The BMW iX electric vehicle has done something remarkable. It achieved thehighest possible five-star rating in the Euro NCAP safety assessment.

Car safety is something we take an interest in and it’s fascinating to see how far cars have come in terms of both crash avoidance as well as active safety measures. The Euro NCAP test program is brutal and the goalposts get moved very often, so if your product passed previously, you’ll likely struggle in the next year’s test. Of course, we’ve had some shockers too and few will forget the infamous zero-stars Datsun Go.

The Euro NCAP test not only focuses on the number of airbags as well as how strong the vehicle is, but also looks at the number of semi-autonomous safety features. This is the tech that will intervene if the driver isn’t paying attention, like your autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and rear cross-traffic alert to name but a few. While these sound like gimmicks, the Cars.co.za team all have had instances where their car has touched the brakes to avoid a minor incident.

In the era of the electric car, there are some additional complications. Firstly, there are the battery packs which represent a fire hazard and secondly, the packaging. Traditional internal combustion vehicles have a large heavy mass in the front of the car in the form of an engine which affects its safety rating, while electric cars have their batteries at the bottom and motors are on the axles. Despite these challenges and the strict Euro NCAP rating system, the new BMW iX came out on top when it achieved the highest possible five-star rating.

“The BMW iX sets new standards in sustainability, and its top rating of five stars in the Euro NCAP underlines the vehicle’s comprehensive sustainability concept,” says Dominik Schuster, Head of Vehicle Safety BMW. “The extremely stable body structure and the extended range of restraint systems ensure an outstanding level of occupant protection. In addition, the BMW iX scores highly both in the test programme and in everyday driving with innovative driver assistance systems that significantly reduce the risk of accidents in a wide array of situations.”

The BMW iX scored highly when it came to occupant protection as well as its advanced driver assistance systems, which areeffective in helping to prevent accidents. Another highlight was the new airbag located between the driver and front passenger seat that helps negate the effects of a T-bone crash from the side. Child safety was also noteworthy for both front and side crashes.

The BMW iX is available in South Africa in two flavours; xDrive 40 and xDrive 50, and is priced from R1.65 million.

BMW iX – Latest specs and price

BMW iX Euro NCAP Video

Further Reading

BMW XM Concept – BMW M’sfirst electrified performance SUV