WASHINGTON — The number of new cars ranked the safest by the insurance industry nearly tripled in the past year, helped by automakers’ push to make certain safety equipment more widely available.
Ford Motor Co. and Honda Motor Co. had the most vehicles on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s annual list of the safest cars for the 2008 model year. Thirty-four vehicles received the top safety-pick designation for 2008, compared with 13 vehicles from the 2007 model year.
The institute requires new cars and trucks to have electronic stability control, or ESC, to qualify for the award. Many auto companies are putting the anti-rollover technology into their fleets ahead of a government requirement for the systems by the 2012 model year.
“Vehicles should be designed to provide good occupant protection when crashes occur, but now with ESC we have the possibility of preventing many crashes altogether,” said IIHS president Adrian Lund.
11 NEW WINNERS FOR 2008
Midsize cars
Audi A3
Honda Accord
Small car
Subaru Impreza equipped with optional electronic stability control
Minivan
Honda Odyssey
Midsize SUVs
BMW X3
BMW X5
Hyundai Veracruz built after August 2007
Saturn VUE built after December 2007
Toyota Highlander
Small SUV
Honda Element
Large pickup
Toyota Tundra
ALL 34 WINNERS
Large cars
Audi A6
Ford Taurus with optional electronic stability control
Mercury Sable with optional electronic stability control
Volvo S80
Midsize cars
Audi A3, A4
Honda Accord
Saab 9-3
Subaru Legacy with optional electronic stability control
Midsize convertibles
Saab 9-3
Volvo C70
Small car
Subaru Impreza with optional electronic stability control
Minivans
Honda Odyssey
Hyundai Entourage
Kia Sedona
Midsize SUVs
Acura MDX, RDX
BMW X3, X5
Ford Edge, Taurus X
Honda Pilot
Hyundai Santa Fe
Hyundai Veracruz built after August 2007
Lincoln MKX
Mercedes M class
Saturn VUE built after December 2007
Subaru Tribeca
Toyota Highlander
Volvo XC90
Small SUVs
Honda CR-V, Element
Subaru Forester with optional electronic stability control
Large pickup
Toyota Tundra
ALSO RANS
Twenty-three vehicles earn good ratings in front and side crash tests. They have ESC, standard or optional. They would be 2008 Top Safety Pick winners if their seat/head restraints also earned good ratings:
Acura RL, TL
BMW 3 series
Chrysler Sebring convertible
Infiniti M35/M45
Kia Amanti
Lexus IS 250/350, ES 350, GS 350/460
Nissan Pathfinder, Xterra both with optional side airbags
Nissan Quest
Toyota Avalon, Camry, FJ Cruiser, 4Runner, Prius, RAV4, and Sienna
Volkswagen Eos, Jetta, Passat, Rabbit
