Top Safety Pick +Top Safety Pick criteria

2026 BMW X3

midsize luxury SUV / 4-door SUV

2026 BMW X3 4-door SUV
2025 BMW X3 shown

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Evaluation criteriaRating
Small overlap front
G
Moderate overlap front: updated test
G
Side: updated test
G

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Evaluation criteriaRating
Headlights
A
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle 2.0
Standard system
G
Front crash prevention: pedestrian
Standard system
G

Seat belts & child restraints

Evaluation criteriaRating
Seat belt reminders
M

Other available safety features

  • Standard blind spot detection
  • Standard lane departure warning
  • Optional lane departure prevention
  • Optional rear automatic braking

Key

  • Good
  • Acceptable
  • Marginal
  • Poor

Small overlap front

The small overlap front evaluation consists of a driver-side and a passenger-side component. If the results of the two evaluations differ, then the combined small overlap rating is equal to the lower rating.

Driver-side

Tested vehicle: 2025 BMW X3 xDrive30 4-door 4wd
Rating applies to 2025-26 models

The BMW X3 was redesigned for the 2025 model year. Driver-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2025 X3 conducted by BMW.

Evaluation criteriaRating
Overall driver-side evaluation
G
Structure and safety cage
G
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
G
Chest
G
Hip/thigh
G
Lower leg/foot
G
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
G
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Evaluation criteriaMeasurement
Test ID VTN2503
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 3
Footrest (cm) 6
Left toepan (cm) 4
Brake pedal (cm) 6
Parking brake (cm) 0
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 1
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 0
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 2
Upper dash (cm) 2
Lower instrument panel (cm) 1

Driver injury measures

Evaluation criteriaMeasurement
Test ID VTN2503
Head
HIC-15 166
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.9
Extension bending moment (Nm) 15
Maximum Nij 0.17
Chest maximum compression (mm) 31
Femur (kN)
Left 1.1
Right 0.7
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.34
Right 0.66
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.5
Right 1.9
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 52
Right 74

Passenger-side

Tested vehicle: 2025 BMW X3 xDrive30 4-door 4w
Rating applies to 2025-26 models

The BMW X3 was redesigned for the 2025 model year. Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2025 X3 conducted by BMW.

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

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side

Evaluation criteriaMeasurement
Test ID VTP2503
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 2
Footrest (cm) 6
Right toepan (cm) 5
Center toepan (cm) 3
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 1
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 1
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 1
Upper dash (cm) 0
Right lower dash (cm) 2

Passenger injury measures

Evaluation criteriaMeasurement
Test ID VTP2503
Head
HIC-15 82
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.9
Extension bending moment (Nm) 7
Maximum Nij 0.22
Chest maximum compression (mm) 24
Femur (kN)
Left 0.5
Right 0.3
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.41
Right 0.28
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.4
Right 1.3
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 45
Right 53

Driver injury measures

Evaluation criteriaMeasurement
Test ID VTP2503
Head
HIC-15 53
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.8
Extension bending moment (Nm) 13
Maximum Nij 0.18
Chest maximum compression (mm) 24
Femur (kN)
Left 0.4
Right 0.4
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.33
Right 0.35
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 0.2
Right 0.4
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 31
Right 33

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: updated test

Tested vehicle: 2025 BMW X3 xDrive30i 4-door 4wd
Rating applies to 2025-26 models

The BMW X3 was redesigned for the 2025 model year.

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

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

The rear passenger dummy's head remained a safe distance from the front seatback.

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

Evaluation criteriaMeasurement
Test ID CEF2527
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 2
Left (cm) 2
Center (cm) 3
Right (cm) 1
Brake pedal (cm) 1
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 0
Right (cm) 0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) 0
Rearward (cm) -4
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Evaluation criteriaMeasurement
Test ID CEF2527
Head
HIC-15 136
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.1
Extension bending moment (Nm) 7
Maximum Nij 0.24
Chest maximum compression (mm) 32
Femur (kN)
Left 0.9
Right 0.8
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.25
Right 0.34
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.8
Right 2.1
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 48
Right 48

Rear passenger injury measures

Test ID CEF2527
Head
HIC-15 for head contact during forward excursion
no contact
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.8
Compression (kN) 0.1
Maximum Nij for head contact during forward excursion
no contact
Chest
Chest index 34
Shoulder belt tension (kN) 4.0
Thigh (kN)
Left femur compression 0.1
Right femur compression 0.1

About the moderate overlap front test

February 2024 adjustment to rating criteria

Side: updated test

Tested vehicle: 2025 BMW X3 xDrive30 4-door 4wd
Rating applies to 2025-26 models

The BMW X3 was redesigned for the 2025 model year. Side 2.0 ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2025 X3 conducted by BMW.

