Next victim of mortgage mess: Auto sales

Rising concern about home values and mortgage payments is causing more buyers to slam the brakes on new car purchases.

Already-battered U.S. auto sales could be the next victim of the problems with mortgages, declining home and stock prices as potential car buyers delay purchases due to uncertainty.

Industrywide U.S. auto sales in August could be off 10 percent from a year ago, according to an early read from sales tracker Edmunds.com. That follows July sales that were 19 percent below year-earlier levels

Jesse Toprak, executive director of industry analysis for Edmunds.com, said that the downturn in home values and credit issues that were seen in the July numbers could be an even bigger factor this month.

"I think the issue is becoming more pronounced," he said.

Sales weren't just weak at domestic automakers, such as General Motors, Ford Motor and Chrysler Group. Year-over-year sales fell in July at Toyota Motor and Honda Motor as well. Many forecasters are cutting full-year auto sales targets in the face of these weak summer sales. And some experts say the turmoil in housing could throw even more dirt in the gears.

CNW Research, which specializes in surveys of car buyers, found in its latest reading that 13.6 percent of the potential market's customers were canceling or postponing plans to make a new-vehicle acquisition any time soon, up from 10.1 percent last year.

And of those postponing or canceling plans, home-related issues jumped to the No. 1 reason, cited by 17.6 percent of those staying away from dealers' showrooms, with nearly 11 percent of that group citing a decline in their home equity and another 6 percent citing an increase in their monthly home payment.

Of those postponing purchases, 10.7 percent cited problems with credit scores, as some sources of car loans are tightening lending standards. Gas prices are a distant third, cited by less than 5 percent of those delaying purchases.

"We're probably going to see some pretty bad [auto sales] numbers for the rest of the year," said Art Spinella, president of CNW. "To put it simply, housing is now the major hurdle to new car purchases. The next three to four months are not going to be much better if it's better at all. People are not interested in buying a new vehicle."

Only two years ago, the CNW survey found just 2.3 percent citing home-related issues as a reason to postpone a car purchase, while 5 percent cited credit score problems and about 3 percent cited gas prices.

Automakers, led by GM, are upping cash-back offers and other inducements to try to breathe life into sales in the face of headlines about home foreclosures and market meltdowns.

GM spokesman John McDonald said that GM isn't seeing any sharp drop-off in sales it can trace to the current mortgage and housing slowdown.

"It is one of a number of headwinds," he said. "There's fuel prices, there's interest rates and there's housing prices. But we're not seeing anything new that we've not been talking about for more than a year."

But one auto industry executive, who spoke on condition that his name not be used, said that the higher incentive spending by automakers, particularly on GM pickups, may mask some of the bite that housing is putting on sales.

"The home was not only a source of financing for some car purchases, it contributes to a positive feeling psychologically," said the executive. "That led to a confident outlook, a view that 'I can go ahead and spend from paycheck to paycheck and buy new cars when I want to because the value of my home and portfolio have gone up.'

"It's silliness to say the credit crunch doesn't matter," said the executive. "If the final sales numbers for August have any strength, it will be because of incentives."

Current Auto Rates
36 month new: 6.82%
48 month new: 6.94%
60 month new: 6.94%
72 month new: 7.01%
36 month used: 7.40%

Experts in the field say that car purchases are one of the first items that consumers can and will put off if they are nervous about their own financial outlook, long before they'll cut back on eating out or other discretionary purchases.

Bob Schnorbus, chief economist for auto research firm J.D. Power & Associates, said that the August sales probably won't tell the full story about the drag that the housing turmoil is causing for auto sales.

"I wouldn't expect it to have that quick impact; I would expect it to be more of a drag throughout the rest of this year than a plummet in August," he said.

And Schnorbus said that while consumers may keep making other types of purchases, even as they pull back from buying new cars and trucks, the slowdown could spread to other types of spending in the future if the market does not improve.

"A new car is one of the more postponable purchases that people make," said Schnorbus. "That new vehicle purchase could be a good leading indicator if consumers are going to cut back. Over the next few months, we could be getting some very interesting signals."
(C)CNN

Auto Leasing: Pros and Cons

If you are considering leasing, you need to do your homework. Here is some advice on how to get the best deal.

Aside from having a new car every few years, a major attraction to leasing is that "you get more car for the same monthly payments," says Robert Haber, a New York City art dealer who is leasing his Lexus RX 330 SUV.


These pluses will seem convincing to many new car shoppers, but to lease successfully, you need to understand the transaction. The concept is simple, but the execution is often highly complicated. When you lease, you pay, in effect, for the loss in value of a vehicle for the three or four years you are leasing it, plus interest on that amount.

Dealers will want to talk only about monthly payments, but to lower those payments you need to understand all the moving parts.

How Leases Work
Leasing comes with its own jargon. The most important factor in determining payments is the difference between the starting cost, known as the capitalized cost, and the estimated value at the end of the lease, called residual value. Auto brands that have high resale value, such as Mercedes-Benz, are good candidates for leasing.

Usually the best available lease deal will be the one offered by the manufacturer's captive finance subsidiary (see definition below). They often offer subvented, or manufacturer subsidized, leases, a promotional effort designed to help move certain vehicles. These deals are most common for luxury brands, and typically the residual value will be fixed, as will the interest rate. Thus your only weapon to lower payments is to negotiate down the capitalized cost — just as you would try to lower the purchase price if you were buying the car instead.

Leasing has its pitfalls, as well.

Do’s and Don’ts

Don't sign a lease longer than the warranty on the car. You don't want to be paying for repairs on a car you don't even own. On Ford, General Motors and DaimlerChrysler cars, three-year warranties would call for no longer than three-year leases.

Don't sign a lease with mileage limitations that are unrealistically low for your driving habits. Excess mileage costs at the end of the lease can be very expensive. You will likely save money by negotiating up front for a limit higher than the typical 12,000 miles a year, if you think you will need it.

Do protect yourself against theft or serious collision loss early in the lease. If the vehicle is stolen or totaled, your insurance will pay only the depreciated market value of the car at that time, which may be less than the total you owe on your lease. So-called "gap insurance" will pay you the difference between your insurance settlement and the total amount you still owe on the lease. Most leasing companies offer this coverage, and it is one of the few add-ons that makes sense to accept. Gap insurance as part of the lease usually won't cost you any more than getting it from your insurance agent, and is more convenient.

Do brush up on leasing jargon, so you can be a savvy negotiator.

Leasing Terms to Know

Capitalized Cost: The lease transaction's equivalent of the selling price. Payments are determined largely by the difference between the capitalized cost and the residual value (see below).

Capitalized Cost Reduction: Jargon for down payment in a lease transaction. You can use it as a way to reduce payments if, say, you have the proceeds from selling your old car, or if you are trading in your old car.

Excess Mileage Charge: A penalty for driving more than the mileage allowance in the lease — typically around 12,000 miles a year. To avoid this penalty, make sure your lease has a mileage allowance matching your driving habits.

Captive Finance Companies: These subsidiaries of major auto companies, such as Ford Motor Credit and General Motors Acceptance Corp., make auto loans on the companies' brands. Often they have better rates than those offered by the dealership itself.

Subvented Leases: Subsidized by the manufacturer, these leases are generally designed as promotional efforts to help move vehicles. Often, these can be one of the best deals for the consumer considering leasing as an option.

Residual Value: What the vehicle will be worth at the end of the lease. It may or may not match true estimates of the used car value at that point. When a manufacturer wants to promote leasing of a certain model, it will lower payments by artificially boosting the residual value.

