Buyers looking for automotive safety information can turn to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Web site (www.IIHS.org) for frontal offset, side and rear crash test safety ratings. But the IIHS does more than just rate vehicles. Each year, the institute also names its top safety picks. Though these aren’t the only ratings available, the vehicles that earn these honors are among the safest on the road.

According to the IIHS, the automobiles named to this list offer “superior overall crash protection among the vehicles in their class.” To qualify, a vehicle must be available with electronic stability control and earn the institute’s highest rating (good) in all three crash tests.

The IIHS added the electronic stability control requirement in 2007 based on research that showed the feature significantly reduces the risk of driver involvement in a crash. According to the IIHS, ESC lowers the risk of a fatal single-vehicle crash by about half and lowers the risk of a fatal rollover crash by as much as 80 percent.

Electronic stability control, also called anti-skid control, has many names. General Motors’ system is called StabiliTrac, Ford’s is called AdvanceTrac and Chrysler dubs it electronic stability program. Other names include vehicle dynamics control (Subaru), dynamic stability control (Volvo), vehicle stability assist (Honda) and vehicle stability control (Toyota).

No matter the name, electronic stability control uses sensors to detect a loss of grip or vehicle instability, then works automatically with the anti-lock braking system to apply individual brakes to help keep the vehicle on its intended path. In some cases, ESC also reduces engine power.

So how does that affect daily driving? Hopefully, you’ll use ESC rarely, if ever. However, if you approach a corner too fast and your vehicle begins to plow straight ahead, ESC detects that the vehicle is not on its intended path and tries to correct the situation by applying the inside brakes. This will rotate the vehicle through the turn and, hopefully, save you from going off the road. Be aware that ESC can’t defy the laws of physics, so it won’t allow you to make a 90-degree left-hand turn at 90 mph, and it won’t really help on glare ice, but it can be quite helpful in emergency situations.

Only 13 vehicles qualified as top safety picks at the start of the 2007 model year. By the end of the model year, though, 23 vehicles were named top safety picks. A total of 34 vehicles were named to the initial 2008 list; the two most recent additions were the Cadillac CTS and Infiniti EX35, bringing the total to 36. Below is the complete 2008 list. Use it to help shop for a safe family vehicle.

2008 Top Safety Picks by Vehicle Class

LARGE CARS

Audi A6
Cadillac CTS
Ford Taurus with optional ESC
Mercury Sable with optional ESC
Volvo S80

MIDSIZE CARS 

Audi A3
Audi A4
Honda Accord four-door models
Saab 9-3
Subaru Legacy with optional ESC

MIDSIZE CONVERTIBLES

Saab 9-3
Volvo C70

Subaru Impreza with optional ESC

Honda Odyssey
Hyundai Entourage
Kia Sedona

Acura MDX
Acura RDX
BMW X3
BMW X5
Ford Edge
Ford Taurus X
Honda Pilot
Hyundai Santa Fe
Hyundai Veracruz built after August 2007
Infiniti EX35
Lincoln MKX
Mercedes M class
Saturn VUE built after December 2007
Subaru Tribeca
Toyota Highlander
Volvo XC90

Honda CR-V
Honda Element
Subaru Forester with optional ESC

Toyota Tundra