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2008 BMW X5-Series Safety Review

July 28, 2008

SAFETY | 9 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

The X5 has good visibility all around
MyRide.com

The X5 is one of a handful of vehicles to employ adaptive brake lights
Cars.com

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 2008 BMW X5 its highest score of 'Good' for both the frontal-offset and side impact crash tests
Edmunds

The 2008 BMW X5 scores highly with federal and insurance-industry crash tests, earning mostly five-star ratings, save for a four-star side-passenger impact rating and a four-star rollover rating. It earns the IIHS's Top Safety Pick award.

As for safety features, Edmunds mentions that the BMW X5 "comes standard with antilock brakes, traction control, stability control, brake drying and standby"; this last feature is described by Cars.com as keeping "the discs clean during inclement weather." Kelley Blue Book reports that "Hill Descent Control, trailer stabilization, rollover protection system and two-stage front, front seat-mounted side and front and rear head-curtain airbags" are also standard. Cars.com adds that the adaptive brake lights "illuminate over a wider area under heavy braking." In discussing optional safety features, Edmunds mentions the front and rear parking sensors to avoid minor fender benders, while MyRide.com the "anti-roll stability system and run-flat tires as part of a Sport Package."

ConsumerGuide reports "rear headrests partially block the view astern, but visibility is good otherwise, aided by available front and rear obstacle detection." MyRide.com agrees, saying that the BMW X5's large mirrors, large windows, and rearview camera result in "good visibility all around." The camera is automatically activated when the car is put in reverse, so there is no fiddling around with controls that can take away from the task at hand. Also, the 2008 BMW X5's "right side mirror dips to give a view of the curb, and its image is overlaid with a grid and lines that move with the steering wheel."

Conclusion

The 2008 BMW X5 offers a plethora of standard and optional safety features, and it scores well in crash tests.

SAFETY | 9 out of 10Expert Quotes:The X5 has good visibility all aroundMyRide.comThe X5 is one of a handful of vehicles to employ adaptive brake lightsCars.comInsurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 2008 BMW X5 its highest score of 'Good' for both the frontal-offset and side impact crash testsEdmunds The 2008 BMW X5 scores highly with federal and insurance-industry crash tests, earning mostly five-star ratings, save for a four-star side-passenger impact rating and a four-star rollover rating. It earns the IIHS's Top Safety Pick award. As for safety features, Edmunds mentions that the BMW X5 "comes standard with antilock brakes, traction control, stability control, brake drying and standby"; this last feature is described by Cars.com as keeping "the discs clean during inclement weather." Kelley Blue Book reports that "Hill Descent Control, trailer stabilization, rollover protection system and two-stage front, front seat-mounted side and front and rear head-curtain airbags" are also standard. Cars.com adds that the adaptive brake lights "illuminate over a wider area under heavy braking." In discussing optional safety features, Edmunds mentions the front and rear parking sensors to avoid minor fender benders, while MyRide.com the "anti-roll stability system and run-flat tires as part of a Sport Package." ConsumerGuide reports "rear headrests partially block the view astern, but visibility is good otherwise, aided by available front and rear obstacle detection." MyRide.com agrees, saying that the BMW X5's large mirrors, large windows, and rearview camera result in "good visibility all around." The camera is automatically activated when the car is put in reverse, so there is no fiddling around with controls that can take away from the task at hand. Also, the 2008 BMW X5's "right side mirror dips to give a view of the curb, and its image is overlaid with a grid and lines that move with the steering wheel." ConclusionThe 2008 BMW X5 offers a plethora of standard and optional safety features, and it scores well in crash tests. 2008 BMW X5 STYLING | [7 out of 10] Car and Driver: "It doesn't look radically different from its predecessor" Cars.com: "The X5's skin shows no drastic styling rebirth" MyRide.com: "The BMW X5 looks like pretty much any other crossover" Edmunds: "Luxurious and handsome interior" ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The world of full-size luxury SUVs is jammed with high-dollar names like the Brit-cool Land Rover Range Rover, which is also considerably more expensive than the BMW X5. The Lexus GX 470 is a slightly smaller choice in this group, while Infiniti's QX56 is a big SUV in the American mold, down to its unimpressive trim in the back two seating rows. Porsche's Cayenne seats only five and has drab styling, but great handling for an SUV. The Cadillac Escalade out-blings all these vehicles and has a smooth powertrain to go with its high price tag and low fuel economy, though a Hybrid edition is coming. The Mercedes-Benz GL-Class matches the X5 in seating and off-road capacity, and to our eyes, it's more handsome than the BMW.

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See the BMW X5-Series in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999

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