So what I am trying to say is: yes, "SUV" in general are likely to be worse for pedestrians, but there is so much variability, that "picking a SUV" doesn't mean much about safety.
I understand the concern but it is not based on comparable data.
A few things to take into account:
- The 67℅ in the test in 2016 for the Peugeot 3008 is based on a Pedestrian Impact performance.
- The 56% of the test in 2019 for Peugeot 208 is based on a Pedestrian Impact Performance _and_ ADAS pedestrian detection +Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) performance
An important point with Euro NCAP is that typically the tests are always getting harder year on year to account for the expected technological development. Such that the same car would progressively score less if it were to repeat the Euro NCAP test year on year.
I hope this helps your concern.
In 'standard height' cars the first impact is usually on lower limbs or torso and secondary trauma to the head will happen on the bonnet or windshield.
In SUV's, pedestrian and cyclists are much likely to suffer head trauma on first impact.
My point is, in the horrific scenario that this should happens the survival rate will always be higher for non-SUV vehicles (ideally with longer bonnets and pedestrian friendly deformable structures).
For example, I am going to buy a new car in the next 2 years, so looking a bit, and two cars I might be choosing behind would be the:
Peugeot 3008/5008, seen as a SUV in the Netherlands: 67% Pedestrian Euro NCAP score: https://www.euroncap.com/en/results/peugeot/3008/5008/26581
Peugeot 208, smaller car, same brand, same year: 56% https://www.euroncap.com/en/results/peugeot/208/38543
Or the original posters BMW X3: 70% https://www.euroncap.com/en/results/bmw/x3-/-x4/33285
Otoh, the BMW 3 series: 87% https://www.euroncap.com/en/results/bmw/3-series/38531
Full electric BMW i3: 57% https://www.euroncap.com/en/results/bmw/i3/8863
So what I am trying to say is: yes, "SUV" in general are likely to be worse for pedestrians, but there is so much variability, that "picking a SUV" doesn't mean much about safety.