In the latest same-year U.S. IIHS results, the 2025 BMW X3 has the stronger showing in the categories where the two SUVs differ: it earns Good in the updated side-impact test versus Acceptable for the 2025 Volvo XC60, and its standard front crash-prevention system earns Good versus Acceptable for the XC60’s pedestrian system. Both are rated Good in IIHS small-overlap and updated moderate-overlap front tests. That makes the X3 the test leader on these published measures, not proof that it is safer in every crash or in every real-world situation.
What the 2025 IIHS results actually say
The comparison below uses the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) pages for the 2025 model year. IIHS evaluates two separate dimensions: crashworthiness—how well a vehicle protects occupants in a crash—and crash avoidance and mitigation—how well technology can help prevent or reduce a crash. Its letter grades are Good, Acceptable, Marginal and Poor; they are not a single numerical safety score. You can select a model year and review each protocol on the IIHS ratings overview.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
| IIHS category | 2025 Volvo XC60 | 2025 BMW X3 | How to read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small-overlap front | Good | Good | Overall tie in the displayed category |
| Updated moderate-overlap front | Good | Good | Overall tie; check XC60 powertrain applicability |
| Updated side impact | Acceptable | Good | X3 scores higher in this test |
| Headlights | Acceptable | Acceptable, varying by trim or option | Same overall letter grade, but X3 equipment changes the result |
| Pedestrian front crash prevention | Acceptable | Good, standard system | X3 scores higher in the listed system assessment |
| Vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention | Not listed in the XC60 summary | Good, standard system | Not a directly matched result |
| Lane-departure prevention | Standard | Optional; lane-departure warning is standard | XC60 lists more capability as standard |
| Rear automatic braking | Standard | Optional | Confirm the equipment on the exact vehicle |
Ratings and equipment listings come from the official 2025 XC60 IIHS page and 2025 X3 IIHS page. Equipment can differ by market, trim and build, so a dealer build sheet is more reliable than a model-wide assumption.
Where the BMW X3 has the clearest advantage
Updated side-impact protection
The X3 receives a Good overall rating in IIHS’s updated side-impact test. Its structure and safety cage, driver protection and rear-passenger protection subratings are all listed as Good. The XC60 receives Acceptable overall. Its structure and safety cage, plus driver head/neck, torso and pelvis protection, are Good, but rear-passenger torso and pelvis/head protection are Acceptable. The overall letter therefore reflects a specific occupant-protection difference, rather than a general judgment about either brand.
#1 Best Overall
- Never Let a Dead Battery Ruin Your Drive. The LISEN 4 in 1 Retractable Car Charger delivers reliable power for your entire journey. Compatible with standard 12V cigarette lighter sockets, it keeps phones, tablets, and devices charged during daily commutes, road trips, and long drives — the perfect practical gift for dads, truck drivers, and anyone who lives on the road.
- Daily Driver Essential: Always Ready When You Need It. Featuring two retractable cables ( USB C & Old iPhone Charging Cable ) that extend up to 31.5 inches and dual USB ports, this charger solves cable clutter while charging up to 4 devices simultaneously. Ideal for busy fathers, commuters, and families who want a tidy car and never worry about low battery again.
- Deliver full-speed PD fast charging for iPhone 18 Pro Max & iPhone 18 Pro Max & iPhone 18 Pro right inside your car. The built-in 45W PD USB-C port hits the peak charging speed for these latest iPhone models, juicing up your phone to 50% power in just 15 minutes while you drive.(Note: Maximum 45W PD output is available under 24V vehicle power supply. When used with standard 12V car sockets, the peak output is limited to 36W.)
- Standard 12V Power Solution: Designed as a dedicated USB power supply for charging devices. Note: Does NOT support CarPlay, Bluetooth, or data transfer. Compatible with most phones, tablets, and small electronics. This retractable charger is a core car organization tool, keeping your vehicle tidy. Not compatible with Micro-USB devices.
- Clutter-Free Tech Organization: Featuring dual USB ports and retractable cables, the LISEN 4 in 1 charger provides a clean car storage solution. Perfect for truck enthusiasts or as a thoughtful gift for drivers, it supports fast USB-C charging for devices like the iPhone 18Pro & iPhone 18 ProMax. Keep your vehicle organized while ensuring efficient power delivery for all your tech on the road.