When Does it Make Sense to Lease Instead of Buy?

A choice to lease or buy with a loan is largely one of personal preference and driving habits. If you typically trade for a new car every four years or less, drive less than 12,000 miles a year and keep your vehicle in good condition, you may be a good leasing candidate.

Especially among luxury brands, the best deals are often ones from the company's own finance arm. Because they prefer promotional leases to giving rebates, companies such as BMW, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz often offer leases that have low interest rates, above-market residual values or both. The result is lower monthly payments.
(C)Forbes

Top 20 Safety Features

The most significant and sought-after technology on modern vehicles makes the road safer for drivers, passengers, pedestrians and even animals.

We now have vehicles that can park themselves, car radios that can hold enough music for a cross-country trip and climate controls that can measure occupants' body temperature. But of all the great gadgets on cars these days, safety technology is by far the most vital—and the most in demand.
In a 2006 survey of 500 consumers conducted by Accenture, more than two-thirds of respondents ranked safety as the most important technology to have in their automobiles, and seven out of 10 were willing to pay extra for safety features. Accenture is the largest consulting firm in the world and is one of the largest computer sciences and software companies on the Fortune Global 500 list.

Safety technology has experienced a quantum leap in the last few years, with advances spurred by the government in an effort to lessen loss of life and injury, as well as automakers seeking a competitive edge. But it's equally driven by consumer awareness.

"Auto safety took a big step forward in the '90s, when there was a high awareness of ABS brakes and airbags," notes Charlie Vogelhiem, vice president, automotive development, with J.D. Power and Associates. "We saw that when people had a vehicle that didn't have airbags, for example, they were less inclined to keep it."

Below we highlight the top 20 auto-safety technologies currently available, ranging from the common to the cutting-edge. And if auto-safety tech follows the typical pattern, even innovative features currently found only on higher-end cars should trickle down to more affordable automobiles. "As consumers replace their existing vehicles and the technology price tag continues to decline," explains Accenture's Richard Spitzer, "[safety features] will be part of the deciding factor in the car purchase decision."

Pre-Collision Systems
This technology uses various methods to sense and prepare for a collision. When a sensor signals an impending crash, the system takes preemptive action such as pre-tensioning the seat belts, preloading the brakes and even aligning airbags to better protect occupants.

Electronic Stability Control
To help drivers maintain control, ESC compares steering and braking inputs with the car's lateral acceleration, rotation and individual wheel speeds. If a difference in the driver's intended path and that of the car is detected, brakes can be automatically applied and the throttle can be dialed back until the vehicle is back on track.

Brake Assist
This technology resulted from a study that determined that most drivers do not push the brake pedal hard enough in emergency situations. So when sensors detect "panic" braking, Brake Assist applies maximum brake boost and therefore decreases stopping distance.

Dynamic Head Restraints
Few people adjust their car's headrests properly to prevent whiplash, so some vehicles now come with active head restraints that move into more effective positions when a car is rear-ended. Volvo's Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS) and Saab's Active Head Restraint (SAHR) go a step further by getting the seats to help in mitigating whiplash injuries.

Dual-Stage Airbags
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stipulated that all passenger cars and light trucks produced after September 2006 must include passenger-side front airbags that are automatically enabled or disabled depending on whether a front passenger is detected (typically by seat sensors), and some now deploy in stages depending on the severity of a crash or the weight of the front-seat passenger.

Side and Supplemental Airbags
Side airbags can greatly reduce injuries, since occupants are often more vulnerable than in front- or rear-end crashes, where there's more of a "crumple" zone to protect them. Side airbags are not mandated by the NHTSA, however, and auto manufacturers can decide where and how to deploy them, and whether they're a standard or optional feature. Some luxury cars also include supplemental airbags, such as with BMW's Active Knee Protection and Head Protection systems.

Blind Spot Warning Indication
The Volvo S80's Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) uses a camera on each side-view mirror to scan a driver's no-see zone and indicators in the corners of the front windows alert the driver to the presence of vehicles. The Side Assist in the Audi Q7 and Side Blind Zone Alert in the 2008 Buick Lucerne and Cadillac DTS and STS work in much the same fashion, except the indicators are located on the side-view mirrors, and GM's system use radar instead of cameras.

Lane Departure Warning System
Infiniti's Lane Departure Warning (LDW) System uses a camera in the rearview mirror to detect when the vehicle gets close to the lane marker and sounds an audible warning. GM will also offer the technology on the 2008 Cadillac DTS and STS, and Buick Lucerne.




Night-Vision Camera System
Hitting an animal or pedestrian while driving after dark is an accident night-vision cameras can help prevent. BMW's night-vision system senses thermal energy and Mercedes' projects infrared light in front of the vehicle, and both show night-vision images on a screen in the dash.

Adaptive Headlights
This technology directs light from the headlights in the direction that the steering wheel is turned, to help illuminate where the driver intends the car to go. A feature currently found only on higher-end cars, adaptive headlights will likely trickle down to more affordable vehicles.

Tire-Pressure Monitor
Starting in the 2008 model year, the Feds will require all new vehicles to include tire-pressure-monitoring systems, which use sensors to provide information on tire inflation to a display in the instrument panel. Vehicles ranging from sports cars to SUVs already allow drivers to check tire pressure on the fly, and some show pressure in individual tires.

Rollover Protection
Manufacturers first offered airbag systems that inflate from the headliner or ceiling in top-heavy SUVs to protect occupants in case of a rollover. Ford's Safety Canopy, for example, covers 65 percent of the window surface in the first two rows of seats in Ford, Mercury and Lincoln SUVs, and the system is also available on the Volvo and Land Rover SUVs, as well as on the Ford Freestyle, Five Hundred, Mercury Montego and the Volvo C70 convertible.

Head-Up Display
Looking away from the road for even a few seconds can be dangerous. By projecting vital information from the speedometer, tach or navigation system on the windshield, a head-up display (HUD) allows drivers to keep their eyes straight ahead.

Bluetooth Hands-Free Phone System
While head-up displays let you keep your eyes on the road, Bluetooth lets you keep your hands on the wheel when using a mobile phone. The technology establishes a wireless connection with a compatible phone so that calls can be made and received using buttons on the steering wheel and voice commands.

Voice Activation
Using voice activation, you can change a radio station or adjust the volume on the audio system, raise and lower the temperature of the climate control, even enter destinations into a nav system—all without lifting a hand off of the wheel.

Navigation Systems
GPS navigation systems take the guesswork out of getting where you're going—and are much safer than reading a map behind the wheel. They issue turn-by-turn guidance and will reroute you if you miss a turn.

Adaptive Cruise Control
Adaptive Cruise Control automatically keeps a safe distance between you and the car ahead so that the driver doesn't constantly have to adjust the speed. A radar sensor monitors the distance and speed of vehicles in front of you, and most systems allow selecting a gap with which you're most comfortable.

Rearview Camera
Rear-vision cameras first appeared on super-sized SUVs to help drivers see behind the vehicles. But they are now available on luxury and sports cars as well as minivans and crossovers. Some also include visual aids that allow aligning a vehicle with an intended parking spot.

Obstacle Sensors
As with rear-vision cameras, obstacle sensors can help make you aware of objects you wouldn't normally see. The systems detect objects in close proximity to the vehicle and issue audible and/or visual warnings.

Emergency Response
OnStar and similar telematics services are known for "concierge" features such as unlocking doors and providing directions. But in the case of an accident they can pinpoint your location and detect if an airbag has deployed so that emergency personnel can respond accordingly.

