BMW X3 Safety Rating: Is It Worth A View?

Marie A
Dec 21, 2020

As you look at all the luxury compact SUVs available today, the BMW X3 will undoubtedly capture your heart at first glance. And if safety is your top priority, you’ll be glad to hear that it’s one of the safest on the market today.

How safe is the 2020 BMW X3?

The 2020 BMW X3 received a 5-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a ‘Good’ score from the IIHS. Combined that with 4.49-star owner and 4.4/5 expert review ratings from Vehicle History and you’ll quickly see why it’s so popular.

Of course, you need to look beyond crash test performance to truly understand BMW’s commitment to safety. Thankfully, you don’t have to go far to do just that. We’ll cover everything you need to know in this helpful guide.

BMW X3 Safety Rating – Crash Test Results

The 2020 BMW X3 went through the full range of crash tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The results speak for themselves, so take a look to see how well this luxury compact SUV performs in a collision.

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

As the Top Safety Pick+ award winner for 2019, the BMW X3 definitely had big shoes to fill in 2020. Although the pressure was on, it hit the ball out of the park by acing all its tests and earning an overall ‘Good’ rating.

On the crashworthiness tests, it earned ‘Good’ scores all the way down, including in the moderate overlap front and roof strength tests. As for crash avoidance and mitigation, it received equally good scores.

The vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system got a ‘Superior’ rating, as did the LED headlights. Only the LATCH ease of use and halogen reflector headlights failed to hit the mark. They both got a ‘Marginal’ score instead.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

The NHTSA gave the 2020 BMW X3 a 5-star overall rating due to its exceptional performance in nearly all its tests. Only the rollover test was rated at four stars, likely due to its 17.10% risk of rolling over in a collision.

On all the frontal and side crash tests, this SUV performed at the top of its class with five stars across the board. Even the side pole star rating came in at five stars, which is difficult for many SUVs to achieve.

Although it’s clear from these results that the BMW X3 can protect you and your passengers in a collision, it’s not the entire story. You also need to consider how well its active safety equipment can help prevent accidents from happening.

BMW X3 Safety Rating – The Tech That Makes it Possible

Gray 2021 BMW X3 With Mountains View

Like all safety-focused carmakers, BMW makes it their mission to equip all their vehicles with active driver assistance features — and the X3 is no exception. Here’s a peek at just what this luxury compact SUV might come with.

Frontal Collision Warning

The Frontal Collision Warning system helps you watch the road ahead and alerts you to any hazards coming your way. If it feels like you could get into an accident, it will issue an immediate alert to warn you.

If you do not respond right away while moving at slow speeds, the City Collision Mitigation system will activate the brakes. With that move, the system could slow down the vehicle enough to prevent a collision or at least lessen the impact.

Active Lane Keeping Assist

As you’re driving down clearly marked roads, the Active Lane Keeping Assist system watches your position between the lines. If you start to drift toward the edge of the lane, an alert will come up, so you can adjust your position.

Active Blind Spot Detection

When vehicles travel in your blind spot, they are virtually invisible to the naked eye. Fortunately, you have Active Blind Spot Detection on your side.

Starting the second you flip on your turn signals, it looks to your blind spots to see if there are vehicles in the way. If it detects anything in your path, it will let you know, so you can wait until you have the all-clear before changing lanes.

Heads Up Display

Accidents can happen in a split second, giving you little time to check your speed or other info on your gauge cluster. With the Heads Up Display, you never again have to take your eyes off the road to check the status of your vehicle. Instead, all the info you need is available at a glance right on your windshield.

Park Distance Control

Although luxury compact SUVs have a small footprint, they are not super easy to park. To help you out, there’s the Park Distance Control system.

Car Parking Assistance System Display

This system watches for obstructions in your path and warns you when you get too close. You can then adjust your trajectory and ease into the smallest of spaces without worry.

With all these driver assist systems at your disposal, you’re better able to avoid collisions and feel well protected at all times. You can also trust that this vehicle can hold up well in a crash if the unthinkable happens. With that, it’s easier than ever to head out on your adventures while remaining confident behind the wheel.

A Look at What People Also Ask:

Is the BMW X3 a good car?

The BMW X3 is an excellent compact SUV for those who want the best combination of luxury and utility. With this vehicle, you get exceptional performance, agile handling, and tons of high-tech features. Safety and reliability are at the top of its class as well.

What is the best year for the BMW X3?

The 2017 model year is widely accepted as the best year so far for the BMW X3. Consumer Reports gave it a reliability score of four out of five and it got a five-star NHTSA crash test rating.

Are BMW X3s expensive to maintain?

The BMW X3 is no more expensive to maintain than any other luxury compact SUV. You can expect to spend around $315 per year for its routine maintenance. Major repairs can reach over $4,400 if anything goes awry, however

What goes wrong with the BMW X3?

The BMW X3 is known for engine problems that can majorly impact your travels. If the engine starts to act up, it could stall out or fail to start on demand. The 2013 X3 has the most complaints out of all the model years.

Does the BMW X3 hold its value?

As with most luxury compact SUVs, the BMW X3 loses up to 60% of its value over the first five years. If you sell it then, the resale value will sit at around $20,400. By the ten-year mark, its value will have dropped by up to 85% for a resale value of $7,800.

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