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The only physical controls that are left are confined to a small panel with a handful of shortcut buttons, plus the drive selector and the start-stop switch, which takes the form of a classic ignition key affixed to the dash.
The car still ran a prototype build of the infotainment system, with numerous unfinished features and lots of bugs, so it would be unfair to cast judgement on whether this move has been successful. It seems substantially different from the current BMW iDrive system, however.
On the road, the Countryman shares some characteristics with the iX1, of course. Having the same powertrain, it’s more than quick enough, and it gets three normal fixed regenerative-braking modes, plus an adaptive mode and a one-pedal ‘B’ mode that will bring the car to a complete stop.
Despite that, it’s quite striking how different the chassis feels from the iX1’s. Unlike that car, the Countryman runs passive dampers and fixed-ratio steering, and even from the passenger seat, there’s something about its ride and roll rates that makes it feel more alive than the iX1.
This is designed to be a more comfortable car than the outgoing one, as befits its more family-friendly remit. Nevertheless, it’s quite firm-riding, which could prove too much in the UK, but it deals with potholes remarkably well.
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