The 2019 BMW X5 marks a significant redesign for this luxury SUV, introducing advanced safety features and robust structural engineering. This article delves into the safety performance of the Bmw X5 2019, drawing upon the rigorous testing conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Understanding these ratings is crucial for anyone considering the safety aspects of this vehicle. These ratings are also applicable to the BMW X6 model of the same year.
Small Overlap Frontal Crash Test: Driver-Side Evaluation
The driver-side small overlap front test simulates a collision where only a small portion of the vehicle’s front end impacts a barrier. For the BMW X5 2019, this test yielded a “Good” rating, the highest possible, demonstrating strong occupant protection in this challenging scenario.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Action shot during the driver-side small overlap frontal crash test of the BMW X5 2019, highlighting the vehicle’s structural response.
Post-crash dummy position in the BMW X5 2019 driver-side small overlap test, showing excellent maintenance of driver survival space.
Airbag deployment effectiveness in the BMW X5 2019 during the driver-side small overlap test, protecting the head from impact.
Driver’s space integrity after the BMW X5 2019 driver-side small overlap test, indicating low risk of leg and foot injuries.
The technical measurements from the driver-side test further illustrate the BMW X5 2019‘s robust performance. Minimal intrusion into the occupant compartment and low injury measures for the driver dummy across all body regions underscore the effectiveness of the vehicle’s safety design.
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | CEN1902 |
| Lower occupant compartment | |
| Lower hinge pillar max (cm) | 1 |
| Footrest (cm) | 12 |
| Left toepan (cm) | 9 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 5 |
| Rocker panel lateral average (cm) | 0 |
| Upper occupant compartment | |
| Steering column | 1 |
| Upper hinge pillar max (cm) | 1 |
| Upper dash (cm) | 1 |
| Lower instrument panel (cm) | 1 |
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | CEN1902 |
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 114 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 1.0 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 8 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.22 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 26 |
| Femur (kN) | |
| Left | 1.4 |
| Right | 1.3 |
| Knee displacement (mm) | |
| Left | 5 |
| Right | 5 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index | |
| Left | 0.41 |
| Right | 0.52 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) | |
| Left | 2.3 |
| Right | 0.8 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 94 |
| Right | 38 |
Small Overlap Frontal Crash Test: Passenger-Side Evaluation
The passenger-side small overlap test is equally important, assessing protection for the front passenger. The BMW X5 2019 also achieved a “Good” overall rating in this evaluation, indicating consistent safety performance across the front seating positions. This rating is based on testing conducted by BMW and verified by the IIHS.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall 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 |
Detailed technical measurements for the passenger-side small overlap test confirm the “Good” rating of the BMW X5 2019. Intrusion measurements and injury metrics for both passenger and driver dummies are low, reflecting effective structural design and restraint systems.
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTP1910 |
| Lower occupant compartment | |
| Lower hinge pillar max (cm) | 2 |
| Footrest (cm) | 20 |
| Right toepan (cm) | 16 |
| Center toepan (cm) | 3 |
| Rocker panel lateral average (cm) | 0 |
| Upper occupant compartment | |
| Center dash (cm) | 1 |
| Upper hinge pillar max (cm) | 2 |
| Upper dash (cm) | 3 |
| Right lower dash (cm) | 3 |
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTP1910 |
| Passenger injury measures | |
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 114 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 1.4 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 14 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.19 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 26 |
| Femur (kN) | |
| Left | 2.0 |
| Right | 2.1 |
| Knee displacement (mm) | |
| Left | 3 |
| Right | 5 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index | |
| Left | 0.64 |
| Right | 0.40 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) | |
| Left | 2.1 |
| Right | 2.5 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 55 |
| Right | 85 |
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTP1910 |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 49 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.7 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 9 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.17 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 28 |
| Femur (kN) | |
| Left | 1.2 |
| Right | 0.6 |
| Knee displacement (mm) | |
| Left | 3 |
| Right | 2 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index | |
| Left | 0.43 |
| Right | 0.48 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) | |
| Left | 1.3 |
| Right | 0.9 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 71 |
| Right | 67 |
Moderate Overlap Frontal Crash Test: Original Evaluation
In the moderate overlap frontal test, a significant portion of the vehicle’s front impacts a deformable barrier. The BMW X5 2019 earned another “Good” rating, affirming its ability to protect occupants in a more common type of frontal collision. Like the passenger-side small overlap test, this rating is based on BMW’s testing, evaluated by IIHS.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Leg/foot, left | G |
| Leg/foot, right | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
The measurements from the moderate overlap test highlight the controlled deformation and minimal intrusion into the BMW X5 2019‘s occupant space. Driver injury measures remain low across all critical body regions, reinforcing the vehicle’s frontal impact safety.
