The Bmw X2, a stylish and sporty subcompact SUV, has undergone rigorous testing by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and achieved impressive safety ratings. Sharing its foundation with the BMW X1, the X2 mirrors the X1’s robust safety performance, offering drivers and passengers peace of mind. This report delves into the detailed results of the IIHS crash evaluations for the BMW X2, focusing on key areas of occupant protection and accident prevention.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Excellent Performance
The small overlap front crash test is designed to simulate what happens when the front corner of a vehicle collides with another vehicle or a stationary object like a tree or pole. This is a particularly challenging test because it bypasses the main energy-absorbing structures of the vehicle. The BMW X2, based on tests conducted on the 2023 BMW X1, demonstrated “Good” performance in both driver-side and passenger-side small overlap evaluations.
Driver-Side Small Overlap Front
In the driver-side small overlap test, the BMW X2 earned a “Good” overall rating. Key structural elements and the safety cage of the vehicle held up exceptionally well (“Good” rating for structure and safety cage), maintaining the crucial survival space for the driver. Analysis of driver injury measures also resulted in “Good” ratings across all categories: head/neck, chest, hip/thigh, and lower leg/foot. This indicates a low risk of significant injuries to the driver in a real-world crash of this type. Furthermore, the driver restraints and dummy kinematics were also rated “Good,” signifying that the airbags and seatbelts functioned effectively to control the driver’s movement during the crash and minimize injury risk.
Technical measurements from the driver-side test further illustrate the vehicle’s robust performance. Intrusion into the occupant compartment was minimal, with maximum intrusion at the lower hinge pillar at just 2 cm and footrest at 2 cm. Crucially, intrusion into the upper occupant compartment, around the steering column and upper dash, was also minimal, further contributing to the “Good” safety rating. Driver injury measures, such as HIC-15 for head impact and chest compression, were well within acceptable limits, reinforcing the “Good” injury ratings.
Passenger-Side Small Overlap Front
The passenger-side small overlap test is equally critical, evaluating the protection offered to the front-seat passenger. Mirroring the driver-side results, the BMW X2 achieved a “Good” overall rating for passenger-side protection. The structure and safety cage maintained their integrity (“Good” rating), and passenger injury measures for head/neck, chest, hip/thigh, and lower leg/foot were all rated “Good.” Similarly, passenger restraints and dummy kinematics performed effectively, earning a “Good” rating. These results confirm that the BMW X2 provides comparable levels of protection for both the driver and front passenger in a small overlap frontal crash.
Image of BMW X2 passenger-side small overlap crash test, showcasing airbag deployment and vehicle deformation.
Technical data from passenger-side tests, conducted by both IIHS and BMW, consistently showed minimal occupant compartment intrusion and low injury measures. For instance, maximum intrusion at the lower hinge pillar was 6 cm and 3 cm in two tests, and upper dash intrusion was 7 cm and 2 cm, demonstrating good consistency in structural performance. Injury measures like HIC-15 and chest compression remained low for the passenger, further solidifying the “Good” rating.
Post-crash test image showing the BMW X2 passenger dummy position, indicating excellent maintenance of survival space.
Image highlighting the effectiveness of BMW X2’s airbags in protecting the passenger’s head during the small overlap frontal crash.
Image demonstrating the intact passenger footwell area after the BMW X2 small overlap crash test, indicating low risk of leg and foot injuries.
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test: Sustained “Good” Rating
In the traditional moderate overlap front crash test, which involves a frontal collision across a wider portion of the vehicle’s front, the BMW X2 also earned the highest rating of “Good.” This test is a foundational assessment of frontal crashworthiness, and the “Good” rating signifies that the BMW X2 provides excellent protection in this common type of accident scenario. The structure and safety cage again received a “Good” rating, and driver injury measures for head/neck, chest, and leg/foot (both left and right) were all rated “Good.” The effectiveness of driver restraints and dummy kinematics was also confirmed with a “Good” rating.
Technical measurements from the moderate overlap test reveal minimal footwell intrusion and instrument panel movement. Steering column movement was well-controlled, contributing to the overall “Good” rating. Driver injury measures remained low across the board, demonstrating effective energy absorption and occupant protection in a moderate frontal impact.
Updated Side Crash Test: “Good” for Enhanced Side Impact Safety
The IIHS updated side crash test is more stringent than the original side test, using a heavier striking barrier and higher impact speed to better simulate modern side-impact crashes, especially involving larger SUVs and trucks. The BMW X2 was subjected to this more challenging test and still achieved a “Good” overall rating. This “Good” rating extends to structure and safety cage, driver injury measures (head/neck, torso, pelvis, and driver head protection), and rear passenger injury measures (head/neck, torso, and rear passenger head protection). The pelvis protection for the rear passenger was rated as “Acceptable”, but overall, the vehicle demonstrated robust side-impact protection.
Technical measurements from the side crash test showed limited intrusion into the occupant compartment, indicating that the vehicle structure effectively resisted the side impact forces. Driver and passenger injury measures remained low, confirming the “Good” ratings for occupant protection in side collisions.
Headlight Performance: “Good” Rating Across All Trims
Headlight performance is a critical aspect of vehicle safety, particularly in nighttime driving and situations with reduced visibility. The BMW X2 comes standard with LED projector headlights across all trim levels and features high-beam assist. IIHS testing awarded these headlights a “Good” overall rating. Both low beams and high beams provided good visibility on straightaways and curves. Glare from the low beams was well-controlled and never exceeded acceptable limits. The high-beam assist feature compensates for some limitations of the low beams on curves, further enhancing nighttime driving safety.
Detailed measurements of headlight illumination distance showed good performance for both low and high beams on straightaways and curves, confirming the “Good” overall rating and highlighting the effectiveness of the BMW X2’s standard headlight system.
Pedestrian Front Crash Prevention: Superior Rating
Front crash prevention systems that can detect and react to pedestrians are increasingly important for mitigating accidents in urban and suburban environments. The BMW X2 comes standard with an Active Driving Assistant system that includes pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking. In IIHS evaluations of pedestrian front crash prevention, the BMW X2 achieved a “Superior” rating, the highest rating possible.
The system demonstrated its effectiveness in both daytime and nighttime scenarios, successfully avoiding collisions with a child and an adult crossing the road at 12 mph and 25 mph. In the more challenging parallel adult scenario at night, the system also avoided collisions at 25 mph and 37 mph, even with low beams, and provided timely warnings. These results demonstrate the BMW X2’s advanced pedestrian front crash prevention system is highly effective in mitigating pedestrian accidents.
Conclusion: The BMW X2 – A Safe and Secure Choice
The BMW X2 has demonstrated exceptional safety performance in IIHS crash tests, earning “Good” ratings in small overlap front, moderate overlap front, and updated side crash evaluations. Its headlight system and pedestrian front crash prevention technology also received “Good” and “Superior” ratings, respectively. These results underscore BMW’s commitment to safety and position the BMW X2 as a top choice for buyers prioritizing safety in a subcompact SUV. For those seeking a stylish, fun-to-drive vehicle that doesn’t compromise on safety, the BMW X2 stands out as a highly recommended option.
