New 2007 BMW X5 Safety Review [ 2009 , 2008 ]
BMW X5 Safety Review
Safety - 8.5 (Very Good)
The federal government has not crash-tested the X5, but in crash tests performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the X5 received a rating of "good," the highest possible, in frontal crash tests. Automobile Magazine says the X5 is "one of the best machines money can buy to get you and six of your favorite people wherever you want to go, safely."
As the 2007 BMW X5 is a relatively new model, the safety data is not complete. Even with limited available data, experts believe the X5 will prove to be a relatively safe vehicle, with Motor Trend saying, "whether you travel on- or off-road, the X5 will do its part getting you home in one piece."
Accident Avoidance
Several reviewers took the X5 on BMWs own wet skid pad at high speeds and weren't able to make it miss a step, let alone roll over. Autobytel reports,
"the heavy Bimmer remained flat even when we yanked on the steering wheel at high speeds. We subsequently goosed the throttle to determine how tail-happy the X5 could be, and even with the wheel cranked, the pedal on the floor, the surface wet and the stability control off, we didn't get the rear end to twitch more than a foot or so. With stability control on, traction didn't brake loose at all, though switching to regular suspension mode allows for a little softness in hard corners. To say that the X5 feels stable in extreme conditions would be a serious understatement."
The X5 comes standard with Dynamic Stability Control, four-wheel disc anti-lock brakes, electronic brake assist and all-wheel drive, all of which can help avoid an accident.
Crash Protection
In the event of an accident, passengers are protected. The driver and front passenger have frontal air bags, as well as side-impact and side curtain air bags. The rear passengers have side-impact and side curtain air bags. The X5 received the highest possible rating in frontal crashes from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Prior year X5 models perform will in government crash tests, as well.
