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The 37 Safest Cars of 2008
by www.SixWise.com
Safety is on most everyone's mind when it comes to buying
a new car, but sorting through the various safety ratings,
figuring out whether there are air bags in the right places,
and other features that will help to keep your family safe
can be overwhelming.
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The Audi A6 is one of the top-ranked large cars for
2008.
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Fortunately, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)
tests vehicles every year to determine which are the safest
on the road.
How do they decide which cars are the safest?
Vehicles are rated as good, acceptable, marginal or poor
based on performance in high-speed front and side crash tests
plus evaluations of seat/head restraints for protection against
neck injuries in rear impacts. In order to become a top safety
pick, vehicles must:
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Earn good ratings on all three crash tests
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Offer electronic stability control (ESC), as IIHS research
has shown that ESC significantly reduces the risk of crashes,
particularly fatal single-vehicle crashes, by helping
drivers maintain control of their vehicles during emergency
maneuvers
The Safest Cars of 2008
Large Cars:
- Audi A6
- Cadillac CTS
- Ford Taurus with optional electronic stability control
- Mercury Sable with optional electronic stability control
- Volvo S80
Midsize Cars:
- Audi A3
- Audi A4
- Honda Accord 4-door models
- Saab 9-3
- Subaru Legacy with optional electronic stability control
Midsize Convertibles:
- Saab 9-3
- Volvo C70
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The Nissan Murano was among the 17 midsize SUVs that
earned top safety ratings.
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Small Car:
- Subaru Impreza with optional electronic stability
control
Minivans:
- Honda Odyssey
- Hyundai Entourage
- Kia Sedona
Midsize SUVs:
- Acura MDX
- Acura RDX
- BMW X3
- BMW X5
- Ford Edge
- Ford Taurus X
- Honda Pilot
- Hyundai Santa Fe
- Hyundai Veracruz built after August 2007
- Infiniti EX35
- Lincoln MKX
- Mercedes M class
- Nissan Murano
- Saturn VUE built after December 2007
- Subaru Tribeca
- Toyota Highlander
- Volvo XC90
Small SUVs:
- Honda CR-V
- Honda Element
- Subaru Forester 2009 models
Large Pickup:
- Toyota Tundra
In the Market for a New Car?
You can also look for safety ratings from the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration. They've put together this simple
chart that includes valuable information on crash tests, rollover
ratings, and safety features. And when you're ready to
start shopping, be sure to read through these 11 key steps
to help
you get the car that's right for you … and at the
right price.
Recommended Reading
The
Safest and Most Dangerous Cars and Trucks for 2007
Extreme
Driving Situation Programs on the Rise in Response to #1 Cause
of Teen Death: Teen Driving
Sources
Insurance
Institute for Highway Safety
Safercar.gov
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