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

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Evaluation criteria Measurement
Test ID VTS2504
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) 28.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Evaluation criteria Measurement
Test ID VTS2504
Head
HIC-15 39
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.9
Compression (kN) 0.2
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 20
Lateral force (kN) 0.9
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 24
Average deflection (mm) 22
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.57
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.19
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 3.1

Passenger injury measures

Evaluation criteria Measurement
Test ID VTS2504
Head
HIC-15 222
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.4
Compression (kN) 0.4
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 16
Lateral force (kN) 0.3
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 20
Average deflection (mm) 13
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.11
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.18
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 3.0

About the side crash test

Headlights

Ratings are given for 2 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

(1) Trim level(s): All trims

Evaluation criteriaRating
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
A
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 Some glare

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good in all 4 tests.

The low beams created some glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on the left side of the road and inadequate on the right side. On curves, visibility was fair in all 4 tests.

Technical measurements for this test
Evaluation criteria Measurement
Trim level(s)
  • All trims
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2025-26 models
A
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 109.1 m None
Straightaway left edge 69.7 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 71.1 m 38.4%
250m radius left curve, left edge 67.5 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 59.3 m 41.3%
150m radius left curve, left edge 59.1 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 112.5 m
Straightaway left edge 132.4 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 70.8 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 66.8 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 58.7 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 58.0 m

(2) Trim level(s): All trims equipped with M Sport Professional package, All trims equipped with Full LED Headlights with Corner Light package

Evaluation criteriaRating
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
A
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 Some glare

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good in all 4 tests.

The low beams created some glare.

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

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

Technical measurements for this test
Evaluation criteria Measurement
Trim level(s)
  • All trims equipped with M Sport Professional package
  • All trims equipped with Full LED Headlights with Corner Light package
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2025-26 models
A
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 101.3 m None
Straightaway left edge 63.4 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 68.8 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 70.6 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 58.2 m 12.0%
150m radius left curve, left edge 58.5 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 105.9 m
Straightaway left edge 93.3 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 70.8 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 76.7 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 60.0 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 64.5 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle 2.0

System details

  • standard Driving Assistant
Evaluation criteriaRating
Overall evaluation
G
Rating applies to all 2025-26 models

Passenger car target

Test runSpeed reductionTimely warning?
31 mph/target centeredCollision avoided
31 mph/target off-centerCollision avoided
37 mph/target centeredCollision avoided
37 mph/target off-centerCollision avoided
43 mph/target centeredCollision avoided
43 mph/target off-centerCollision avoided

Motorcycle target

Test runSpeed reductionTimely warning?
31 mph/target centeredCollision avoided
31 mph/target off-centerCollision avoided
37 mph/target centeredCollision avoided
37 mph/target off-centerCollision avoided
43 mph/target centeredCollision avoided
43 mph/target off-centerCollision avoided

Semitrailer

Only warning is tested with the semitrailer.

Test runTimely warning?
31 mph/target centered
37 mph/target centered
43 mph/target centered

About the front crash prevention test

Front crash prevention: pedestrian

System details

  • standard Driving Assistant
Evaluation criteriaRating
Overall evaluation
G
Includes high-beam assist credit
Rating applies to all 2025-26 models

Crossing child — day

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

Crossing adult — night

  • 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 — night

  • 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 1.9 seconds before impact. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision and a warning was issued 2 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test

Seat belt reminders

Rating applies to 2025-26 models

Evaluation criteriaRating
Overall evaluation
M
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 57 dB
Difference between background and signal 7.7 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 3.9 dB
Dominant audio frequency 584 Hz

About the seat belt reminder evaluation