The BMW 2 Series, redesigned from the 1 Series in 2014, continues to offer a blend of performance and safety. For those considering a 2017 2 Series, understanding its safety ratings is crucial. This article provides a detailed breakdown of the 2017 BMW 2 Series safety performance based on rigorous crash tests and evaluations.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Driver-Side
The small overlap front crash test simulates a collision where only a small portion of the vehicle’s front end impacts an object. In this challenging test, the 2014-2021 BMW 2 Series models, including the 2017 2 series, demonstrated robust protection.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | Good (G) |
| Structure and safety cage | Acceptable (A) |
| Driver injury measures – Head/neck | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Chest | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Hip/thigh | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Lower leg/foot | Good (G) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | Good (G) |
The structural performance was rated as Acceptable, with key measurements indicating how well the occupant compartment held up during the impact.
Technical Measurements – Small Overlap Front Test
| Measures of occupant compartment intrusion (driver side) | Measurement (cm) |
|---|---|
| Lower hinge pillar max | 10 |
| Footrest | 29 |
| Left toepan | 28 |
| Brake pedal | 18 |
| Rocker panel lateral average | 0 |
| Upper hinge pillar max | 8 |
| Upper dash | 7 |
| Lower instrument panel | 8 |
Driver Injury Measures – Small Overlap Front Test
| Driver injury measures | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 269 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | No contact |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 0.8 |
| Neck Extension bending moment (Nm) | 21 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.27 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 17 |
| Femur – Left (kN) | 2.0 |
| Femur – Right (kN) | 1.9 |
| Knee displacement – Left (mm) | 4 |
| Knee displacement – Right (mm) | 5 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk – Left (%) | 0 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk – Right (%) | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index – Left | 0.67 |
| Maximum tibia index – Right | 0.76 |
| Tibia axial force – Left (kN) | 3.7 |
| Tibia axial force – Right (kN) | 3.5 |
| Foot acceleration – Left (g) | 136 |
| Foot acceleration – Right (g) | 83 |
The measurements indicate a reasonably well-maintained driver’s survival space, with low risk of injuries to legs and feet, except for footrest and left toepan intrusion. The airbags effectively protected the head, contributing to the Good rating for driver injury measures.
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test: Original Test
In the moderate overlap front test, a larger portion of the vehicle’s front end impacts a barrier. The 2017 2 series again performed admirably.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | Good (G) |
| Structure and safety cage | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Head/neck | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Chest | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Leg/foot, left | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Leg/foot, right | Good (G) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | Good (G) |
The 2017 BMW 2 Series earned a Good rating overall in this test, with top marks for structure, safety cage, driver injury measures, and restraints.
Technical Measurements – Moderate Overlap Front Test
| Measures of occupant compartment intrusion (driver side) | Measurement (cm) |
|---|---|
| Footrest intrusion | 1 |
| Left Footwell intrusion | 1 |
| Center Footwell intrusion | 1 |
| Right Footwell intrusion | 1 |
| Brake pedal intrusion | 1 |
| Instrument panel rearward movement – Left | 0 |
| Instrument panel rearward movement – Right | 0 |
| Steering column movement – Upward | -1 |
| Steering column movement – Rearward | -6 |
| A-pillar rearward movement | 0 |
Driver Injury Measures – Moderate Overlap Front Test
| Driver injury measures | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 122 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | No contact |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 0.7 |
| Neck Extension bending moment (Nm) | 12 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.19 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 19 |
| Femur force – Left (kN) | 0.9 |
| Femur force – Right (kN) | 1.4 |
| Knee displacement – Left (mm) | 1 |
| Knee displacement – Right (mm) | 1 |
| Maximum tibia index – Left | 0.34 |
| Maximum tibia index – Right | 0.35 |
| Tibia axial force – Left (kN) | 2.2 |
| Tibia axial force – Right (kN) | 3.3 |
| Foot acceleration – Left (g) | 48 |
| Foot acceleration – Right (g) | 54 |
Minimal intrusion and low injury measures across the board highlight the excellent protection offered by the 2017 2 series in this type of frontal collision.
Side Impact Crash Test: Original Test
Side impact safety is another critical aspect. The 2017 BMW 2 Series, equipped with standard front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags, achieved top marks in the side impact test.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | Good (G) |
| Structure and safety cage | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Head/neck | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Torso | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Pelvis/leg | Good (G) |
| Driver head protection | Good (G) |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Head/neck | Good (G) |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Torso | Good (G) |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Pelvis/leg | Good (G) |
| Rear passenger head protection | Good (G) |
The 2017 2 Series aced all evaluation criteria in the side impact test, ensuring protection for both front and rear occupants.