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTF1908 |
| Footwell intrusion | |
| Footrest (cm) | 2 |
| Left (cm) | 2 |
| Center (cm) | 2 |
| Right (cm) | 1 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 1 |
| Instrument panel rearward movement | |
| Left (cm) | 0 |
| Right (cm) | 0 |
| Steering column movement | |
| Upward (cm) | -3 |
| Rearward (cm) | -8 |
| A-pillar rearward movement (cm) | 0 |
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTF1908 |
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 161 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 1.5 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 11 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.27 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 33 |
| Legs | |
| Femur force – left (kN) | 3.0 |
| Femur force – right (kN) | 2.5 |
| Knee displacement – left (mm) | 6 |
| Knee displacement – right (mm) | 4 |
| Maximum tibia index – left | 0.48 |
| Maximum tibia index – right | 0.43 |
| Tibia axial force – left (kN) | 2.1 |
| Tibia axial force – right (kN) | 1.8 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 50 |
| Right | 41 |
Side Impact Crash Test: Original and Updated Evaluations
The BMW X5 2019 underwent both the original and updated IIHS side impact tests. In the original side impact test, the vehicle achieved a “Good” rating, indicating effective protection in side collisions. This rating, like some frontal tests, was based on BMW’s testing and assessed by IIHS.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Torso | G |
| Pelvis/leg | G |
| Driver head protection | G |
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Torso | G |
| Pelvis/leg | G |
| Rear passenger head protection | G |
Technical measurements from the original side impact test show low injury risks for both driver and rear passenger dummies, demonstrating effective side impact protection in the BMW X5 2019.
| Test ID | VTS1910 |
|---|---|
| B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver’s seat (cm) | -26.0 |
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTS1910 |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head HIC-15 | 77 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.8 |
| Compression (kN) | 0.3 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral deflection (mm) | 19 |
| Lateral force (kN) | 0.8 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum deflection (mm) | 30 |
| Average deflection (mm) | 28 |
| Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 2.94 |
| Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.37 |
| Pelvis | |
| Iliac force (kN) | 0.9 |
| Acetabulum force (kN) | 2.4 |
| Combined force (kN) | 3.2 |
| Left femur | |
| L-M force (kN) | 0.2 |
| L-M moment (Nm) | 34 |
| A-P moment (Nm) | 28 |
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTS1910 |
| Passenger injury measures | |
| Head HIC-15 | 50 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.2 |
| Compression (kN) | 0.6 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral deflection (mm) | 6 |
| Lateral force (kN) | 0.5 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum deflection (mm) | 12 |
| Average deflection (mm) | 9 |
| Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 1.87 |
| Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.06 |
| Pelvis | |
| Iliac force (kN) | 0.5 |
| Acetabulum force (kN) | 0.8 |
| Combined force (kN) | 1.1 |
| Left femur | |
| L-M force (kN) | 0.3 |
| L-M moment (Nm) | 17 |
| A-P moment (Nm) | 16 |
In the more stringent updated side impact test (Side 2.0), using a heavier barrier and higher impact speed, the BMW X5 2019 (tested as a 2024 model, ratings apply back to 2019 redesign) still maintained a “Good” rating. This demonstrates BMW’s continuous improvement in side impact protection. It’s important to note that these updated Side 2.0 ratings do not apply to the BMW X6.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Measurements from the updated side impact test further confirm the “Good” rating for the BMW X5 2019. Low injury measures in the updated, more challenging test are a testament to the vehicle’s enhanced side-impact safety.