The test is designed to represent a more severe side collision than the older IIHS procedure, using a heavier barrier and higher impact energy. A Good result does not eliminate injury risk, but it indicates that the X3 met more of the protocol’s measured requirements than the XC60 in the published 2025 evaluation.
Pedestrian front crash prevention
IIHS rates the X3’s standard front crash-prevention system Good in the listed day and night pedestrian scenarios. The XC60’s pedestrian system is Acceptable: it avoided some evaluated collisions but showed reduced performance in other scenarios. These are controlled test conditions involving specified speeds, lighting and pedestrian targets. They demonstrate system capability under those conditions, not a guarantee that either SUV will detect every person or stop before a real-world impact.
Vehicle-to-vehicle assistance is not a matched comparison
The X3 summary lists a Good vehicle-to-vehicle front crash-prevention result for its standard system. The XC60 summary does not list that category. It is therefore incorrect to call this a head-to-head win for the X3; one vehicle has a published result in the summary and the other does not.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Rank #2
- High Quality Material: The coaster is made of environmentally friendly silicone, safe, non-toxic and odorless. Soft with toughness, easily embedded in the cup holder. Very durable, wear-resistant, long service life. High temperature resistance, can withstand 100 ℃ high temperature water cups.
- Wide Compatibility: The coaster has a diameter of 3.15 inches and a height of 1.18 inches, which is widely used in most vehicles, such as SUV, sedan, MPV, etc., as long as the size fits your car cup holder.
- Protection Function: Our car cup holder coaster has a carry handle design and a stand-up ring edge on its edge to effectively prevent food crumbs, drinks and water from leaking out and preventing the car cup holder from getting dirty.Meanwhile,Thickened design effectively prevents the cup holder from being scratched by the cup when driving on bumpy roads and eliminates the annoying thumping sound, making your journey more enjoyable.
- Easy to Use and Clean: With embedded installation, you just need to put it flat on the car cupholder. It is also very quick to remove, there is a small bump on the coaster, pinch it and you can easily remove the coaster. It is very easy to clean, rinse with water or wipe with a wet towel (be careful not to clean with sharp tools).
- 100% Satisfaction: Our products have quality assurance, if you have questions or are not satisfied after receiving the product, don't worry, please contact us as soon as possible, we provide after-sales service.
Where the two SUVs are tied
Small-overlap front test
Both vehicles receive Good in the displayed IIHS small-overlap front category. This test sends the vehicle’s front corner into a rigid barrier, concentrating crash forces away from the main frontal-crash structure. A shared Good grade means neither has a published advantage in the overall category for these model-year pages.
Updated moderate-overlap front test
Both also receive Good in the updated moderate-overlap front test. The procedure evaluates the vehicle striking a deformable barrier with part of the front end, while a second-row dummy is used to assess rear-seat protection. For the XC60, the rating shown on the IIHS page applies to 2023–26 models but excludes the XC60 Recharge. Verify that a plug-in-hybrid vehicle is not being represented by a result that does not cover it.
Headlights
Each SUV has an Acceptable overall headlight rating in the displayed summaries. IIHS notes that the X3 result varies by trim or lighting option. If night visibility is a priority, compare the exact lamp hardware and the vehicle’s IIHS configuration rather than relying on the model name.
Rank #3
- ✅【Designed for Magsafe】 - The most fashionable iphone car mount in 2026 Magsafe is designed for iPhone 18 Pro Max/17/16/15/14/13/12 Pro Max Mini and official Magsafe cases and other magnetic phone cases and can be fixed directly to these phones without the need to affix metal plates. All Android Phones Will Work: Metal rings are provided; they fit cases and other phones without magsafe. Based on Unique Grandmaster Design (Protected by US Design Patent No. US D1,112,194 S)
- ✅【STRONG MAGNETIC MagSafe Car Mount】 - This powerful magnetic phone holder can create a powerful attraction that firmly supports your device while allowing you to drive without distraction. it easily and securely holds your phone through bumps, sharp turns or even sudden stops, no worrying of dropping your phone.
- ✅【SUPER STICK FORCE】 - VHB Dash Mounted Holders adhesive provides strong stick force between the dashboard and the car phone holder, which can firmly stick to any plane in the car, fix your device, adapt to a variety of road conditions such as sudden braking, speed bump, and rugged mountain road.
