September 12, 2018—BMW has improved the head restraints on the 2018 X2 to boost the small SUV to TOP SAFETY PICK status. X2s built after July and equipped with optional front crash prevention earn the award.
The X2, which was introduced for the 2018 model year, initially earned an acceptable rating for head restraints. After the change, it earns a good rating.
To earn the TOP SAFETY PICK award, a vehicle must have good ratings in the driver-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests, plus available front crash prevention that earns an advanced or superior rating and available acceptable- or good-rated headlights.
For TOP SAFETY PICK+, vehicles also need an acceptable or good rating in the passenger-side small overlap test and must have good-rated headlights. The X2 earns a good rating for passenger-side protection, but misses out on the higher award because it lacks good-rated headlights. Both of its available headlight systems are acceptable.
The lack of a good head restraint rating in the earlier X2 was unusual. The model was one of only five 2018 vehicles with an acceptable rating; the other 182 tested models earn a good rating.
