SUVs dominate the list of vehicles that topped the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration highest crash-test ratings.
2009 Mercedes-Benz M Class
Class: SUV
Safety Features: Dual front and rear side-mounted airbags; front and rear head airbags; driver and passenger head restraints that reduce neck injuries.
2009 Audi Q7
Class: SUV
Safety Features: Driver and passenger head-restraint whiplash protection; front side airbags for chest and pelvis protection; energy-absorbing padding under the instrument panel to protect feet and legs.
2009 Acura MDX
Class: SUV
Safety Features: Front, rear and third-row airbags; driver and passenger head restraints that reduce neck injury.
2009 Volvo XC90
Class: SUV
Safety Features: Front, rear and third-row airbags; driver and passenger head restraints that reduce neck injury.
2009 Acura RDX
Class: SUV
Safety Features: Front and rear impact-absorbing crumple zones; side-impact door beams; emergency tailgate opener; breakaway inside rearview mirror.
2009 Subaru Tribeca
Class: SUV
Safety Features: Standard curtain side air bags for front and second rows; roll sensor system that detects a potential vehicle rollover and deploys side curtain airbags.
2009 Honda Pilot
Class: SUV
Safety Features: Front-seat head restraints designed to reduce neck injuries when impacted from the rear; three-row side curtain airbag with rollover sensor system.
2009 Ford Taurus X
Class: SUV
Safety Features: Side curtain airbags for all three rows; seat-deployed side air bags for front-seat passengers.
2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
Class: SUV
Safety Features: Front and rear head airbag protection; rear-side thorax airbag protection; rear head restraints.
2009 Saturn Vue
Safety Features: Driver and passenger head restraint whiplash protection system; dual front-seat-mounted airbags; front and rear head airbags.
2009 Mitsubishi Outlander
Safety Features: Passenger airbag occupant-sensing deactivation; driver and passenger head restraints that reduce neck injury.
2009 Subaru Forester
Safety Features: Seat-position sensor on the driver’s track detects if the driver is sitting too close to the air bag, in which case the system delays deployment of the airbag’s second stage; front-seat side-impact airbags for thorax-area protection.
2009 Acura RL
Safety Features: Advanced safety features include side-curtain airbags, active head restraints and airbag occupancy sensors.
2009 Acura TSX
Safety Features: The TSX’s is equipped with six standard airbags, anti-lock brakes with brake assist, and vehicle stability assist. Last year Acura also added the Advanced Compatibility Engineering structure to the list of standard equipment offered with the TSX.
2009 Honda Odyssey
Safety Features: Every 2009 Honda Odyssey comes outfitted with an anti-lock braking system (ABS), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) with Traction Control, Brake Assist, a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), and Immobilizer Theft-Deterrent System. Moreover, a rearview camera is included in Honda’s optional navigation system, made available for the Odyssey EX-L and Touring.