- ✅【SAFE DRIVING VIEW】 - Mini-size, not taking up space, it is placed in the dashboard without blocking the view at all, and does not need to look down at the device to ensure your safe driving. Cell Phone Car Mount is suitable for most cars, pickups, SUV, taxi; It is the best assistant for Uber and Lyft drivers
- ✅【360° FREE ROTATION】 - With an adjustable swivel ball joint, you can rotate your smartphone or device at your own will, providing the best viewing angle. Quickly pick and place with one hand, free your hands and make calls and GPS navigation more convenient
Model year, powertrain and build date can change the answer
Do not transfer these grades to every XC60 or X3 without checking the vehicle identity. The X3 was redesigned for 2025, and the IIHS page states that its listed ratings apply to 2025–26 models. The crashworthiness testing includes a 2025 X3 xDrive30. IIHS’s Top Safety Pick+ award for the X3 applies only to vehicles built after April 2025, so an otherwise similar early-build vehicle should not automatically be described as award-eligible.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →The XC60 page carries some ratings across earlier model years. Its updated side-impact rating applies to 2018–26 models, while the updated moderate-overlap rating applies to 2023–26 models except the Recharge. The page’s moderate-overlap test vehicle is a 2023 XC60 B5 Plus. Those details matter when you are comparing a used XC60, a Recharge, or a vehicle from another production period.
- Record the vehicle’s model year, body style and powertrain from the window sticker or vehicle identification number.
- Open the matching XC60 IIHS entry or X3 IIHS entry, then confirm that the test year and variant cover that vehicle.
- Check the build date when evaluating the X3’s Top Safety Pick+ eligibility; the cutoff is after April 2025.
- Confirm whether safety features shown as standard or optional are installed on the actual trim and in your market.
Safety equipment is not identical between trims
The XC60 page lists blind-spot detection, lane-departure prevention and rear automatic braking as standard. The X3 page lists standard blind-spot detection and lane-departure warning; lane-departure prevention and rear automatic braking are optional. This does not make one vehicle universally safer, because a well-equipped X3 may have functions that a base X3 lacks, while a standard-equipped XC60 may provide assistance that requires an option package on the X3.
Rank #4
- Buyer's Guide: The seat guard for car seat between seat & console measures 15.75*2.7*1.53", suitable for gaps of 1.43-1.53" in width, please double-check carefully the distance between your seat and the center console before placing an order
- Storage and Filling in One: Differ from traditional single-function gap fillers, gap filler for car incorporates storage function, offers you the convenience of storing phones and various other items, so that you can access them at any time while driving
- Avoid Items Slipping: With the bumps and vibrations of the car, phones, keys may fall into the seat crevices, which is difficult to pick up, and distracts the driver's attention. Car gap seat filler fills gaps seamlessly to create an effective barrier
- Easy to Install: Car side seat gap filler is easy to install, simply insert it into the gap between the seat and the center console, gap seat filler for car can fit tightly without affecting the normal adjustment of the seat and the use of the seat belt
- Premium Material: Crafted from premium EVA material, our car seat side gap filler boasts a combination of wear-resistant, softness&durability. Maintenance is effortless, simply rinse and wipe to quickly clean the dust and debris in corners and crevices
- Blind-spot detection: listed as standard on both models in the IIHS summaries.
- Lane support: the XC60 lists lane-departure prevention as standard; the X3 lists warning as standard and prevention as optional.
- Rear automatic braking: standard on the XC60 summary and optional on the X3 summary.
- Headlights: the X3 grade varies with trim or option, so inspect the exact configuration.
Feature names and availability can change by country and model-year update. Ask for the original build sheet, not just a salesperson’s description of a package.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What Euro NCAP adds—and what it cannot prove
Euro NCAP has a published assessment for a left-hand-drive BMW X3 20 xDrive M Sport. It reports generally strong protection in several areas, but notes marginal driver chest protection in the frontal-offset test and marginal rear-passenger chest protection in the full-width rigid-barrier test. Read the full Euro NCAP BMW X3 assessment for the protocol and configuration.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
This is not a matched XC60 comparison. Euro NCAP uses a different program, test setup and scoring framework from IIHS, and the surfaced assessment is for a particular left-hand-drive trim. You should not combine its marks numerically with the IIHS grades or infer a U.S.-market XC60 result from it.
