While the German ADAC office (the German equivalent of AAA) didn’t take an official position, the colleagues from OEAMTC Austria concluded a comparison test in Pedestrian Safety by using as a reference mid-size and compact SUVs.
The new BMW X1 comes at the top of this test and OEAMTC expert Max Lang says: “The Bavarians demonstrated responsibility and have invested a lot in the passive pedestrian safety.”
The X1 scores high in all the safety categories, but it particularly shines in the passenger safety: five stars in Euro NCAP crash test.
In the evaluation of pedestrian protection, the BMW X1 has been compared with other small SUVs, including the VW Tiguan, Mercedes GLK and Audi Q5. The BMW X1 scored 23 out of 36 possible points for pedestrian protection, and shows a clear improvement over the first generation BMW X3 (E83). This model achieved only 5 points back in 2008, but the second generation is getting close to the launch time.
Responsible for the good performance of the X1 are the optimized shape of the front end and the use of numerous ductile and energy absorbing elements for body, bonnet and front bumper. The BMW X1 shows that small SUVs can certainly do well for pedestrian protection, despite the assumption that a smaller and compact cars achieve higher pedestrian safety ratings.
Competitors VW Tiguan and Mercedes GLK scored 16 points, respectively 17, but a big improvement over their “older brothers”, VW Touareg Group (7 points) and Mercedes ML (6 points).
However, the new Audi Q5 disappointed by earning only 12 points, behind the Q7 with 15 points and even the non-premium automaker Kia with its Sorento model scoring 16 points.
[Source: BimmerToday ]