Heartbeat Monitor
The key fob remote for the 2007 Volvo S80 will not only tell you if someone has broken into the vehicle while you were away, but a heartbeat sensor will alert you if someone is hiding inside.

While safety technology can save lives, features such as electronic stability control can also give drivers a false sense of security. "People may not understand that if you don't maintain your brakes, for example, the stability control won't work properly," maintains Lauren Fit, a.k.a., The Car Coach. And while safety technology compensates for human error, it can't make up for lack of common sense. "Nothing takes the place of putting down the phone and paying attention to what you're doing," remarks J.D. Power's Charlie Vogelheim.
(C)MSN

Review: 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid

Ford's revamped small SUV hybrid combines cool technology with fuel-thrift economy.
MSN (Doug Newcomb's) Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Pros:
Great gas mileage for its class
Punchy performance
Vivid multifunction touch-screen display

Cons:
Noisier than most other hybrids
Lacks steering-wheel audio controls
No traction or stability control availableThe 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid goes further on less fuel and also treads a thin line between eco and macho.

The last time I drove an Escape was when Ford's cute ute first became available in 2001. A buddy and I took the XLT 4WD version down to Baja on a road trip, and by the time we crossed back into the U.S., we were impressed with the way the Explorer's baby brother handled Mexico's pot-holed blacktop and washboard dirt roads with equal aplomb.

The only bummer of the Baja trip was when the fuel tank ran dry on the drive back up the peninsula, after we ignored rule number one when driving in Mexico's Outback—always top off the tank when passing a gas station. With the 2008 Escape Hybrid's rated fuel economy—34/30 mpg highway/city, compared to 18/24 for the model we drove—we probably would have made it to the next gas station about 20 miles up the road.

Six Years Later
The year 2001 doesn't seem that long ago, but from a tech perspective the 2008 Escape Hybrid is light years ahead of the first-generation version we drove south of the border six years ago. This was pre-Prius, and even pre-iPod, and the new Escape's hybrid drivetrain and even its auxiliary input jack show how much technology has changed since then.

The Hybrid's 155-horsepower 2.3-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine is mated to an electric motor driven by a 330-volt nickel-metal hydride battery that's recharged by regenerative braking. This fuel-sipping setup produces slightly more power than the equivalent-size 153-horsepower four banger in the original base model. And although it's more sluggish than the 200-hp V6 in the XLT version I first drove down in Baja, the Escape Hybrid didn't have any problems merging into freeway traffic or even overtaking slowpokes on a two-lane highway once I put my foot into it.

Handling was about what you'd expect for a near 3,600 pound small SUV: lots of body roll around sharper corners, and not quite as nimble as some of its sportier European and Japanese competitors. Braking was adequate if a bit stiff. The standard Escape uses hydraulic friction braking, but the Hybrid's regenerative braking system is combined with friction braking. Because of this, the Escape is the only Ford SUV without traction and stability control as standard features.

Engine Noise
Unlike other hybrids that initially run off the electric motor unless the battery is low or there's a significant load on the engine from, say, the climate control, the Escape's engine always fires up when the key is turned. Ford says this is based on comments from focus groups asking for more feedback and a feeling of control. Also, the Escape Hybrid's engine runs for longer periods than other hybrids I've driven, but Ford claims that it's more fuel-efficient to operate the engine at lower rpm when the throttle is closed rather than restarting it each time.

Subsequently, the Escape is not as quiet as other hybrids I've tested. However, most of my driving was done during a hot week in the summer and the engine doesn't shut down with the AC on since the compressor is driven off the engine. But the Escape Hybrid is quieter than any non-hybrid SUV in its class. The benefit of buying this vehicle is fuel economy, of course, which in my testing averaged around 30 mpg with equal amounts of city and highway driving.

Teched Out
The interior of the Hybrid Escape is far more teched-out than the first-generation version I took to Mexico. The test model came with the an optional DVD navigation system controlled by an exceptionally vivid 6.5-inch touch-screen monitor, which is bundled with an "Audiophile" sound system that includes a 6-disc CD changer and 320 watts powering seven speakers.

While it would be stretching it to describe the system as audiophile-quality, it does sound decent. But I didn't like that the position of the volume knob on the top left-hand corner of the head unit. Whenever I'd go to crank the volume, my hand inadvertently kept hitting the touch screen, and I'd invariably change the source. All the more reason for Ford to add steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, which would fit nicely on the right side of the wheel, opposite the cruise controls buttons.

With the nav system you also get an energy flow monitor that tracks power transfer between the engine, drive wheels and battery as well as overall fuel economy. This is augmented by an analog economy gauge in the instrument panel that shows whether power is flowing to or from the big battery in the back. The vehicle I tested also came with the Hybrid Premium Package, which adds a 110-volt power outlet in the center console.

Passive Aggressive
While the new Escape Hybrid treads softly on the planet, it has an aggressive presence, thanks in part to a recent redesign that brings its appearance in line with Ford's Super Duty trucks—and obviously to better match macho competitors like the Nissan Xterra. In fact, I wouldn't hesitate to take the 2008 Escape Hybrid back to Baja, where tough trucks rule. And I may even be tempted to pass Pemex stations without topping off the tank.
(C)MSN

Top 10 Passenger Cars

The most popular passenger cars on MSN Autos, based on visits to the site's vehicle research pages.

Passenger cars have traditionally come in small, midsize or full-size but a new entry-level class was introduced recently when automakers began making more fuel-efficient subcompact cars. However, small and midsize cars continue to be the bread and butter of the segment and it's evident on MSN Autos' most popular passenger cars list.

Japanese imports lead the way with the Honda Civic taking the number one spot for the fourth consecutive quarter. The next three spots are taken up by three of the best-selling cars in America in 2006: the Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.

The lone bright spot for domestics is the always popular Ford Mustang. It ranks fifth on the list followed by the most recognizable hybrid on the road today, the Toyota Prius. In fact, Toyota is the only automaker with four vehicles in the top ten.

The most popular list consists of nine imports with eight coming from Japan and one from Germany. The top ten is also comprised of five midsize cars, four small cars and one subcompact.

The list of the ten most popular passenger cars on MSN Autos is based on visits to the site's vehicle research pages between April and June of 2007. Here is the complete list:

1. Honda Civic
Over the years, Honda has shown the Civic can take on the shape of a sedan, coupe and hatchback. There is no hatchback version for the eighth generation but there is a sedan version of the Si for the first time ever. Sharing the same characteristics as the 197-horsepower Si Coupe, the Si Sedan comes in a 6-speed manual transmission with helical-type limited slip differential, 17-inch alloy wheels and a rear spoiler. For consumers who don't need all that power, opt for the more efficient DX, LE or EX which can get about 30/38 mpg on city/hwy.

2. Nissan Altima
Nissan introduced a redesigned version of the Altima for 2007 with distinctive styling. Built smaller than its predecessor, the midsize sedan has a smaller wheelbase and is shorter in overall length but is about a half-inch wider. For the first time a coupe version of the Altima is available and joins the lineup for 2008. Based on the sedan, the Altima coupe is smaller, shorter and lighter than the sedan but it shares similar interior design and features. The Altima also comes in a hybrid but it is only available in eight states so far.