Best Value
- 🔰 UPGRADED SIDE STORAGE DESIGN - Our console cover is thinner than the old one, universal for all seasons. There is an 8.66*5.12 inch storage pocket design on each left and right side, expanding the storage space, convenient and practical. Meet the storage needs of the main passenger seat, you can store your cell phone, keys, tissues, ID and some other small daily items.
- 🔰 PREMIUM MICROFIBER LEATHER MATERIAL - This car center console cover is made of quality microfiber leather material, soft and skin-friendly touch. Exquisite and fashionable diamond shaped stitching, every detail is in place. Inside the car center console cover is made of thickened memory foam, even after squeezing, it can slowly recover to its original shape.
- 🔰 RELIEVE DRIVING FATIGUE - The arm rest cover for car adopts ergonomic design, giving just the right amount of arm support, effectively dispersing elbow pressure and relieving driving fatigue. Protect your car's center console from getting dirty or scratched. Especially suitable for long time driving or long distance traveling, bringing you a new experience of relaxation and comfort!
- 🔰 NON-DESTRUCTIVE INSTALLATION - This car console cover is designed with an elastic band for a firm fit and not easy to shake. And the back side is full of protruding dots, which can effectively avoid the armrest cover from slipping and shifting. All you need to do is to open the center console cover, put the elastic band directly into the cover and then close it.
- 🔰 BUYER'S GUIDE - You will receive a car armrest storage box with the size of 12.13*7.80 inch, please measure the size of your car's armrest storage box before you buy. We have prepared five simple and beautiful colors for you, you can choose according to your own preferences. Suitable for most of the vehicles on the market, such as car, truck, SUV, RV, van, etc.
Why a crash-test winner is not a real-world injury-rate winner
No verified population-level study establishes a comparable real-world fatality or injury rate for these exact 2025 XC60 and X3 versions. IIHS ratings are controlled measurements of crashworthiness and crash avoidance/mitigation, not a longitudinal insurance or hospital-outcome study. They cannot capture every crash angle, weather condition, occupant size, speed, maintenance issue or driver behavior.
That limitation does not make the tests unhelpful. They provide repeatable evidence for specific scenarios. The defensible conclusion is narrow: in the 2025 IIHS results, the X3 leads the XC60 in updated side impact and pedestrian front crash prevention, while both are Good in the two listed frontal crashworthiness categories. It is not defensible to turn those results into a universal claim that every X3 is safer than every XC60.
How to make a careful buying comparison
For a new vehicle
- Choose the same model year and market for both SUVs.
- Compare the IIHS category grades individually instead of averaging Good and Acceptable into an invented score.
- Match the tested powertrain and body configuration; pay particular attention to the XC60 Recharge exclusion.
- Read the standard-equipment list for the exact trim, then price any X3 options needed to match the XC60’s lane and rear-braking functions.
- Check the X3 production date if an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award is part of your decision.
- Evaluate headlights and driver-assistance behavior during a supervised test drive, while remembering that a drive cannot reproduce IIHS crash conditions.
For a used vehicle
- Use the VIN to verify model year, powertrain, build date and installed safety packages.
- Inspect windshield-mounted cameras, radar sensors, bumpers and headlights for prior damage or replacement; calibration problems can disable assistance systems.
- Confirm that recall repairs and software updates are complete.
- Do not apply the 2025 X3 result to an earlier-generation X3 without opening that model year’s IIHS page.
Does NHTSA settle the XC60-versus-X3 question?
No current, matched NHTSA result for these exact model years was verified here. NHTSA’s 2026 selected-testing page lists vehicles chosen for its 5-Star program; it is a testing-selection page, not a results page, and it lists neither the XC60 nor the X3. Its omission does not prove that either model lacks NHTSA results for another year.
Bottom line for shoppers
If your decision is based strictly on the latest same-year IIHS evidence, the BMW X3 has the edge: Good versus Acceptable in the updated side-impact test and Good versus Acceptable in the listed pedestrian front crash-prevention assessment. The Volvo XC60 remains strongly rated in the two listed frontal crash tests, where it ties the X3 with Good grades, and it lists more of several driver-assistance functions as standard. Select the exact model year, powertrain, trim and build date first; then treat the category-specific results as evidence, not as a universal real-world safety ranking.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
