2011 BMW 5 Series Named IIHS Top Safety Pick

The redesigned 2011 BMW 5 Series has earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Safety Pick status. 

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

Comments

Good, looks like this could be a possible contender when considering a new car. I wonder if any semi-affordable benz also as one of the top safety picks or close at least? Seriously, one of my biggest fears/phobias in life is getting in a serious car accident.

They already crashed one of these and I'm still on the waiting list!?!?!?I'm a little upset, but glad the car performed well.

Actually, I kind of agree with Mike. Early adopters will purchase a car regardless of its crash test ratings, so why not make a "real" purchaser happy and crash test later? That will also have the side benefit of having the testing agency pay less for the car because demand will be lower (assuming the agency haggles when purchasing cars to crash test).

It's amazing how BMW can build such a beautiful, luxurious sports car like this and yet it is also one of the safest cars around as well. Great job BMW! - if only other car companies could learn...

The institute buys cars at retail and we can assume they haggle, especially since they're going to crash it. But if the manufacturer wants it tested on their schedule, they have to reimburse the institute. In that circumstance, they likely have less reason or incentive to haggle.

And HCN, Colin gave you a link to click on to see what else is a TSP.

Oops. I meant room, not reason. That is, they're buying a new, popular car usually.