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 Q3 doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.
The X3 has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Q3 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.
Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The X3 offers an optional Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Q3 doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.
Both the X3 and the Q3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger 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, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.
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 Audi Q3:
|
X3 |
Q3 |
|
Driver |
|
STARS |
4 Stars |
4 Stars |
HIC |
96 |
326 |
Neck Injury Risk |
32.2% |
39% |
Neck Stress |
262 lbs. |
343 lbs. |
Neck Compression |
30 lbs. |
35 lbs. |
|
Passenger |
|
STARS |
4 Stars |
4 Stars |
HIC |
119 |
346 |
Neck Stress |
168 lbs. |
186 lbs. |
Neck Compression |
71 lbs. |
83 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 Audi Q3:
|
X3 |
Q3 |
|
Front Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
60 |
88 |
Chest Movement |
.6 inches |
.7 inches |
Hip Force |
214 lbs. |
333 lbs. |
|
Rear Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
108 |
159 |
|
Into Pole |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
162 |
504 |
Spine Acceleration |
37 G’s |
47 G’s |
Hip Force |
472 lbs. |
485 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.