Audi A1 vs Mini Cooper vs Opel Astra: Which one has the best infotainment system?

By Chad Lückhoff

We compare the new Audi A1 infotainment system to the Mini Cooper 3-door and the Opel Astra 1.4T Enjoy model.


The Audi A1 has been with us for several years and is due for replacement this year. It underwent a facelift in 2015 and that has carried it well enough up to this point. Audi has already started promoting the second generation on their website and we thought that it would be wise to take a look at the new system and compare it to its peers.


Audi A1 (2019)
**Yet to be rated**

The new Audi A1 is fitted with a large 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system that ties into the digital dashboard display and the multifunction steering wheel. The A1 has Audi Virtual Cockpit as an optional extra and the infotainment system ties in with this accordingly, displaying navigation, media and an assortment of other vehicle functions where required.

The menu uses a tiled home screen with shortcuts to standard functions. Handwriting recognition allows for quick and easy entry of phone contacts and navigation destinations while also offering a standard keyboard layout as an alternative. Multiple pages can be arranged, accessed by swiping to either side of the screen.

Some menu items are tucked away in obscure locations, require a swipe down from the upper section of the screen in order to access them.

The only tactile interface that one gets is the multifunction steering wheel and the system is Apple CarPlay ready when equipped with the smartphone package.


Mini Cooper 3-door
3/5

The Mini Cooper offers a modern infotainment system housed in the central, circular fascia. It uses a 6.5-inch touchscreen display and is equipped with USB and Bluetooth capabilities while Apple CarPlay is an optional extra. The optional Connected Navigation Plus system uses a larger 8.8-inch display and includes navigation functionality.

A bank of shortcut buttons rests below the screen with a rotary dial in the centre for the volume and power controls. Six preset button rest below these for quick switching between radio stations.

The menu layout will be familiar to those that have used BMW-based systems but may prove a little tricky for those without experience. A short amount of time is required to familiarize oneself with the menu hierarchy.


Opel Astra 1.4T Enjoy
3.5/5

While the Astra 1.4T Enjoy doesn't benefit from the range-topping Navi 900 IntelliLink system, it still uses a 7-inch Navi 4.0 touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, USB, MP3 and AUX input. This system is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto-equipped with an option for MirrorLink.

Navigation is standard and offers 2D and 3D views while the menu is simple, logical and intuitive, allowing for quick access to shortcuts. A simple bank of buttons totalling four rests below the screen for shortcut actions including Home, track skip forwards and backwards, and phone. The central rotary dial controls the power and volume.

The system ties into the multifunction steering wheel for common infotainment functions.

Which one has the lowest running costs? See how the Audi A1 stacks up.