3. Toyota Camry
The best-selling car in America continues its dominance in 2007 with more than 240,000 units sold in the first half of the year. Toyota redesigned the Camry to give it a richer look, roomier interior and the most powerful V6 ever. On top of that, the first-ever gasoline-electric Camry Hybrid also debuted for 2007 featuring an estimated fuel economy rating of 40 mpg in the city and 38 on the highway. The Camry is available in four trim levels—CE, LE, SE and XLE—and prices start at under $19,000 for the base CE with a 4-cylinder engine and manual transmission.

4. Honda Accord
Not long ago Honda held the top spot in U.S. car sales. Now the automaker is trying to regain that crown via the Accord, which was revamped in the 2006 model year. According to Automotive News, the Accord is third in passenger car sales in the first half of 2007. Available in a coupe or a sedan, the midsize car is fun to drive and comes with a laundry list of safety features. Although it's popular among families, Honda says the V6 sedan with a 6-speed manual is "designed to appeal to driving enthusiasts." The gasoline-electric hybrid is still available for 2007 but Honda has announced it will not produce it for 2008.

5. Ford Mustang
Ford's Mustang was given the retro look back in the 2005 model year. Its popularity has not waned and consumers have continued to give it a thumbs up by making it the most popular sports car on MSN Autos for six straight quarters. Available in a coupe or convertible, shoppers can also choose between a 210-horsepower V6 or a 300-horsepower V8. The convertible is more rigidly built than any pre-2005 Mustang convertibles with virtually no cowl shake. Affordability has kept the Mustang an attainable sports car with a starting price of under $20,000.

6. Toyota Prius
The most popular hybrid on MSN Autos also makes the top ten passenger cars list as well. Known for its great fuel economy, the Prius has become a mainstream vehicle since its introduction in 2000. One of Consumer Reports' Top Picks of 2007, the Prius is the most fuel-efficient vehicle in America with estimated 2008 EPA ratings at 48 mpg in the city and 45 mpg on the highway. Consumer Reports also gave the hybrid the best depreciating rating because of the ongoing demand and excellent reliability.

7. Toyota Corolla
It seems that Toyota's formula to keeping the Corolla a success is rather simple: Don't change it. The Corolla has consistently been a best-selling car in America without any major changes for the past few years. Fuel economy is one of the reasons for its popularity and having a good reputation as a reliable car doesn't hurt either. A Consumer Reports survey named the Corolla as one of 59 cars to make the Good Bets List and a top vehicle priced under $25,000 for 2007. Prices start at under $15,000 for a 2007 Corolla.

8. Toyota Yaris
A whole new entry-level segment of vehicles has emerged and Toyota is once again ahead of the game with the Yaris. Available in a sedan or a hatchback, the subcompact car has better fuel economy than any of its nonhybrid competitors with a starting price of just over $11,000. The Yaris is powered by a 106-horsepower 1.5-liter engine and provides decent 65-75 mph passing. Lots of shifting is required for best performance but buyers can opt for the automatic, which is smooth and responsive. The ride is supple and handling is OK if it's not pushed too hard especially with the base version that has 14-inch tires.

9. Volkswagen Jetta
The Jetta has grown in size over the years and this latest-generation version is the biggest one ever. Offered in a variety of trims, the Jetta comes with a 150-horsepower 2.5-liter engine or the more peppy 2.0-liter inline four turbocharged engine that produces 200 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque. Volkswagen has been showing a number of commercials touting its vehicles' safety. The Jetta comes with a number of safety features including anti-lock brakes, traction control, front-seat side airbags and head-curtain airbags. The Jetta also gets four stars out of five from the NHTSA in the frontal crash test and five stars in the side crash test.

10. Nissan Maxima
Nissan's flagship car got a facelift for the 2007 model year featuring a new grille, hood, bumpers and headlights. One of the new features is the Nissan Xtronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) which is designed to be more fuel-efficient than the traditional automatic transmission. The 255-horsepower V6 is quite potent but it produces a bit of torque steer. Automotive consulting firm Strategic Vision awarded the Maxima as a top medium car (tied with Saturn Aura) in the 2007 Total Quality Index (TQI). The survey is based on responses from more than 27,000 buyers who bought 2007 models in September, October and November of 2006.
(C)MSN

New Ford Taurus is really good!

The rebirth of the Taurus name was greeted by laughs but, it turns out, Ford has made a good car out of what was the Five Hundred.

Base prices: $23,000 to $28,000
Seating: Four comfortably, five maximum
Fuel mileage: 22 mpg overall, according to new EPA testing method
Power: 3.5-liter V6, 6-speed transmission

Pity the new Ford Taurus. It's a restyled and slightly re-engineered version of the Ford Five Hundred, a dull car that simply got no respect.

To try and turn things around, Ford also changed the name to Taurus, a name originally associated with a great automotive success story. The original Taurus had once been the most popular car in America, but it had long since been eclipsed by the Camry when it finally slipped out of production last year.

When the revamped Five Hundred's name change was announced at this year's Chicago Auto Show, most journalists saw it as nothing more than a laughable attempt to relive a moment of long ago glory.

That's too bad, because it just happens to be a really good car. In fact, the Five Hundred was never a really bad car. It was just dull.

Except for that, the Five Hundred provided in spades: It had good fuel economy, enormous amounts of interior room and a trunk you could float a barge in.

For the new Taurus, engineers put in a more powerful engine and upgraded the suspension. Ford designers worked, both outside and inside, to relieve the painful blandness that marked the Five Hundred.

This car has chrome - maybe even too much chrome - and it has more-than-adequate power. All without changing any of the stuff that made the Five Hundred such a practical, decent vehicle.

Does all this mean the car formerly known as the Five Hundred will finally get some respect? It should.

Big small shape
The Taurus's overall tall, rounded shape is unchanged from the Five Hundred. The car still looks a bit chubby, but the big three-bar chrome grill and the flashy side vents help.
The Taurus Limited, the top trim level, comes with chrome side view mirrors and door handles, too. At that level, the sheer volume of chrome really does lend the car some luxury-class style.

The pudgy shape serves a purpose, though. This car fits an awful lot of space over a small amount of asphalt.

The basic idea has always been to offer all the functionality of an SUV in a sedan body. The Taurus succeeds at that and more. There is plenty of room for passengers in both the front and back seats - more than you'll find in most two-row SUVs, in fact.

With all its seats filled with passengers, the Taurus actually has more storage space than many SUVs. The back seats fold down flat, just like an SUV's, leaving a full top-to-bottom pass-through. Even the front passenger seat folds flat, letting you load items that reach from the taillights all the way to the dashboard.

It's also available with all-wheel-drive.

These are all features that already existed in the Five Hundred and, thankfully, the Taurus hasn't lost them.

Its new interior doesn't look as well put together as, say, the Toyota Avalon's or even the Chrysler 300's, but it's still an attractive and functional piece of work. The center console has two separate bins, a lower, larger one and a big one beneath that.

Even with four occupants, everyone gets plenty of space for beverages. There are front and rear cupholders in the center. The back ones come in a fold-down center armrest. There's als a bottle holder in each door large enough to hold a two-liter soda bottle.

Improved drive
With its new 260 horsepower V6, the Taurus has power enough to accelerate without feeling strained as the Five Hundred did when pressed hard.
The engine also provides enough power for the six-speed transmission to work smoothly. In the Five Hundred, the car would often slog between shifts that seemed to come too early.

The Taurus' 57 horsepower improvement over the old Five Hundred also comes at no cost in terms of fuel economy. In fact, the Taurus gets about one mile more out of each gallon than the Five Hundred did, according to new EPA estimates. (It's actually not that unusual for an increase in power to result in better fuel economy. A stronger engine doesn't need to work as hard.)

