IIHS: Foreign Brands Move to Top of '07 Safety List

In the news: thirteen cars and trucks from foreign manufacturers - including the Kia Sedona and Hyundai Entourage - won Top Safety Pick honors for 2007 models from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The winners included models of the Audi A6 built in December 2006 and later, Audi A4, Saab 9-3, Subaru Legacy with optional ESC, Mercedes-Benz M-Class, Volvo XC90, Acura RDX, Honda Pilot, Subaru B9 Tribeca, Honda CR-V and the Subaru Forester equipped with optional ESC.

Foreign brands dominated the list, but so did cheaper ones; with the insurers giving the highest rating to seven vehicles under $30,000, including the Kia Sedona and the Hyundai Entourage.

Some of the 2006 winners were dropped from the list "because the manufacturers haven't improved the head restraints from acceptable to good or don't offer ESC (electronic stability control)," said Adrian Lund, institute president. Among the vehicles that won in 2006 but were shut out this year are the Ford Five Hundred, Mercury Montego and Chevrolet Malibu. Though the four-door Honda Civic won last year, in contrast no small cars won in this year's awards. Most 2007 Civics do not have ESC, a requirement in this year's awards.

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