2011 5 Series get 5 star safety rating

The 5-series received five stars on both side-crash and rollover safety as well as five stars in frontal crash safety.

Automotive News quoted Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood on the new, tougher rating system, "Through new tests, better crash data, and higher standards, we are making the safety ratings tougher and more meaningful for consumers.

For the first time ever, the NHTSA will use female crash test dummies to similate scenarios involving women, not just men. Although the 5-series is the only BMW to receive this battery of tests at this point, the NHTSA has said that it will test 24 vehicles under the new ratings, so more are to come.