In the strange period between cars getting infotainment systems and the rise of touchscreens, some automakers relied on knobs. Audi, Mercedes, Mazda, and others all had a central rotary knob that controlled infotainment functions. And they were brilliant.
But Audi and Mercedes have long since gone touchscreen-only, and the new CX-5 points to Mazda abandoning its control knob, too. That just leaves BMW.
BMW was the first to use this type of user interface when iDrive debuted on the 2001 7 Series. That system was convoluted and widely reviled, but it set the template for automotive infotainment. And over the next couple of decades, BMW refined iDrive into the best infotainment out there. And while lower-end BMW models like the X1 and 2 Series Gran Coupe have ditched the iDrive knob, it’s in everything else. As it should be.
A touchscreen is a better solution if you’re stationary. Trying to input an address or swiping through radio presets with a single knob is a tedious process, as anyone who owned a new German luxury car ten years ago can attest. But when you’re moving and want to change a couple of quick settings, or sift through various menus, a knob works so well.
BMW’s current iDrive knob rotates 360 degrees in both directions, but you can also press against the knob itself forward, backward, and side to side. You can also press it down to select. In the M5 Touring I just tested, it was a huge boon, since that car has so many settings you need to mess with from time to time. Using the knob to scroll and select lets you do this on the move without taking your eyes off the road too much.
And it’s not just that BMW has a knob—it’s well calibrated, too. Even in Apple CarPlay, where often the integration with vehicle hardware feels half-assed, the knob works intuitively, making going from Google Maps to Apple Podcasts a breeze.
BMW also sweetens the deal with shortcut keys surrounding the knob. It was better when the shortcuts were physical buttons rather than haptic pads, but these days, I’ll take what I can get. Having a back button alone makes interacting with the system so much easier, and also of note, the NAV button returns you to CarPlay/Android Auto if you’re using that instead of the native navigation system.
Unfortunately, the iDrive knob’s days are likely numbered. BMW’s Neue Klasse EVs are arriving soon, starting with the iX3, and the concepts that preview these cars lack a physical control for the infotainment system.
I’ll reserve judgment until I experience the new system, and generally, I’m optimistic about the Neue Klasse cars. But, spending time with a car that has an iDrive knob makes me wonder why anyone does it any other way.
