2008 BMW 1-Series - Safety Review and Crash Test Ratings

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While the 2008 BMW 1-Series has not yet been crash tested by either the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), BMWs have a long tradition of scoring very well in a variety of safety and crash tests, and there's little reason to think that BMWs 2008 1-Series will prove an exception.

Even the base version of the BMW 1-Series comes loaded with safety features, some typical and some innovative. Kelley Blue Book points out that the BMW 1-Series offers "standard front, front-side and side-curtain airbags, anti-lock brakes, stability and traction controls." These are features that consumers have come to expect from automobiles today.

However, many reviews read by TheCarConnection.com referenced a nifty little addition to the safety features list on the BMW 2008 1-Series: a system that automatically dries the brakes during wet driving conditions. ConsumerGuide appreciates these touches, such as an "antiskid system, tire-pressure monitor, [and] daytime running lights," that add to the safety credentials of the new 2008 BMW 1-Series. ConsumerGuide also finds that on the BMW 2008 1-Series, "thin pillars in the coupe provide fine visibility to all directions, though wide front headrests can get in the way when backing." Visibility is expected to decrease on convertibles, and here ConsumerGuide writes that the top on the 2008 BMW 1-Series convertible will "sacrifice visibility to the rear corners and directly astern."