Top Safety Pick +Top Safety Pick criteria

2023 BMW X3

midsize luxury SUV / 4-door SUV

2023 BMW X3 4-door SUV

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Small overlap front: driver-side
Small overlap front: passenger-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Moderate overlap front: updated test
Side: original test
Side: updated test
Roof strength
Head restraints & seats

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Headlights
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Standard system
Superior
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)
Standard system
Superior
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (night)
Standard system
Superior

Seat belts & child restraints

Seat belt reminders
LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

  • Standard blind spot detection
  • Standard lane departure warning
  • Optional lane departure prevention

Key

  • G
    Good
  • A
    Acceptable
  • M
    Marginal
  • P
    Poor
  • Superior
  • Advanced
  • Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2018-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2018 BMW X3 xDrive30i 4-door 4wd

The BMW X3 was redesigned for the 2018 model year.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Action shot taken during the driver-side small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame, steering wheel, and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained very well.

The frontal and side curtain airbags worked well together to keep the head from coming close to any stiff structure or outside objects that could cause injury.

Intrusion into the driver's space was well controlled, and risk of injuries to the dummy's legs and feet was low.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEN1801
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 1
Footrest (cm) 4
Left toepan (cm) 5
Brake pedal (cm) 3
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 0
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 0
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 1
Upper dash (cm) 1
Lower instrument panel (cm) 1

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEN1801
Head
HIC-15 118
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Extension bending moment (Nm) 9
Maximum Nij 0.19
Chest maximum compression (mm) 25
Femur (kN)
Left 0.1
Right 0.1
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.25
Right 0.23
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.2
Right 0.9
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 44
Right 82

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2018-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2018 BMW X3 M40i 4-door 4wd

The BMW X3 was redesigned for the 2018 model year. Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by BMW.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side

Test ID VTP1805
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 1
Footrest (cm) 6
Right toepan (cm) 5
Center toepan (cm) 4
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 1
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 1
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 1
Upper dash (cm) 1
Right lower dash (cm) 1

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTP1805
Head
HIC-15 221
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.6
Extension bending moment (Nm) 13
Maximum Nij 0.29
Chest maximum compression (mm) 28
Femur (kN)
Left 0.8
Right 0.4
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 5
Right 2
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.44
Right 0.44
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.8
Right 2.4
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 83
Right 87

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTP1805
Head
HIC-15 167
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.1
Extension bending moment (Nm) 20
Maximum Nij 0.28
Chest maximum compression (mm) 33
Femur (kN)
Left 0.3
Right 0.5
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 2
Right 2
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.36
Right 0.30
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.1
Right 1.8
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 42
Right 47

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2018-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2018 BMW X3 xDrive30i 4-door 4wd

The BMW X3 was redesigned for the 2018 model year. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by BMW.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTF1802
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 2
Left (cm) 2
Center (cm) 2
Right (cm) 1
Brake pedal (cm) 0
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) -1
Right (cm) -1
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) -2
Rearward (cm) -6
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF1802
Head
HIC-15 212
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Extension bending moment (Nm) 27
Maximum Nij 0.27
Chest maximum compression (mm) 33
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 0.4
Femur force - right (kN) 0.6
Knee displacement - left (mm) 1
Knee displacement - right (mm) 2
Maximum tibia index - left 0.37
Maximum tibia index - right 0.30
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 1.9
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 2.0
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 55
Right 54

About the original moderate overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: updated test

Rating applies to 2023-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2023 BMW X3 xDrive 30i 4-door 4wd

The BMW X3 was redesigned for the 2018 model year.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Thigh/hip
Leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Thigh
Rear passenger restraints and dummy kinematics

View of the vehicle after the crash showing the airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

The rear passenger dummy's head came close to contacting the front seatback, which increases the risk of head injuries.

Rear passenger dummy injury values indicate a low risk of injury to the head or neck and chest. During the crash, the shoulder belt remained in an ideal position on the dummy’s chest.

The rear passenger dummy's lap belt remained in the ideal position on the pelvis.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEF2324
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 2
Left (cm) 2
Center (cm) 1
Right (cm) 1
Brake pedal (cm) 2
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 0
Right (cm) -1
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) -1
Rearward (cm) -6
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEF2324
Head
HIC-15 199
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Extension bending moment (Nm) 17
Maximum Nij 0.20
Chest maximum compression (mm) 30
Femur (kN)
Left 0.6
Right 0.9
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 2
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.29
Right 0.47
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.5
Right 2.2
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 50
Right 46

Rear passenger injury measures

Test ID CEF2324
Head
HIC-15 for head contact during forward excursion
no contact
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.6
Compression (kN) 0.1
Maximum Nij for head contact during forward excursion
no contact
Chest
Chest index 35
Shoulder belt tension (kN) 4.4
Thigh (kN)
Left femur compression 0.2
Right femur compression 0.2

About the moderate overlap front test

February 2024 adjustment to rating criteria

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2018-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2018 BMW X3 xDrive30i 4-door 4wd

The BMW X3 was redesigned for the 2018 model year.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Rear passenger head protection

View of the vehicle just after the crash test.

