The BMW X5 has been rated a "Best Pick" by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, outperforming all other SUVs tested. The X5 not only rated higher than other SUVs, it earned a higher rating than all other vehicles previously tested by the Institute. "The performance of the BMW X5 in our high-speed offset test was outstanding," said Brian O'Neil, president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. "BMW has set the standard for all other manufacturers to aspire to," he added. The X5 Sports Activity Vehicle, manufactured at BMW's U.S. factory in South Carolina, is the third BMW to receive the "Best Pick" rating. The 5 and 3 Series have also been recognized by the Institute. "This achievement speaks not only to the commitment of BMW worldwide to the safety of its vehicles, but to driver protection instituted in the design and craftsmanship of the X5," said Dr. Helmut Leube, president of BMW Manufacturing Corp. In addition to BMW's hallmark F.I.R.S.T. security package, the X5 is equipped with two state-of-the art electronic safeguards, Hill Descent Control and Dynamic Stability Control, giving the driver an increased level of responsiveness and ability to avoid impact. In the Institute's crash test, the X5 was crashed into a deformable barrier with only the left side of the vehicle striking the barrier. This type of crash introduces significant twisting forces to the already severe impact. According to O'Neil, the X5's occupant compartment, or safety cage, sustained very little damage. "Measured intrusion into the compartment was less than in any other vehicle the Institute has tested," he said. More information on the test may be found at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety web site at www.highwaysafety.org.