The suspension is also tighter, but this is still no performance sedan. The Taurus is supposed to be a roomy, comfortable cruiser. The new shock tuning makes it feel more controlled in turns and over bumps, though, while still offering a smooth ride.

Steering remains a weak point. It doesn't feel like you're tossing around one of those American land barges of the old days, but the steering still feels a bit remote and numb.

Top safety
In advertising, Ford bills the Taurus as "rated the safest full-size car in America." That's based on the Taurus' "Top Safety Pick" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The Taurus actually shares that award with one other large car - the Audi A6 - not counting its own corporate twin, the Mercury Sable, shown here. The wagon version of the Taurus, the Taurus X, got the award, as well.
To earn that award, a car must get the Insurance Institutes's top rating of "Good" for front and side impact protection as well as for whiplash protection in rear impacts. Starting last year, cars were also required to offer electronic stability control, at least as an option. ESC is a computerized system that helps a driver maintain control when a skid or rollover threatens.

The Taurus also gets 5 stars, the top score, for front and side impact safety, according to the government's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Lots to like
In all, the Taurus is a car with a lot to show for itself. Unfortunately, it may be brushed off by shoppers who see it as just a Five Hundred with a little make up and jewelry, but who miss the more powerful engine and suspension improvements.

They're the same shoppers who missed that the Five Hundred - while no-one's idea of a hot ride - really wasn't bad if you were just looking for a practical family car.

If questions about reliability are standing in your way, check with J.D. Power & Associates and Consumer Reports.

If you just look at recently introduced models, like the Ford Five Hundred and Fusion, it's a non-issue. Ford's new models perform just as well as Toyota's and Honda's and, in some cases, better. There's no reason to think the same won't hold true for the Taurus.

If you're shopping for a large car, the new Taurus should absolutely be on your list. In fact, if you're shopping for a mid-sized SUV, it should be on your list as well. You'd have a hard time finding anything in an SUV that you're not getting here except with better fuel economy and closed-in lockable cargo space.

And, if you want a third row of seats, there's the Ford Taurus X. It's basically a crossover SUV based on the Taurus.
(C)CNN

Top 20 Most Dangerous Vehicles

Here are the 20 most dangerous vehicles according to 'real world safety' from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Hoping to stay safe on the road? You might want to avoid certain cars.

For example, the Nissan 350Z has a death rate that's about double that of the average sports car.

But it's not for the reasons you might think. In this case, says Russ Rader, communications director for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), an organization that represents the interests of the insurance industry, the 350Z is part of a group of vehicles that tends to be driven by younger, less-experienced or riskier drivers, and stands out for having high death rates, through no particular fault of the car.

"When they are in crashes," he adds, "they're particularly serious ones."

This illustrates a key point: Simply looking at the historical death rates for one particular model might not give much insight into the relative danger, or safety, of driving that vehicle. Furthermore, the most recent available federal data, interpreted by make and model by the IIHS, covers 2001 to 2004 model years in calendar years 2002 to 2005. Many models have had significant changes in safety equipment or complete redesigns since then.

The consensus among several safety experts we asked is that the best way to predict how dangerous or safe a new vehicle will be comes from looking at the way it's configured, particularly with respect to several important factors — side-impact protection, stability control and rollover risk — that together span a wide range in real-world safety.

That's what we did. Topping the list of the least safe: the Buick Rendezvous, the Ford Ranger/Mazda B-Series, the Nissan Frontier, the Ford Escape/Mercury Mariner and the Toyota Yaris.

High-Priority Protection
Among the various crash tests the IIHS performs on new vehicles, according to Rader, they see the widest range of results in those with side-impact and rear whiplash protection.

"What makes a vehicle unsafe today is a lack of side-impact protection," he says. "Whiplash is not a life-threatening injury, but head injuries [from a side impact] are commonly life-threatening."

Side-curtain airbags have been shown to greatly increase the chances of surviving a classic "T-bone" side-impact accident, such as when the other vehicle runs a stoplight, and depending on the design, they can also increase the chances of surviving a rollover. Side-curtain bags are mandated for all 2009 vehicles, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that these alone will reduce fatal side-impact head injuries by 45 percent, saving up to 1,000 lives per year.

"Side airbags designed to protect your head are crucial, because a head injury is the most common fatal injury in a crash," says Rader. "It's the difference between life and death."

Structurally Sound
Along with side airbags, a vehicle also needs a well-built side structure to withstand a strong blow from vehicles of varying heights, says Rader.

Which leads to another major point: "Size and weight are very important aspects of safety," he says. "The laws of physics always apply in a crash. That means that people in smaller and lighter vehicles are always at a disadvantage in crashes with other vehicles."

In single-vehicle crashes, the weight advantage isn't as pronounced, but the statistics still point in favor of larger, if not heavier vehicles, he says.

However, John Linkov, managing editor of Consumer Reports, says that smaller and lighter vehicles aren't necessarily more dangerous. In many cases, they may offer handling and maneuverability advantages to help avoid accidents.

"A more nimble, better-handling vehicle," he says, "is likely going to be easier to control in an emergency and help the driver avoid the dangerous situation."

While generally heavier SUVs and pickups are at an advantage in multi-vehicle accidents, they've been shown to be at quite a disadvantage in single-vehicle accidents (such as when the driver falls asleep, or loses control swerving around a deer), which comprise 43 percent of fatal accidents.

In this type of accident, SUVs and pickups have more than double the chance of rolling over, according to NHTSA data. This risk relates closely to overall federal fatality data, showing that SUVs and pickups generally have a higher fatality rate than cars of a similar weight.

Corrective Measures
Electronic stability control systems, which smartly apply the brakes on one or more of the wheels as best to avoid loss of vehicle control in an extreme maneuver, have been offered for more than a decade in some luxury and high-performance vehicles, but the technology has been trickling down to most mainline brands over the past several model years.

NHTSA has called it the most significant development since the seat belt, and the federal government has mandated electronic stability control, but not until the 2012 model year. NHTSA estimates that the stability control mandate will prevent up to 9,600 fatalities and 238,000 injuries annually, at an average cost of $111 per vehicle in addition to the cost of antilock brakes, which most vehicles already offer as standard equipment or as an option.

"Electronic stability control is one of those rare safety features that's having a dramatic effect on saving lives," says Rader. "Stability control alone can reduce the risk of fatal single-vehicle crashes by 56 percent. And it can reduce fatal single-vehicle rollovers by 80 percent for SUVs, 77 percent for passenger cars."

Even though stability control was only offered in some of the more expensive SUVs a few years ago, Rader says that its impact is already easily seen in the Institute's yearly list of vehicles with the lowest death rates. Rader said that in the past, only a few of them were SUVs, but now they make up nearly half of the list.

Terrifying Trucks
Pickups are another surprisingly unsafe group of vehicles. Based on fatality-rate data, they're by far the most dangerous, says Michael Dulberger, president of the safety advocacy group Informed for Life.

"Pickups as a class have the highest rate of fatality and serious injury," he says, "and they have a very high rollover risk."

Rader agrees. "Pickups have a rollover problem," he says. "They have a high center of gravity and a high propensity to roll over." And making matters worse, "They're the laggards in electronic stability control," he says.

Last year, only one pickup model offered electronic stability control, according to Rader, while this year it's standard on 8 percent of models and optional on 20 percent. By comparison, 87 percent of SUVs now have standard stability control, according to the Institute.

