VIDEO FEATURE: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Announces its Top Picks for 2008

Thirty-four vehicles have earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Safety Pick award for 2008. The award recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting people in front, side and rear crashes based on ratings in the Institute's tests. Winners also have to be equipped with electronic stability control (ESC), which research shows can significantly reduce the risk of crashing.

From aftermarketNews Staff & Wire Reports

ARLINGTON, VA — Thirty-four vehicles have earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Safety Pick award for 2008. The award recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting people in front, side and rear crashes based on ratings in the Institute’s tests. Winners also have to be equipped with electronic stability control (ESC), which research shows can significantly reduce the risk of crashing.

Compared with last year, automakers have more than doubled the number of vehicles that meet criteria for Top Safety Pick. At the beginning of the 2007 model year, 13 models qualified. But, as manufacturers have made changes and introduced new and safer vehicle designs, 10 additional vehicles qualified during the year. Now, another 11 vehicles are being added to the list for 2008. Designating winners based on the tests makes it easier for consumers to identify vehicles that afford the best overall protection without sifting through multiple sets of comparative crash test results.

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