with plusher-feeling materials in all the important places, combined with superb build quality that even bests the X1's.
Infotainment
Lexus LBX
The LBX’s 9.8in touchscreen sits close to the steering wheel, so it falls easily to hand and is relatively easy to use on the move. We also like its crisp, responsive screen, well-spaced-out application icons and physical buttons to adjust the temperature of the climate control (the X1 piles this onto its touchscreen). Like the X1, the LBX has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity and both are provided as standard.
BMW X1
BMW’s latest infotainment system has lots of features and the 10.7in touchscreen is very responsive and even more graphically impressive than its rival's unit. The logical menu layout makes it easier to find some functions than in the LBX, too. However, the rotary controller (that we loved about older BMWs) is no more; instead, control is via touch or a reasonably effective (albeit far from perfect) voice command system. And, because the screen is mounted a little further away in the X1 than it is in the LBX, it's a bit more of a struggle to operate it on the move.
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