BMW X5: Safest in its Class

Strictly regulated by European governments, consumer protection organizations and automobile clubs, Euro NCAP is recognised as the toughest crash tests in the automotive industry.

The Euro NCAP consortium certified the X5 with very low risk of injury for all occupants in all tested crash scenarios. The Euro NCAP test is comprised of three individual tests; frontal, side and pole impact. In the frontal crash test, one of the most difficult of all crash tests, the BMW X5 scored 13 out of 16 points, while it won all of the 18 points in both the side and pole crash tests.

The five stars achieved in the Euro NCAP crash test confirm the high level of passive safety the BMW X5 demonstrated in earlier crash tests. For example, in the test performed by the United States Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the X5 scored the best result ever achieved by any vehicle up to that time.

Robert Bailey-McEwan, Managing Director of BMW Group Middle East, said: "Our BMW X5 has been setting new motoring standards since its launch in 1999 and has won numerous safety awards. It is one of the safest vehicles on the road combining the sporty and comfortable attributes of a typical BMW saloon with exceptional off-road features."

The fact that the BMW X5 offers such exemplary protection to its occupants in a crash is not a matter of course in the large off-roader segment. The design of many Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV) limits the energy absorption in case of a collision due to the conventional separate chassis construction.

On the other hand, the BMW Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) is based on the self-supporting lightweight body usually used for saloon cars, and therefore, can absorb considerably more crash energy than a vehicle with a separate chassis.

In addition to the high design safety features, the X5 offers passengers a maximum level of passive safety; fitted with up to 10 airbags, including two-stage frontal airbags and ITS head airbag, automatic-reel three-point safety belts on all seats, belt tensioners and belt force limiters, belt wear and seat occupancy detection as well as ISOFIX child seat mountings.

In order to avoid accidents, BMW development engineers have also invested a maximum amount of effort in the active safety systems. The superior suspension, the low vehicle centre of gravity and an ideal axle load distribution are complemented by Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), the electronic stability management system.

ABS, CBC (Cornering Brake Control), and DBC (Dynamic Brake Control) assist the excellent brake system of the X5 in critical situations. In addition, to ensure superior safety beyond paved roads, the DSC system has been supplemented by two further functions: the automatic ADB-X differential brake and Hill Descent Control, (HDC) the intelligent downhill drive control system.