BMW X1 Euro NCAP crash test

5 stars. Overall excellent performance in crash protection and well equipped with comprehensive and robust crash avoidance technology

The passenger compartment of the X1 remained stable in the frontal offset test. Dummy numbers demonstrated good protection of the knees and femurs of both the driver and passenger.  BMW showed that a similar level of protection would be provided to drivers of different sizes and to those sitting in different positions but that structures in the dashboard might present a risk of injury to the outboard leg of differently-sized front passengers.  Driver chest protection was rated as weak, based on dummy readings of compression.  Analysis of the deceleration of the impact trolley during the test, and analysis of the deformable barrier after the test, revealed that the X1 would be a moderately benign impact partner in a frontal collision. In the full-width rigid barrier test, chest protection was rated as marginal for the rear passenger, with good protection of other critical body areas, and was good or adequate for the driver. In both the side barrier test and the more severe side pole impact, protection of all critical body areas was good and the car scored maximum points in this part of the assessment.  Control of excursion (the extent to which a body is thrown to the other side of the vehicle when it is hit from the far side) was found to be adequate. The X1 has a counter-measure to mitigate against occupant to occupant injuries in such impacts. The system performed well in Euro NCAP’s test, with good protection of occupants’ heads.  Tests on the front seats and head restraints demonstrated good protection against whiplash injuries in the event of a rear-end collision.  A geometric analysis of the rear seats also indicated good whiplash protection.   The X1 has an advanced eCall system which alerts the emergency services in the event of a crash.   The car also has a system which applies the brakes after an impact to avoid secondary collisions.

In both the frontal offset test and the side barrier impact, dummy readings indicated good or adequate protection of all critical body areas for both child dummies  The front passenger airbag can be disabled to allow a rearward-facing child restraint to be used in that seating position.  Clear information is provided to the driver regarding the status of the airbag and the system was rewarded.  All of the restraint types for which the X1 is designed could be properly installed and accommodated.

The X1 has an ‘active’ bonnet.  Sensors in the bumper detect when a pedestrian has been struck and actuators lift the surface of the bonnet to provide greater clearance to the stiff structures in the engine compartment.  BMW showed that the system was capable of detecting various pedestrian statures over a range of speeds and, accordingly, the car was tested in the raised, ‘deployed’ position.  Head protection on the bonnet surface was almost entirely good, with some poor results recorded at the base of the windscreen and on the stiff windscreen pillars..  The bumper offered good protection to pedestrians’ legs but protection of the pelvis region was poor for all test locations.  The autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system of the X1 can respond to vulnerable road users, as well as to other vehicles.  The system performed well in tests of its response to pedestrians and cyclists, with collisions avoided in most scenarios.

The X1’s autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system performed well in tests of its reaction to other vehicles.  A seatbelt reminder system is fitted as standard to the front and rear seats and the car has a system to detect driver fatigue.  The lane support system gently corrects the vehicle’s path if it is drifting out of lane, and also intervenes in some more critical situations.  The speed assistance system detects the local speed limit and the driver can choose to allow the maximum speed of the car to be automatically set by the system.