BMW iX3 achieves highest “five star” rating in first Euro NCAP test since introduction of new, more stringent assessment standard.

Note: This press release is a 1:1 copy of the original issued by BMW headquarters in Germany. No adaptions have been made to cater to the UK market. 

Munich/Brussels. The BMW iX3 has been awarded the highest rating of five stars in the latest safety test conducted by independent assessment organisation Euro NCAP. The BMW iX3 was one of the first vehicles to be assessed according to the thoroughly revised test protocols introduced in 2026. The new testing procedure has a greater focus on real-world scenarios on the road and imposes significantly greater requirements for vehicle safety. In the latest Euro NCAP test, the first Neue Klasse model impressed in each of the four new crash safety stages – “Safe Driving”, “Crash Avoidance”, “Crash Protection” and “Post Crash Safety”. Indeed, it exceeded the scores required for a five-star rating by a significant margin.

The highest rating of five stars achieved here by BMW is rooted in the brand’s all-encompassing approach to safety. The safety concept of the BMW iX3 takes into account the protection of those on board in a collision, as well as crash avoidance systems and functions that help to extricate occupants after a crash. This fits in with the new and more stringent Euro NCAP assessment system. Previously, ratings were given for protection of the vehicle’s occupants (both children and adults) and vulnerable road users, and for the vehicle’s safety assistance systems. The new procedure now covers the entire sequence of events and places a clear emphasis on everyday road scenarios.

Driver assistance systems in the BMW iX3 earn excellent rating.
The standard-fitted driver assistance systems in the BMW iX3 played a key role in this strong performance. In the “Safe Driving” category, for example, Euro NCAP gave the BMW a positive rating in recognition of its ability to help drivers stay alert to the traffic around them. The Speed Limit Info display also made a convincing impression. It showed the correct speed on 97 per cent of a cross-border test route covering around 2,000 kilometres (1,243 miles) through Italy, France, Germany and Austria. Likewise attracting a positive assessment was the combination of physical controls for essential driving functions, the Central Display for adjusting infotainment and comfort-enhancing functions and the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant for voice control. The systems in the BMW iX3 that detect if a child has been left behind in the vehicle earned a positive assessment, too. And the BMW iX3 posted a score of 73 per cent for “Safe Driving”, which is 13 percentage points higher than actually required for a five-star rating in this category.

Exit warning provides effective protection for cyclists.
The BMW iX3 scored 83 per cent for “Crash Avoidance”. Here, it impressed with an extensive array of active safety systems, including Front Collision Warning with brake intervention. Also earning praise was the exit warning function, which reminds occupants getting out of the car to be aware of cyclists approaching from the rear. This prevents injuries caused by opening the vehicle’s doors at the wrong time.

Exceptional safety for children in the rear seats.
The BMW iX3 recorded an excellent result (86 per cent) for “Crash Protection”. Euro NCAP awarded it the maximum number of points for the protection provided to the child test dummies in the rear seats in an asymmetric frontal collision. Additional test data and validated simulation models also confirmed a high level of protection overall for occupants with different body sizes in the various impact tests. In the side impact tests, the BMW iX3 again recorded top marks. The standard-fitted central airbag played its part here by preventing the driver and front passenger from colliding with one another.

Excellent rating for assistance after a crash.
In the “Post Crash Safety” category, the BMW iX3 posted an outstanding 95 per cent. Here, features are assessed that increase safety for occupants after a crash and help them to be extricated from the vehicle. These include emergency call systems, as well as functions designed to make the high-voltage battery safe and provide access to the vehicle for first responders. Particularly relevant here were the flush-fitted exterior door handles of the BMW iX3. The assessors confirmed that the electrically operated handles worked reliably after all the crash tests. Occupants are able to exit the vehicle and rescuers can gain access from the outside – even in the event of all the electrical systems failing. This is enabled by a mechanical redundancy for the opening systems in the BMW iX3, and Euro NCAP gave it a positive rating accordingly. The car performs well beyond legal requirements when it comes to its emergency call system. For example, it sends out two GPS coordinates, which helps rescuers to identify which side of a motorway the BMW is on and therefore to reach the scene more quickly.

New assessment procedure: from crash testing to complete vehicle rating.
The new Euro NCAP protocols represent the most comprehensive overhaul of the assessment procedure since the combined rating system was introduced in 2009. Today, driver assistance systems, real-world traffic scenarios and safety following a crash play a more prominent role in a vehicle’s overall rating – in addition to the traditional crash tests. The aim is to create a more comprehensive picture of the performance of modern safety technologies and assess their effectiveness in real-world situations on the road.

Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme) is an independent consortium of European transport ministries, automobile associations, insurance associations and research institutes. Since 1997, the organisation – headquartered in Leuven, Belgium – has assessed the safety of new vehicle models using standardised testing procedures. Since 2020, the test protocols have been updated every three years and adapted to new vehicle technologies and the challenges of road traffic.

The full list of results can be found at https://www.euroncap.com/