Linkov agrees that some pickups pose the most danger to inexperienced drivers. "What we're seeing is that young people in places where pickups are a de facto choice are at an especially strong risk, with their propensity to roll over," he says.

Any vehicle can be especially unsafe if it's used in a way it's not designed for, such as if a high-clearance pickup is used primarily empty on curvy, hilly roads, according to Linkov.

"Combine that with a poorly trained driver," he says, "and it's dangerous."

The Methodology
As we've outlined, generalized fatality statistics point toward today's most dangerous new vehicles as those that are light, don't provide proper side-impact protection (airbags), have a higher propensity to roll over, don't handle particularly well and lack electronic stability control.

Informed for Life releases SCORE (Statistical Combination of Risk Elements) data each year, which combines all the available safety data from the federal government and the IIHS, along with the role of weight and the presence of stability control, into a single number for each particular model, making it easier to compare vehicles of varying sizes or body types.

The SCORE is calculated according to the role that each element plays in general fatal accidents. For instance, as about 26 percent of national accident fatalities occur in a side impact, 26 percent of the SCORE depends on the vehicle's rated side-impact protection.

The system, which has been implemented for about five years, more closely matches the fatality rate on a model-by-model basis than either IIHS or NHTSA ratings alone. And it's easy to decipher; it's on a scale that's proportional to risk, with the average passenger car ranked 100.

So, for instance, a SCORE of 150 means that the relative risk of driver fatality is 50 percent higher than for the average passenger car. In the group's 2007 list, the most dangerous vehicle, the Buick Rendezvous, at 161, has more than three times the relative risk of fatality than the Hyundai Entourage and Kia Sedona minivans, at 51.

To distill our list of the most dangerous vehicles, we looked at Informed for Life's bottom-of-the-heap results for 2007 model-year vehicles, including vehicles with a full range of crash-test results from NHTSA, the IIHS, or a combination of the two; and to also consider the role of accident avoidance (or lack thereof), we broke any ties with Consumer Reports' accident avoidance scores.

CR first measures the vehicle's maximum stable speed through emergency handling, essentially simulating a quick swerve around an obstacle and back into the right lane, then factors in driving position, visibility and seat comfort — all issues that the organization deems important in successfully avoiding an accident.

We're aware that this is a snapshot of the most dangerous cars among those that have been extensively tested, and that there may be more dangerous vehicles that either haven't yet been fully crash-tested or were only partially tested. Please consult www.safercar.gov or www.iihs.org if you're concerned about a particular model.

How Carmakers Reacted
Automakers were generally supportive of a methodology that looked for the safest — or in this case, the least safe — vehicles through a composite assessment of existing crash-test results, and considering side-impact protection and rollover likelihood, instead of looking at prior model-by-model fatality or injury data.

GM
Alan Adler, GM's safety spokesman, confirms that it's important to look at a wide range of information. "You've identified two technologies [side airbags and stability control] that are important, and we have rollout plans for both," says Adler.

More than 40 percent of GM's light trucks now have side-curtain airbags that allow head protection even in rollovers. Stability control is offered in 35 percent of GM vehicles for 2007, and the percentage rises to about 50 percent for 2008, according to Adler. Regarding SUVs and pickups, Adler says that "rollover is a big deal" to the company, which now does its own rollover safety testing.

To shoppers who might wonder why stability control isn't yet installed in more vehicles, GM's Adler says, "It isn't something you can slap on a vehicle," and explains that the automaker has been working to install it across the board ever since the agencies have revealed its importance. "It's a major engineering change to the vehicle."

Toyota
Toyota spokesman Bill Kwong questions the correlation between weight and safety; he says that Toyota has been incorporating more high-strength steel, which improves crash resistance yet saves weight, though again, at a higher cost to the automaker.

Kwong said that side-impact airbags are now available on all Toyota cars. They're optional on the Corolla, along with the Yaris and Matrix, two cars that ranked among the least-safe vehicles, according to our methodology, without the option.

"Those models are more price sensitive," especially the Yaris, which is why the side bags are optional, according to Kwong. He adds that dealerships are told to inform shoppers of the benefits of the Yaris's side airbag system.

Ford
Several Ford Motor vehicles were on our Most Dangerous list, but the company's safety spokesman, Daniel Jarvis, explains that these are all products near the end of their life cycle and not representative of the rest of Ford's model lineup.

Jarvis said the company places a strong emphasis on safety. Several of the vehicles that place highest in crash tests are from Ford, and the company has aggressive programs in place to install side airbags and stability control across its entire fleet.

"By the end of calendar year 2009, all retail vehicles will have stability control," says Jarvis; that would be nearly three years ahead of the federal mandate. Ford has also made an enhanced version, called Roll Stability Control, aimed to prevent the likelihood of rollover, standard on its larger Expedition and Explorer SUVs, and the company is adding the system to the smaller Escape sport-utility for the '08 model year.

Jarvis suggests there are a number of reasons why pickups have been among the last to get stability control, but one is that they come in such a wide range of powertrains and configurations, and each one of them needs to be engineered individually. "Complexity is one factor," he says.

Nissan
"Nissan has not had the opportunity to fully understand the methodology that went into this listing," says Jeannine Ginivan, a spokeswoman for Nissan. "That being said, Nissan takes its commitment to safety very seriously.

"All Nissan and Infiniti vehicles are engineered to meet or exceed government safety regulations as well as our own rigorous internal safety requirements — the Nissan Xterra and the Nissan Frontier are no exceptions. Nissan's electronic stability control feature, known as Vehicle Dynamic Control, is standard on the Xterra and currently an option on the Frontier. Rollover curtain airbags are also optional on both vehicles.

"As a company, we are committed to the safety of our vehicles and our drivers, and we urge everyone driving a Nissan or Infiniti vehicle to do so safely."

Suzuki
"At Suzuki, we place the utmost priority on manufacturing and selling safe vehicles, and both Forenza and Reno comply with all federal motor-vehicle safety standards," says David Boldt, communications manager. "Additionally, like all 2007 Suzuki passenger cars, the Forenza and Reno offer front-seat-mounted side airbags for both driver and passenger, as well as several layers of standard safety equipment.

"It's also important to note the active safety benefits provided by Forenza and Reno, with composed handling (four-wheel independent suspension), precise steering and four-wheel disc braking. Add excellent outward visibility for driver and passengers, and Suzuki's approach is to help the driver avoid an accident before it occurs."

Honda, Hyundai and Kia did not return calls for comment.

1. Buick Rendezvous
Four-Door SUV
SCORE: 161
Consumer Reports' accident avoidance: N/A

The minivan-based Rendezvous helped bring new customers to Buick dealerships, thanks to the Tiger Woods ad campaign behind it. But after the 2007 model year, the Rendezvous, with its abysmal three-star (out of five) NHTSA frontal impact rating, is history, to be replaced by the 2008 Buick Enclave, a crossover SUV with a full roster of standard safety equipment.

2. Ford Ranger/Mazda B-Series
Pickup, Regular Cab/Extended Cab: Four-Wheel Drive
SCORE: 153
Consumer Reports' accident avoidance: N/A

The Ranger still follows a simple, proven design that's good for pickup buyers who really want to keep it basic and affordable. Unfortunately, side airbags or curtain bags aren't available, even as an option; neither is stability control. What's more, the Ranger (and the nearly identical B-Series) gets a low three-star NHTSA rollover rating, (which corresponds to a 20% to 30% risk of rollover in a single-vehicle crash) with one of the highest rollover risk factors (0.3) of any vehicle.