Technical Measurements – Side Impact Test
| Measures of occupant compartment intrusion (driver side) | Measurement (cm) |
|---|---|
| B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver’s seat | -23.5 |
Driver Injury Measures – Side Impact Test
| Driver injury measures | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 208 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 0.7 |
| Neck Compression (kN) | 0.2 |
| Shoulder Lateral deflection (mm) | 36 |
| Shoulder Lateral force (kN) | 1.5 |
| Torso Maximum deflection (mm) | 37 |
| Torso Average deflection (mm) | 33 |
| Torso Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 3.50 |
| Torso Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.65 |
| Pelvis Iliac force (kN) | 0.9 |
| Pelvis Acetabulum force (kN) | 2.0 |
| Pelvis Combined force (kN) | 2.8 |
| Left femur L-M force (kN) | 0.2 |
| Left femur L-M moment (Nm) | 165 |
| Left femur A-P moment (Nm) | 20 |
Passenger Injury Measures – Side Impact Test
| Passenger injury measures | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 325 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 0.5 |
| Neck Compression (kN) | 0.5 |
| Shoulder Lateral deflection (mm) | 32 |
| Shoulder Lateral force (kN) | 1.2 |
| Torso Maximum deflection (mm) | 18 |
| Torso Average deflection (mm) | 13 |
| Torso Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 1.42 |
| Torso Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.14 |
| Pelvis Iliac force (kN) | 3.5 |
| Pelvis Acetabulum force (kN) | 1.6 |
| Pelvis Combined force (kN) | 5.1 |
| Left femur L-M force (kN) | 0.3 |
| Left femur L-M moment (Nm) | 70 |
| Left femur A-P moment (Nm) | 24 |
The side airbags effectively protected both driver and rear passenger heads, contributing to the top safety rating in this category.
Roof Strength Test
Roof strength is vital in rollover accidents. The 2017 BMW 2 Series demonstrated impressive roof strength.
| Overall evaluation | Good (G) |
|---|---|
| Curb weight | 3,311 lbs |
| Peak force | 16,504 lbs |
| Strength-to-weight ratio | 4.98 |
The strength-to-weight ratio of 4.98 signifies that the roof can withstand nearly five times the vehicle’s weight, earning a Good rating.
Head Restraints & Seats
Good head restraints and seat design are essential for preventing whiplash in rear-end collisions. The 2017 2 series with power leather seats received a Good rating.
| Overall evaluation | Good (G) |
|---|---|
| Dynamic rating | Good (G) |
| Seat/head restraint geometry | Good (G) |
Technical Measurements – Head Restraints & Seats
| Seat type | Power leather seat |
|---|---|
| Geometry – Backset (mm) | 32 |
| Geometry – Distance below top of head (mm) | 20 |
| Seat design parameters – Pass/fail | Pass |
| Seat design parameters – Max T1 acceleration (g) | 14.8 |
| Seat design parameters – Head contact time (ms) | 62 |
| Seat design parameters – Force rating | 1 |
| Neck forces – Max neck shear force (N) | 39 |
| Neck forces – Max neck tension (N) | 612 |
The geometry and dynamic performance of the seats and head restraints contribute to effective whiplash protection.
Headlights
Headlight performance is critical for nighttime safety. The 2017 BMW 2 Series headlight ratings vary based on trim and package.
HID Projector Headlights (Lighting and Driver Assistance Plus packages & Lighting package) – Good Rating
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | HID projector |
| High-beam headlight type | HID projector |
| Curve-adaptive? | Yes |
| High-beam assist? | Yes (with Driver Assistance Plus) / No (with Lighting package) |
| Overall rating | Good (G) |
These trims, equipped with HID projector headlights, achieved a Good overall rating, offering good visibility on straightaways and curves, though with some glare.
Halogen Reflector Headlights (Driver Assistance Plus package & Base Trim) – Poor Rating
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | Halogen reflector |
| High-beam headlight type | Halogen reflector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | Yes (with Driver Assistance Plus) / No (Base Trim) |
| Overall rating | Poor (P) |
Models with Halogen reflector headlights received a Poor rating due to inadequate visibility on both straightaways and curves.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle
The 2017 BMW 2 Series offers an optional Frontal Collision Warning with City Collision Mitigation system, part of the Driver Assistance Plus package.
| Overall evaluation | Advanced |
|---|---|
| Forward Collision Warning | Meets requirements |
| 12 mph test | Impact speed reduced by 10 mph |
| 25 mph test | Impact speed reduced by 7 mph |
This system earned an Advanced rating, demonstrating effective speed reduction in vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention tests.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
For families, child seat anchor ease of use is important. The 2017 BMW 2 Series LATCH system received a Good rating.
| Overall evaluation | Good (G) |
|---|---|
| Rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware | 2 |
The 2017 2 Series has two rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware, making child seat installation straightforward.
Conclusion
The 2017 BMW 2 Series demonstrates strong safety performance across various crash tests and safety evaluations. It achieves “Good” ratings in most categories, providing reassurance for safety-conscious buyers. However, headlight ratings vary significantly by trim, with HID projector headlights earning a “Good” rating and Halogen reflectors receiving a “Poor” rating. The optional front crash prevention system adds another layer of safety. When considering a 2017 2 series, prospective buyers should be aware of these safety features and ratings to make an informed decision.
