2011 BMW 5 Series Named IIHS Top Safety Pick

To earn the award, a vehicle must receive the top rating of Good in a front, side, rear and rollover crash tests. A vehicle also must have electronic stability control; this feature is standard on the 5 Series. 

This is the first 5 Series to earn a Top Safety Pick award; the prior-generation model earned only a Marginal rating in the side-impact crash test. IIHS’ side-impact test simulates a strike from an SUV or pickup truck. 

Earning the award became tougher this year when IIHS added the rollover crash test, which measures roof strength and is twice as stringent as the federal requirement. To pass this roof-strength test, a vehicle must be able to withstand the force of four times the vehicle’s weight. Current federal standards only require a roof to hold 1.5 times its strength. As a result, many of the vehicles that had previously qualified as Top Safety Picks fell off the list in 2010. 

For more information about other IIHS Top Safety Picks, click here.

2010|BMW|535