3. Nissan Frontier
Extended-Cab Pickup
SCORE: 145
ConsumerReports' accident avoidance: Average

Stability control is optional on the Frontier, and recommended considering its three-star NHTSA rollover rating. The King Cab Frontier has surprisingly low three-star NHTSA frontal crash-test ratings (most other pickups do quite well in the frontal tests), though a four-door Crew Cab Frontier was given a better four-star frontal rating. The Frontier was also rated "Poor" (out of good, acceptable, marginal or poor) by the IIHS in rear impact. Both Frontiers tested didn't have side airbags or side curtain bags, which are also optional.

4. Ford Escape/Mercury Mariner
Four-Door SUVs
SCORE: 138
Consumer Reports' accident avoidance: N/A

Ford's small sport-utility vehicle, the Escape, and its cosmetically different sibling, the Mariner, were given an overall evaluation of "Poor" (the lowest possible rating) from the IIHS due to its lacking driver torso- and head-protection in the Institute's side-impact crash test (without the optional side airbag package). The federal government also gives the Mariner one of few three-star ratings, which corresponds to a relatively high risk of rollover. And stability control isn't available. Waiting for the '08 would be a smart move, as front side airbags, side curtain bags and stability control will all finally be standard.

5. Toyota Yaris
Four-Door
SCORE: 132
ConsumerReports' accident avoidance: Worse than average

Even though the Yaris has impressive fuel efficiency, a nicely designed interior, high expected reliability, and a number of other positive attributes, Consumer Reports' John Linkov says that the Yaris can't be recommended, "because its emergency handling is quite tail-happy and the driver could get out of control very quickly." And to make an especially dangerous combination, the Yaris four-door performs badly in both major side-crash tests, with three stars from NHTSA and a "Poor" rating from the IIHS.

6. Hyundai Accent
Four-Door
SCORE: 132
Consumer Reports' accident avoidance: Average

The Accent tested near the bottom among all cars, according to IIHS crash testing, with the organization giving it a "Poor" rating in both side-impact and rear-impact tests, plus an unimpressive "Acceptable" frontal rating. And this is with standard side airbags. When the federal government tested an Accent four-door sedan, it rated its side-impact performance with three stars--the lowest it gets in 2007.

7. Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe
Four-Door
SCORE: 131
Consumer Reports' accident avoidance: Average

The Matrix and the closely related Vibe fair acceptably with four- and five-star results in the federal government's crash tests. But without the optional side airbags, the Matrix gets only three stars for front-seat passengers in the side-impact test. Stability control is optional on both models, which are due to be replaced by a new model after '08.

8. Kia Rio
Four-Door
SCORE: 127
Consumer Reports' accident avoidance: Better than average

The Rio is structurally similar to the Hyundai Accent. And like the Accent, it gets a low, three-star NHTSA side impact rating, plus appalling "Poor" ratings in both side- and rear-impact tests and the not-quite-passable "Acceptable" frontal rating from the IIHS. Surprisingly, those results are with the standard side airbags. Fortunately, the Rio has "better than average" accident avoidance qualities, according to Consumer Reports testing.

9. Chevrolet Aveo
Four-Door
SCORE: 126
Consumer Reports' accident avoidance: Average

The basic, lightweight Aveo, which is assembled in Korea by GM affiliate Daewoo, is the lowest-priced U.S.-market vehicle, starting at $9,995 for 2007. Side airbags are standard for front passengers, but not in back, and by the three-star side-impact result for rear-seat passengers and the "Marginal" side-impact result from the IIHS, occupants might not fare so well in a side-impact accident.

10. Suzuki Reno/Forenza
Five-Door/ Five-Door
SCORE: 125
Consumer Reports' accident avoidance: Average

The Reno and Forenza, a four-door hatchback and sedan, respectively, are also made by GM-Daewoo in Korea. Both come with standard front seat-mounted side airbags, but that doesn't seem to help them in IIHS side-impact tests, where they get "Poor" ratings in side impact, as well as rear impact. Side curtain airbags and stability control aren't available in either the Reno or Forenza.

11. Ford Focus
Two-Door Hatchback
SCORE: 124
Consumer Reports' accident avoidance: Average

The economical Focus received a "Poor" rating from the IIHS in its side impact test, and in federal tests it achieved only a three-star rating, with an accompanying warning regarding the high likelihood of head trauma. Compiling the risk, side-curtain airbags and stability control aren't available on the Focus, and seat-mounted side airbags are optional for front occupants.

12. Jeep Liberty
Four-Door SUV
SCORE: 118
Consumer Reports' accident avoidance: Average

The Jeep Liberty maneuvers much better in real-world driving than its height might suggest, and the "Average" CR accident avoidance score is reassuring. Yet it's also given just three stars in the federal rollover rating system. Additionally, in IIHS tests, the Liberty didn't fare so well, with a "Poor" rating in rear impact and a "Marginal" rating in front impact, together corresponding to a significantly higher chance of injuries if an accident occurs.

13. Dodge Dakota
Four-Door Pickup
SCORE: 117
Consumer Reports'accident avoidance: Average

First, the good: The mid-size Dakota is one of the least-tipsy pickups, with a four-star rollover rating, plus an "Average" accident avoidance rating. Now, the bad: It's rated "Acceptable" in front- and rear-impact tests, and there's no available stability control. Side airbags and side-curtain bags are optional.

14. Chevrolet Cobalt/Pontiac G5
Two-Door
SCORE: 117
Consumer Reports' accident avoidance: Much better than average (Cobalt SS)

The Chevy Cobalt and its almost identical twin, the Pontiac G5, are a little more dangerous than average due to their side-impact performance. The IIHS gave the Cobalt a "Poor" evaluation in its side-impact tests, and when NHTSA tested the Cobalt, they noted a safety concern over the higher-than-average likelihood of serious head trauma. Front-side airbags and side-curtain airbags are optional, but stability control is not available.

15. Nissan Xterra
Four-Door SUV
SCORE: 115
Consumer Reports' accident avoidance: Average

The tall, boxy Xterra sport-utility vehicle flaunts its rugged looks toward active young men, and fortunately comes with stability control to help remedy its three-star NHTSA rollover rating and especially high rollover risk. Frontal impact results are passable but unspectacular, at four stars. Side and side-curtain airbags are optional.

16. Saturn ION
Four-Door
SCORE: 115
Consumer Reports' accident avoidance: Better than average

The ION shares its underpinnings with the Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5, but has some more substantial differences. For instance, the rollover index is slightly better. The ION gets a "Poor" rating from the IIHS in side-impact testing, along with a three-star NHTSA side-impact rating for front occupants. Head-protective side-curtain airbags are optional; stability control is not.

17. Chrysler PT Cruiser
Van
SCORE: 114
Consumer Reports' accident avoidance: Average

The very retro-stylish yet roomy PT Cruiser has been around for quite a few years essentially unchanged, with no major update during that time. NHTSA side-impact performance for front occupants is a modest four stars. Front-seat side airbags aren't standard on all Cruisers, but they're available at extra cost. Stability control isn't available at all.

18. Honda S2000
Convertible
SCORE: 114
Consumer Reports' accident avoidance: Much better than average

The high-performance S2000 convertible has stellar handling and accident avoidance, and gets a surprisingly good five-star rating in NHTSA's side-impact test, plus a top five-star mark for rollover risk. But side airbags aren't at all available on the little, low-riding roadster.

