The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced it has selected 34 vehicles as recipients of the Top Safety Pick award for 2008. The award recognizes vehicles that best protect people in front, side, and rear crashes, based on ratings in the institute's tests. Winners also have to be equipped with electronic stability control (ESC), which research shows can significantly reduce the risk of crashing. Compared with last year, automakers have more than doubled the number of vehicles that meet criteria for Top Safety Pick, the institute said. At the beginning of the 2007 model year, 13 models qualified. But as manufacturers have made changes and introduced new and safer vehicle designs, 10 additional vehicles qualified during the year. Now another 11 vehicles are being added to the list for 2008. Here are the new winners: Large pickup
Toyota Tundra
Large cars
Audi A6
Ford Taurus with optional electronic stability control
Mercury Sable with optional electronic stability control
Volvo S80 Midsize cars
Audi A3, A4
Honda Accord
Saab 9-3
Subaru Legacy with optional electronic stability control Midsize convertibles
Saab 9-3
Volvo C70 Small car
Subaru Impreza with optional electronic stability control Minivans
Honda Odyssey
Hyundai Entourage
Kia Sedona Midsize SUVs
Acura MDX, RDX
BMW X3, X5
Ford Edge, Taurus X
Honda Pilot
Hyundai Santa Fe
Hyundai Veracruz built after August 2007
Lincoln MKX
Mercedes M class
Saturn VUE built after December 2007
Subaru Tribeca
Toyota Highlander
Volvo XC90
Small SUVs
Honda CR-V, Element
Subaru Forester with optional electronic stability control