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTS2333 |
| B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver’s seat (cm) | -28.5 |
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTS2333 |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 35 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.6 |
| Compression (kN) | 0.4 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral deflection (mm) | 12 |
| Lateral force (kN) | 0.5 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum deflection (mm) | 21 |
| Average deflection (mm) | 18 |
| Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 1.85 |
| Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.12 |
| Pelvis | |
| Combined force (kN) | 2.9 |
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTS2333 |
| Passenger injury measures | |
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 36 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.2 |
| Compression (kN) | 0.7 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral deflection (mm) | 6 |
| Lateral force (kN) | 0.4 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum deflection (mm) | 16 |
| Average deflection (mm) | 11 |
| Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 1.58 |
| Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.12 |
| Pelvis | |
| Combined force (kN) | 3.1 |
Roof Strength Evaluation
The roof strength test assesses the structural integrity of the roof in rollover accidents. The BMW X5 2019 achieved a “Good” rating, with a strong strength-to-weight ratio of 5.26. This indicates the roof can withstand over five times the vehicle’s weight before significant crushing, providing robust rollover protection.
| Overall evaluation | G |
|---|---|
| Curb weight | 4,825 lbs |
| Peak force | 25,368 lbs |
| Strength-to-weight ratio | 5.26 |
Head Restraints and Seats
Whiplash protection is crucial in rear-end collisions. The BMW X5 2019 with its Power leather seat AHR option received a “Good” overall rating for head restraints and seats. Both dynamic and geometric evaluations were “Good,” signifying effective whiplash protection design.
| Overall evaluation | G |
|---|---|
| Dynamic rating | G |
| Seat/head restraint geometry | G |
Technical measurements support the “Good” rating for the BMW X5 2019‘s head restraints and seats, demonstrating effective performance in simulated rear-impact scenarios.
| Seat type | Power leather seat AHR |
|---|---|
| Geometry | |
| Backset (mm) | 14 |
| Distance below top of head (mm) | -19 |
| Seat design parameters | |
| Pass/fail | Pass |
| Max T1 acceleration (g) | 10.5 |
| Head contact time (ms) | 35 |
| Force rating | 1 |
| Neck forces | |
| Max neck shear force (N) | 8 |
| Max neck tension (N) | 281 |
Headlight Performance
Headlight effectiveness is a key safety feature, especially at night. The BMW X5 2019 offers two headlight variations. The trim levels equipped with Icon Adaptive Headlights with Laser Light package achieve a “Good” overall rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| High-beam headlight type | LED reflector |
| Curve-adaptive? | Yes |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
| Overall rating | G |
These headlights on the BMW X5 2019 provide good visibility on straightaways and curves with both low and high beams. While low beams exhibit some glare, the high-beam assist feature compensates for low beam limitations on straight roads and gradual left curves.
| LOW BEAMS | Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux) | Amount glare exceeded threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Straightaway right edge | 93.8 m | None |
| Straightaway left edge | 62.4 m | None |
| 250m radius right curve, right edge | 94.0 m | 2.2% |
| 250m radius left curve, left edge | 67.0 m | None |
| 150m radius right curve, right edge | 70.4 m | 15.2% |
| 150m radius left curve, left edge | 62.5 m | None |
| HIGH BEAMS | Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux) |
|---|---|
| Straightaway right edge | 137.2 m |
| Straightaway left edge | 91.9 m |
| 250m radius right curve, right edge | 95.5 m |
| 250m radius left curve, left edge | 81.4 m |
| 150m radius right curve, right edge | 70.2 m |
| 150m radius left curve, left edge | 67.4 m |
However, the standard headlights on certain BMW X5 2019 trims (without the Laser Light package) received a “Poor” overall rating. This is primarily due to excessive glare from the low beams, despite good visibility in some scenarios.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| High-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| Curve-adaptive? | Yes |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
| Overall rating | P |
The excessive glare significantly impacts the rating of these standard headlights on the BMW X5 2019, despite adequate illumination distances in certain conditions.
| LOW BEAMS | Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux) | Amount glare exceeded threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Straightaway right edge | 116.0 m | 532.8% |
| Straightaway left edge | 84.1 m | 532.8% |
| 250m radius right curve, right edge | 87.2 m | 237.5% |
| 250m radius left curve, left edge | 80.5 m | 644.5% |
| 150m radius right curve, right edge | 78.2 m | 231.0% |
| 150m radius left curve, left edge | 71.4 m | 677.8% |
| HIGH BEAMS | Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux) |
|---|---|
| Straightaway right edge | 121.7 m |
| Straightaway left edge | 100.2 m |
| 250m radius right curve, right edge | 94.6 m |
| 250m radius left curve, left edge | 84.7 m |
| 150m radius right curve, right edge | 79.5 m |
| 150m radius left curve, left edge | 73.5 m |
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle
The BMW X5 2019 excels in front crash prevention, earning “Superior” ratings across all tested system variations.