19. Toyota Scion tC
Two-Door
SCORE: 113
Consumer Reports' accident avoidance: Better than average

Like most small, sporty coupes, the tC boasts good handling--as evidenced by CR's "better than average" rating for accident avoidance and a relatively low risk of rollover. But side-impact airbags aren't standard and if not equipped with the optional side airbags and curtain bags, the tC can be a little risky. It received a just-acceptable, four-star side-impact rating,

20. Mazda3
Four-Door/Five-Door Hatchback
SCORE: 113
Consumer Reports' accident avoidance: Much better than average

The Mazda3 has been the darling of automotive critics. The styling is unique and still stands out several years after introduction, the powertrain is peppy, and it's one of the best-handling small cars. Now for the bad part: Both the sedan and hatchback versions of the 3 fared very poorly in side-impact crash tests, garnering a lowly three-star rating from NHTSA and the lowest "Poor" rating from the IIHS. Side airbags aren't standard, either.
(C)Forbes

Top 10 Sports Cars

Domestics top the list of the 10 most popular sports cars on MSN Autos for the first quarter of 2007. Led by the iconic Ford Mustang, the Chevrolet Corvette follows in second place while the new Saturn Sky takes the bronze.

For sports car enthusiasts, there may never be enough horsepower. Porsche gives its 911 a power boost with the addition of the GT3 and 911 Turbo, each packing substantially more than 400 horsepower. And for that added kick, Porsche has equipped the 911 Turbo with a button that can momentarily increase its maximum torque by 45 lb-ft to a neck-snapping 505 lb-ft.

Italian-made Lamborghini gives its "bullish" Murcielago a new designation—LP640—and adds 60 more horsepower to its already potent V12 engine for 2007.

Four domestics, three Japanese imports and three European imports make up the top ten list.

The list of the ten most popular sports cars on MSN Autos is based on visits to the site's vehicle research pages during months January through March of 2007.

1. Ford Mustang
The legendary American pony car has continued to be a hit after going retro a couple of years ago. Available in a coupe or convertible, the rear-wheel-drive Mustang has a starting price of under $20,000 with the base 210-horsepower V6 coupe. The high-performance GT version is equipped with a 4.6-liter 300-horsepower V8 which can run to 60 mph in just 5 seconds and to 100 mph in 12.5 seconds. An even more powerful version is available in the 500-horsepower supercharged Shelby GT500, the most powerful factory-produced Mustang ever built.

2. Chevrolet Corvette
Chevrolet's world-class high-performance sports car is now in its sixth generation and available in a coupe or convertible. For 2007 the Corvette adds steering-wheel-mounted audio controls with Bose premium audio systems and a larger glove compartment. A standard 6.0-liter 400-horsepower V8 engine delivers 400 lb-ft of torque at 4400 rpm, while the limited-edition Z06 has a 505 horsepower 7.0-liter V8 that produces 470 lb-ft of torque— the fastest production Corvette available. The Z06 also gets impressive fuel economy at an estimated 16 and 26 city/hwy mpg.

3. Saturn Sky
When the Sky debuted for the 2007 model year, no one would have guessed the aggressively styled roadster came from Saturn. The Sky and the Pontiac Solstice are siblings—sharing the same GM Kappa platform, engine, transmissions and other major components. The Sky has more contemporary styling and offers a softer ride than the Solstice. A high-performance version called the Sky Red Line is available featuring a turbocharged 260-horsepower 2.0-liter engine, dual exhaust with polished aluminum outlets and unique exterior and interior features.

4. Mitsubishi Eclipse
A redesigned Eclipse debuted for the 2006 model year with bold new styling, and adds a convertible version for 2007 called the Spyder. Also for 2007 the Eclipse adds a standard anti-theft system with hood switch, a Sun & Sound Package and seven new colors. The front-wheel-drive coupe is longer, wider, roomier and more powerful than its predecessor. Under the hood is a 2.4-liter 162-horsepower 4 cylinder in the GS and a 3.8-liter 263-horsepower V6 in the GT. The automatic cloth top in the Spyder folds completely out of sight in about 19 seconds.

5. Nissan 350Z
The Nissan 350Z received its first major update in the 2006 model year, which includes a revised exterior and an enhanced interior. A new Grand Touring Coupe featuring the 18-inch front/19-inch rear wheels, and front and rear spoilers were also added to the lineup. For 2007 the 350Z is updated with the next-generation VQ35HR engine that produces 306 horsepower and 268 lb-ft of torque, featuring a twin air intake system that helps reduce airflow resistance and increases horsepower. The front hood design and front-seat mounted side-impact supplemental airbags on the roadster are also new for the 2007 model year.

6. Porsche 911
Porsche gives its 911 lineup a power boost with the addition of the 911 Turbo and GT3 for 2007. The GT3 has a 415-horsepower 3.6-liter boxer 6-cylinder engine and comes standard with on-demand traction that's derived from Porsche's Carrera GT. The 911 Turbo features a twin-turbocharged 480-horsepower engine and a high-tech all-wheel-drive system. For 911 Turbos equipped with the optional Sports Chrono Package, pushing the Sport button allows the turbochargers to increase maximum pressure by 2.9 psi for up to 10 seconds, which increases the maximum torque by 45 lb-ft to a whopping 505 lb-ft.

7. Lamborghini Murcielago
This Italian exotic is always a favorite among MSN sports car enthusiasts. Originally named after a fighting bull, the Murcielago receives a new designation, a more aggressive look and more power for 2007. The Murcielago LP640—derived from the Italian description of the engine position (longitudinale posteriore) and horsepower output—is offered as a coupe and a roadster. Pushing the LP640 is a 640-horsepower 6.5-liter V12 engine that delivers 487 lb-ft of torque, which gets transmitted to the road via permanent all-wheel drive.

8. Mazda MX-5 Miata
The Mazda MX-5 Miata hit the U.S. market in 1989 and has become one of the top-selling two-seat convertibles in the world. An all-new third-generation Miata debuted for the 2006 model year with new styling, improved steering, suspension and brakes that make the roadster more fun to drive. For 2007 a power retractable hardtop is available for the first time, and offers the same amount of trunk capacity as the folding soft-top. Hardtop versions also receive chrome trim around the grille opening, bright headlight bezels, a chrome band in the door handles and a white-lens center high-mounted stop light.

9. Pontiac Solstice
One of the main rivals to the MX-5 Miata is the Pontiac Solstice. With a starting price around $22,000, the Solstice has a 2.4-liter dual overhead camshaft 4-cylinder engine that produces 177 horsepower. If that's not enough power to satisfy, a high-performance GXP version is available featuring a 2.0-liter Direct Injection Turbo with Variable Valve Timing in a DOHC 4-cylinder aluminum engine that produces 260 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. The GXP is also styled differently with front and rear fascia extensions and high-polished stainless steel dual exhaust outlets.

10. Ferrari F430
The Ferrari F430 made its debut at the 2004 Paris Motor Show replacing the 360 Modena. Styled more aggressively than its predecessor, the Italian sports car was introduced for the 2005 model year. The F430 is powered by a 490-horsepower 4.3-liter V8 engine and mated to a 6-speed manual transmission, delivering 343 lb-ft of torque at 5250 rpm. Available in a Coupe or Spider, the F430 can reach 0 to 62 mph in 4.0 seconds and a top speed of over 196 mph, according to Ferrari.
(C)MSN

Prius still king as hybrid auto sales rise

Record sales for hybrid vehicles seen for 2007 as more models enter the market. Diesels expected to grow even faster.