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2007 Top Safety Pick award winners: award criteria are tougher;

WINNERS

Large car

  • Audi A6 manufactured in Dec. 2006 and later

Midsize cars

  • Audi A4
  • Saab 9-3
  • Subaru Legacy equipped with optional electronic stability control

Minivans

  • Hyundai Entourage
  • Kia Sedona

Luxury SUVs

  • Mercedes M class
  • Volvo XC90

Midsize SUVs

  • Acura RDX
  • Honda Pilot
  • Subaru B9 Tribeca

Small SUVs

  • Honda CR-V
  • Subaru Forester equipped with optional electronic stability control

ALSO-RANS — REAR PROTECTION ISN'T GOOD

These vehicles earned good ratings in front and side crash tests. They have electronic stability control, standard or optional. They would have won 2007 Top Safety Pick awards if their seat/head restraints also had earned good ratings. Instead rear crash protection is rated acceptable, marginal, or poor (Honda reports that the seat/head restraints in the only Civic model with electronic stability control wouldn’t be rated good).

Acceptable rear protection

  • Audi A3
  • BMW 3-series 4dr
  • Lexus IS 250/350

Marginal rear protection

  • Acura TL
  • Honda Odyssey
  • Lexus ES 350
  • Lexus GS 350
  • Toyota Camry
  • Toyota FJ Cruiser
  • Toyota Prius
  • Toyota RAV4

Poor rear protection

  • Honda Accord 4dr
  • Infiniti M35
  • Nissan Quest
  • Toyota Avalon
  • Toyota Sienna
Source; Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

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