SAFETY | 9 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
Not yet tested
IIHS
Top Safety Pick
NHTSA
ConnectedDrive package includes a very clear backup camera as well as an around-view system
Car and Driver
The 2013 BMW X3 manages, like many offerings from high-end German luxury makers, to satisfy both a need for tried-and-true occupant safety, as well as some innovative advanced-tech safety features.
Standard safety features on the X3 include all the usual airbags, active front head restraints, anti-lock brakes, and stability systems. In Sport mode, drivers of a navigation-and-iDrive-equipped X3 can customize that Sport mode for differing levels of stability control. A stability-control mode with a higher threshold of intervention also aids traction and confidence in snow. A head-up system is also on offer and might help reduce driver distraction.
In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) testing, the 2013 X3 gets "good" ratings for all its relevant crash tests, which means the crossover is an IIHS Top Safety Pick. It hasn't yet been rated in the new IIHS small overlap frontal test, however, nor by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Conclusion
Top Safety Pick status plus excellent handling and some active-safety options add up to impressive safety.