The standard Frontal Collision Warning with City Collision Mitigation system in the BMW X5 2019 successfully avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph vehicle-to-vehicle tests.
| Overall evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| System details | Standard Frontal Collision Warning with City Collision Mitigation |
| Package name | Standard Active Driving Assistant |
| Overall evaluation | Superior |
The optional Frontal Collision Warning with Extended Collision Mitigation (available with Driving Assistance Professional package) also achieved a “Superior” rating. It avoided collision at 12 mph and significantly reduced impact speed (by 23 mph) in the 25 mph test for the BMW X5 2019.
| Overall evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| System details | Optional Frontal Collision Warning with Extended Collision Mitigation |
| Package name | Optional Driving Assistance Professional |
| Overall evaluation | Superior |
The optional Frontal Collision Warning with Extended Collision Mitigation paired with Active Driving Assistant + ACC system in the BMW X5 2019 also demonstrated “Superior” performance, avoiding collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph tests.
| Overall evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| System details | Optional Frontal Collision Warning with Extended Collision Mitigation |
| Package name | Optional Active Driving Assistant + ACC |
| Overall evaluation | Superior |
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
For families, child seat anchor usability is paramount. The BMW X5 2019 received a “Good” rating for its LATCH system, offering two rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware and an additional position with a tether anchor.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Vehicle trim | xDrive40i |
| Seat type | leather |
The BMW X5 2019‘s LATCH system is rated “Good” for ease of use, with accessible lower anchors and easy-to-find tether anchors in the designated positions.
| Position | Rating |
|---|---|
| 1 | |
| Tether anchor | easy-to-find location, no other hardware could be confused for anchor |
| Lower anchors | not too deep in seat, not too much force needed to attach, easy to maneuver around anchors |
| 2 | |
| Tether anchor | easy-to-find location, no other hardware could be confused for anchor |
| Lower anchors | none available |
| 3 | |
| Tether anchor | easy-to-find location, no other hardware could be confused for anchor |
| Lower anchors | not too deep in seat, not too much force needed to attach, easy to maneuver around anchors |
Technical details on the LATCH system of the BMW X5 2019 show specific measurements for anchor depth, force, and clearance angles, contributing to its overall “Good” rating.
| Seat position 21 | 3 |
|---|---|
| Lower anchor A | Open access rated: Yes, Depth: Visible, Force (lbs): 1, Clearance angle (degrees): 62 |
| Lower anchor B | Open access rated: No, Depth (cm): -2-0, Force (lbs): 2, Clearance angle (degrees): 73 |
| Tether anchor | Location: Middle seatback, Confusing hardware present: Yes, Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor: Yes |
| Seat position 22 | 2 |
|---|---|
| Lower anchor A | No lower latch for this seat position |
| Lower anchor B | No lower latch for this seat position |
| Tether anchor | Location: Middle seatback, Confusing hardware present: Yes, Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor: Yes |
| Seat position 23 | 1 |
|---|---|
| Lower anchor A | Open access rated: No, Depth (cm): -2-0, Force (lbs): 4, Clearance angle (degrees): 61 |
| Lower anchor B | Open access rated: Yes, Depth: Visible, Force (lbs): 1, Clearance angle (degrees): 63 |
| Tether anchor | Location: Middle seatback, Confusing hardware present: Yes, Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor: Yes |
Conclusion
Overall, the BMW X5 2019 demonstrates exceptional safety performance across a range of IIHS crash tests and evaluations. With “Good” ratings in most crashworthiness categories and “Superior” ratings for front crash prevention, the BMW X5 2019 is a strong choice for safety-conscious buyers. However, it’s important for consumers to be aware of the headlight rating differences based on trim levels, opting for models equipped with the Icon Adaptive Headlights with Laser Light package for optimal headlight performance.