View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side curtain airbag.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CES1802
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -19.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID CES1802
Head HIC-15 72
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.9
Compression (kN) 0.3
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 26
Lateral force (kN) 1.5
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 26
Average deflection (mm) 25
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.24
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.29
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.1
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.8
Combined force (kN) 1.9
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.2
L-M moment (Nm) 46
A-P moment (Nm) -30

Passenger injury measures

Test ID CES1802
Head HIC-15 127
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.4
Compression (kN) 0.2
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 5
Lateral force (kN) 0.6
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 13
Average deflection (mm) 12
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 1.89
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.13
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 1.0
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.5
Combined force (kN) 2.3
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.4
L-M moment (Nm) 60
A-P moment (Nm) -16

About the original side crash test

Side: updated test

Rating applies to 2023-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2023 BMW X3 xDrive 30i 4-door 4wd

The BMW X3 was redesigned for the 2018 model year. Side 2.0 ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2023 X3 conducted by BMW.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Rear passenger head protection
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTS2328
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -28.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS2328
Head
HIC-15 45
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.8
Compression (kN) 0.2
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 15
Lateral force (kN) 0.9
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 25
Average deflection (mm) 23
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.14
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.42
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 4.7

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS2328
Head
HIC-15 156
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.3
Compression (kN) 0.4
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 4
Lateral force (kN) 0.5
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 17
Average deflection (mm) 15
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.32
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.27
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 2.3

About the side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2018-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2018 BMW X3 xDrive30i 4-door 4wd

Overall evaluation
Curb weight4,190 lbs
Peak force18,799 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio4.49

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Power leather seat

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Power leather seat
Geometry
Backset (mm) 44
Distance below top of head (mm) 0
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 15.2
Head contact time (ms) 65
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 0
Max neck tension (N) 469

About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.

Headlights

Trim level(s)

  • All trims
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?Yes
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the left side of the road and fair on the right side. On curves, visibility was good on both right curves and fair on both left curves.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual left and both right curves and fair on the sharp left curve.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway, on both left curves and on the gradual right curve.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • All trims
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? Yes
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2022-24 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 80.1 m None
Straightaway left edge 57.5 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 69.5 m None
250m radius left curve, right edge 60.9 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 63.3 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 51.9 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 158.7 m
Straightaway left edge 129.1 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 81.0 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 78.5 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 67.3 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 62.3 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

  • Standard Active Driving Assistant

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2022-23 models

Superior
Superior
  • This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

About the original front crash prevention test

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)

System details

  • standard Active Driving Assistant

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to all 2022-24 models

Superior
Superior

Crossing child

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Crossing adult

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Parallel adult

  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 37 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision. A warning was issued 1.9 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (night)

Night

System details

  • standard Active Driving Assistant

Overall evaluation

Includes high-beam assist credit

This rating applies to all 2022-24 models
Superior
Superior

Crossing adult

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Parallel adult

  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 37 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams and a warning was issued 1.7 seconds before impact. When using its low beams, impact speed was reduced by 16 mph and a warning was issued 0.9 seconds before impact.

About pedestrian front crash prevention test

Seat belt reminders

Rating applies to 2022-24 models

Overall evaluation
Front row
Unbelted occupant alert (audible & visual)
Initiation time
DurationLong enough (90+ seconds)
Volume
Audio frequency
Second row
Startup status alert (visual)
Initiation time
Duration at least 60 seconds
Belt disengaged alert (audible & visual)
Initiation time
Duration at least 30 seconds
Volume
Audio frequency
Technical measurements for this test
Background cabin sound pressure level at 24 km/h 50 dB
Audible signal sound pressure level at 24 km/h 56 dB
Difference between background and signal 6.4 dB
Background cabin sound pressure level at 40 km/h 54 dB
Audible signal sound pressure level at 40 km/h 58 dB
Difference between background and signal 4.4 dB
Dominant audio frequency 584 Hz

About the seat belt reminder evaluation

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2018-24 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimxDrive30i/xDrive28i
Seat type leather

This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor only.

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimxDrive30i/xDrive28i
Seat type leather
1 2 3
GGood
AAcceptable
MMarginal
PPoor
Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol
Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol
Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol
Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
No hardware available

Details by seating position

1
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
difficult to maneuver around anchors
2
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
none available
3
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
difficult to maneuver around anchors
Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated Yes
Depth Visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 35
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 2
Clearance angle (degrees) 33
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 22

2

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 3
Clearance angle (degrees) 34
Lower anchor B
Open access rated Yes
Depth Not visible
Force (lbs) 1
Clearance angle (degrees) 34
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation