EV meets new criteria
ANCAP’s test and rating requirements are updated every three years to reflect industry advancements, changing crash risks and evolving consumer expectations.
The latest criteria are now in effect, with the iX3, pictured, being the first model to roll through the new “stages of safety” approach.
The BMW was independently tested against the 2026-28 requirements and has achieved a five-star safety rating.
The criteria recognise the complete safety sequence – from helping drivers avoid crashes, to protecting occupants when they occur and improving outcomes in the critical moments afterwards. The four stages of safety evaluated from 2026 are:
• Safe driving – how well the vehicle supports the driver and provide a safer driving experience.
• Crash avoidance – how effectively it identifies hazards and helps to prevent or mitigate an accident.
• Crash protection – how well the vehicle’s structure, airbags and seatbelts protect occupants and other road users.
• Post crash – how well the car’s design and on-board systems can assist emergency responders improve occupant care following a collision.
ANCAP’s chief executive, Carla Hoorweg, says: “Over three decades of influence, this is the most comprehensive ratings framework we’ve applied. We have again stepped up our assessment to capture and evaluate the many ways a modern car can protect its occupants and other road users.
“The BMW iX3 is the first model we’ve put through this new rating process, and its specification and performance have captured the essence of the new requirements.
“Importantly, this approach retains all the traditional crash tests ANCAP is synonymous with. Building on this, our 2026 requirements encourage even better protection for a broader range of occupants through restraint systems and vehicle designs that cater for people of different body types and sizes.
“Fuel leakage and EV battery integrity are also now reviewed as part of the crash-test assessments, which is particularly relevant given the increasing number of EVs now on our roads.
“Another new area of focus is eCall, which is an automatic crash function that notifies emergency services of a crash and its location. It can help first responders understand the nature of the crash before they arrive at the scene to help them to prioritise treatment for those involved.
“Taking on board consumer feedback, our 2026 rating system encourages manufacturers to develop systems that drivers are happy to leave switched on.
“Systems that irritate rather than improve the driving experience will be marked down with lane-keeping systems now assessed on how naturally they interact with the driver, including steering response and driver override effort.
“The ‘smart coupling’ of driver alertness with safety-system intervention is also now assessed. Vehicles that enhance or minimise their response according to the driver’s level of alertness are rewarded.”
The BMW’s safety performance
The iX3 delivers a comprehensive and sophisticated combination of safety features, accident protection and crash-avoidance performance, reports ANCAP.
Examining its safe-driving features, it offers dedicated physical controls for key driving functions including the indicators, hazard lights, horn, gear selector and headlights.
During the new on-road driving assessment, which assesses the accuracy of speed-limit identification functionality on local metropolitan and regional roads, the iX3 correctly identified 73 per cent of speed changes. This was equivalent to 92 per cent of the distance driven.
The BMW can detect and classify the stature of occupants in the front seats. However, it doesn’t monitor seatbelt misuse or detect a front-seat passenger sitting “out of position”, for example with their feet on the dashboard.
The iX3 is equipped with driver-monitoring sensors to help reduce fatigue, impairment and distraction-related crashes, offering better performance for fatigue and impairment detection than for distraction.
All the latest crash-avoidance systems are fitted to the iX3. Its autonomous emergency braking “comfortably” exceeds Australian, New Zealand and European regulatory requirements, performing well in same direction and turning scenarios with other cars and motorcycles. Pedestrian and cyclist detection performed well, while avoidance of lane departures was a “standout”.
The level of crash protection offered by the BMW is “mature”, with positive scores achieved across the frontal-offset test, which now features a small adult female seated in the front passenger seat. Maximum scores were achieved for occupant protection in all side-impact crashes.
A third test dummy has been added to the full-width frontal crash test for the first time in 2026, and the iX3 achieved the maximum score for protection to the occupant in the front passenger seat. Rear-impact whiplash performance was “very good”.
New robustness tests factor into accident-protection scoring from this year, with these added virtual and sled tests demonstrating “overall good levels” of protection for occupants of different body types and variations in the crash configuration.
The post-crash capability of the iX3 is of a “high standard”, scoring 95 per cent. Fitted with an eCall system that transmits crash location and severity to a triaged emergency services call centre, this feature is provided to owners in Australia and New Zealand for the life of the car.
As an all-electric vehicle, the BMW demonstrated “effective” battery voltage isolation and post-crash fire risk management. The electrically operated door handles remained in the extended position and were operable after all crash tests. The presence of a manual door release was confirmed.
