The X5 M’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Grand Cherokee Trackhawk doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.
The BMW X5 M has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Grand Cherokee Trackhawk doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests front crash prevention systems. With a score of 6 points, IIHS rates the City Collision Mitigation in the X5 M as “Superior.” The Grand Cherokee Trackhawk scores only 2 points and is rated only “Advanced.”
The X5 M has a standard PostCrash iBrake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Grand Cherokee Trackhawk doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.
Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The X5 M has standard Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Grand Cherokee Trackhawk doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.
The X5 M has a standard Surround View to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Grand Cherokee Trackhawk only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.
The X5 M’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Grand Cherokee Trackhawk doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.
Both the X5 M and the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the BMW X5 M is safer than the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk:
|
X5 M |
Grand Cherokee Trackhawk |
|
Passenger |
|
STARS |
4 Stars |
4 Stars |
Neck Compression |
91 lbs. |
103 lbs. |
Leg Forces (l/r) |
527/418 lbs. |
574/680 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.
A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the BMW X5 M is safer than the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk:
|
X5 M |
Grand Cherokee Trackhawk |
Overall Evaluation |
GOOD |
MARGINAL |
Restraints |
GOOD |
ACCEPTABLE |
Head Neck Evaluation |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Head injury index |
114 |
172 |
Peak Head Forces |
0 G’s |
0 G’s |
Steering Column Movement Rearward |
1 cm |
5 cm |
Chest Evaluation |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Hip & Thigh Evaluation |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Femur Force R/L |
1.4/1.3 kN |
4.9/2.3 kN |
Hip & Thigh Injury Risk R/L |
0%/0% |
3%/0% |
Lower Leg Evaluation |
GOOD |
MARGINAL |
Tibia index R/L |
.41/.52 |
1.06/.54 |
Tibia forces R/L |
2.3/.8 kN |
2.3/1.3 kN |
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the BMW X5 M is safer than the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk:
|
X5 M |
Grand Cherokee Trackhawk |
|
Front Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
Chest Movement |
.6 inches |
.8 inches |
|
Rear Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
48 |
121 |
Spine Acceleration |
30 G’s |
40 G’s |
Hip Force |
584 lbs. |
689 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.
For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the X5 M the rating of “Top Pick” for 2021, a rating granted to only 145 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Grand Cherokee Trackhawk is not a “Top Pick.”