All petrol variants of the new-generation BMW X1 small SUV range have been awarded a five-star safety rating from Australian crash tester ANCAP based on testing conducted by Euro NCAP.

    The five-star safety rating doesn’t carry over to the X1‘s all-electric iX1 sibling though, which remains untested and unrated by ANCAP.

    The BMW X1 scored 86 per cent for adult occupant protection, 88 per cent for child occupant protection, 76 per cent for vulnerable road user protection, and 94 per cent for safety assist.

    ANCAP noted the X1 “performed respectably” across all four key areas of assessment, though it deemed protection of the chest of the driver in the frontal offset test as weak, and the chest of the rear passenger in the full-width test as marginal.

    The Australian crash testing authority rated the effectiveness of the X1’s autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system as good in mitigating or avoiding a collision when travelling forward, however the system doesn’t have the ability to react to pedestrians in reverse.

    All 2023 BMW X1 variants come standard with the following safety equipment:

    • Front, front-side, side, and centre airbags
    • Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
      • Pedestrian detection
      • Cyclist detection
    • Blind-spot monitoring
    • Lane-keep assist
    • Rear cross-traffic alert
    • Safe exit warning
    • Traffic sign recognition
    • Adaptive cruise control with stop/go
    • Surround-view camera
    • Front and rear parking sensors

    The third-generation BMW X1 launched in Australia last month and is bigger, more powerful and better equipped than its predecessor.

    It starts at $53,900 before on-road costs for the front-wheel drive sDrive18i, and extends to $65,900 before on-road costs for the all-wheel drive xDrive20i.

    The range will be joined by the electric iX1 xDrive30 in the first quarter of 2023, which costs $82,900 before on-road costs.

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    MORE: Everything BMW X1

    Jack Quick

    Jack Quick is an automotive journalist based in Melbourne. Jack studied journalism and photography at Deakin University in Burwood, and previously represented the university in dance nationally. In his spare time, he loves to pump Charli XCX and play a bit of Grand Theft Auto. He’s also the proud owner of a blue, manual 2020 Suzuki Jimny.

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