No U.S. models on list of safest vehicles
Insurers required electronic stability control to be considered
Updated: 5:13 a.m. PT Nov 21, 2006
DETROIT - Imported models took all 13 spots on the U.S. insurance industry’s list of safest vehicles this year, due mainly to a new requirement that all cars and sport utilities on the list have systems to keep them stable in an emergency.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety isn’t bashful about its reasons for pushing electronic stability control, saying that its studies show up to 10,000 fatal crashes per year could be prevented if every vehicle had the safety feature.
“The research is so compelling that electronic stability control could help prevent many crashes from happening in the first place,” institute spokesman Russ Rader said.
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THE WINNERS ARE ...
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety released its list of safest vehicles for the 2007 model year. This year, all winners must have electronic stability control.
LARGE CARS: Audi A-6
MIDSIZE CARS: Audi A-4, Saab 9-3, Subaru Legacy (with optional stability control)
MINIVANS: Hyundai Entourage, Kia Sedona
LUXURY SPORT UTILITIES: Mercedes M-class, Volvo XC90.
MIDSIZE SUVs: Acura RDX, Honda Pilot, Subaru B9 Tribeca
SMALL SUVs: Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester (with optional stability control)
