The 2020 BMW X5 ranks among the top luxury midsize SUVs in its class, according to U.S. News & World Report. Though, with its stunning good looks and impressive engine performance, that should come as no surprise. Of course, this SUV has more to offer than looks and speed. For many car shoppers, what’s most important is how safe a vehicle is. Fortunately, the 2020 BMW X5 was designed with both its driver and passengers’ safety in mind. 

Don’t just take our word for it, though. Let’s take a look at what safety features this vehicle has to offer and how these features will keep you safe behind the wheel of the 2020 X5.

What safety features does the 2020 BMW X5 have?

The 2020 X5 comes standard with several basic driver-assistance features, including active blind-spot detection, lane departure warning, and front and rear park distance control. Other key safety features include automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, front collision warning, and a fatigue and focus alert feature. 

To inspire even more confidence behind the wheel, the 2020 X5 also comes standard with BMW Assist eCall. Should you find yourself in a precarious situation, BMW Assist eCall’s SOS button will connect you with a response specialist who will help you get the help you need.

Insurance Institute for Highway safety ratings

This year’s X5 earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) Top Safety Pick+ title when equipped with BMW’s available icon adaptive headlights with laser light package. Stick with the standard LED headlights, and the IIHS says you can expect excessive glare when using the vehicle’s low-beams and inadequate visibility on straightaways when switching on the vehicle’s high-beams.

When it comes to crashworthiness, the 2020 X5 earned a ‘Good’ rating for small overlap front: driver-side, small overlap front: passenger-side, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength, and head restraints and seats. The 2020 X5 also received a ‘Good’ rating for its two rear seating positions with hardware to attach a child seat.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ratings

The IIHS wasn’t the only organization that tested how safe the 2020 X5 is. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opted to test the 2020 X5 with all-wheel drive and awarded it with an overall safety rating of four out of five stars. 

In frontal crash tests, the X5 earned itself four out of five stars for the overall rating, with four stars for the front driver side and four stars for the front passenger side. In side crash tests, the 2020 X5 fared even better. It was awarded five out of five stars in every category: combined side barrier and pole ratings (front seat and rear seat), side barrier ratings (driver and rear passenger), and for its overall side pole star rating. In rollover tests, the 2020 X5 scored four out of five stars with a 15.90% rollover risk.

2020 BMW X5 recalls 

It’s not uncommon for a vehicle to be recalled. According to Stout’s 2019 Automotive Defect & Recall Report, approximately 24 million cars were recalled in 2018. Much like other vehicles on the market, the 2020 X5 has been recalled.

The 2020 X5’s first recall was announced in August 2019 and, according to the NHTSA, said the vehicle’s steering rack might fail. In September 2019, the X5 was recalled after its rearview camera could not meet NHTSA requirements for displaying an image in the vehicle’s rearview camera display. 

In July, the 2020 X5 was recalled because its steering column shaft bearing plate could loosen and negatively impact its overall handling and control. More recently, the NHTSA says the 2020 X5 was recalled for having an extra bolt in its starter motor that could result in the engine stalling. A small number of 2020 X5 models were also recalled over a specific version of its scenic-light lens, which, according to the NHTSA, doesn’t comply with federal requirements for “Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment.”

Is the 2020 BMW X5 safe?

If you’re in the market for a luxury midsize SUV, you can’t go wrong with the 2020 BMX X5. While it has been faced with its share of recalls, that’s to be expected. With high ratings from both the IIHS and the NHTSA, the 2020 X5 still makes for a worthwhile pick.