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Euro NCAP allowed BMW a frontal retest after they had resolved a production problem with a front seat belt. The latest results are shown here. All the doors could be opened normally after the frontal test and intrusion levels were low. The restraint system caused fairly high loads on the driver's chest. The child restraints worked reasonably well but pedestrian protection was dire.

Front impact
The body structure performed well with minimal distortion to the footwell and door aperture. Displacement of the foot pedals was also well controlled. However, the driver's chest and to a lesser extent the passenger's chest were loaded by the seat belt and both risked knee injury from contacting hard points behind the fascia. The center rear belt was a three point type that has been shown to give far superior protection to that of a lap belt alone. A good safety feature was that the center seat belt could not be used unless the hinged seat back was correctly latched.

Side impact
The X-5 performed well, as is typical of tall vehicles and its head- protecting airbag was effective. This was of the tubular type and proved more sensitive than a curtain airbag to the positioning of the driver’s head. However, this type of airbag does not protect passengers in the rear, although a rear head- protecting airbag is available as an option at extra cost.

Child-protection
Vehicle-specific ISOFIX seats were used forward-facing for both children. In the frontal impact both dummy heads were protected. In the side impact test neither child was protected. The 18-month-old experienced high neck loads in the frontal impact, which is often the case for young children sat forward-facing. Warnings against using a rear-facing restraint opposite an airbag were inadequate.

Pedestrian protection
High vehicles pose problems for pedestrians, especially children, and the X-5 is no exception. Its front is unfriendly and its bonnet top little better; a poor rating.