The X3 has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The UX doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.
To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the X3. But it costs extra on the UX.
The X3 offers an optional Surround View to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The UX 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.
Both the X3 and the UX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, 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 BMW X3 weighs 601 to 1080 pounds more than the Lexus UX. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the BMW X3 is safer than the Lexus UX:
|
X3 |
UX |
|
Driver |
|
STARS |
4 Stars |
4 Stars |
HIC |
96 |
116 |
Neck Injury Risk |
32.2% |
33% |
Neck Stress |
262 lbs. |
371 lbs. |
|
Passenger |
|
STARS |
4 Stars |
4 Stars |
HIC |
119 |
290 |
Neck Compression |
71 lbs. |
94 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.
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 and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the BMW X3 is safer than the Lexus UX:
|
X3 |
UX |
|
Front Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
Chest Movement |
.6 inches |
.8 inches |
Abdominal Force |
148 lbs. |
149 lbs. |
Hip Force |
214 lbs. |
323 lbs. |
|
Into Pole |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
162 |
292 |
Spine Acceleration |
37 G’s |
44 G’s |
Hip Force |
472 lbs. |
919 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.