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Ford Taurus

In a perfect world, my daily driver would be a Porsche 911 that goes from 0-60 in 3.5 seconds, stickers for under $20,000, seats five in comfort, is made entirely from recycled water bottles and runs solely on universe juice. And earns an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Safety Pick award, of course.

Needless to say, I'm not going to be holding my breath as I wait for Porsche to get something like this into production, and not the least of the reasons for this is because, at this stage in the game, some of my requirements are mutually exclusive. For example, to get Porsche-like performance in a vehicle that runs on electricity (about as close as we can currently get to universe juice) happens to require six figures' worth of technology — along with proximity to a Tesla dealer.

On the other hand, if you're looking for a vehicle that outperforms the industry in just one of those measures, that's a lot easier to find. And this is really the lens through which one should view the IIHS results.

Making the IIHS Top Safety Pick list is akin to winning the Green Car of the Year Award or setting a new lap record on the Nürburgring. It puts one measure of vehicle performance ahead of the others, and honors the cars and trucks that excel in that specific area, without regard to performance in other, equally important measures.

I mean, if you want a safe midsize SUV, you probably won't go wrong with an IIHS Top Safety Pick such as the Subaru Tribeca — as long as you don't mind driving a vehicle that achieves a combined EPA mileage rating of just 18 mpg. But you also probably won't go wrong with something like a GMC Terrain, which gets a combined 26 mpg and, like every other vehicle currently on sale in the U.S., meets or surpasses all federally mandated safety requirements.

To kind of level the playing field here, think of the situation like this: If the Tribeca gets points for going "far beyond minimum federal safety standards," as IIHS president Adrian Lund indicates, the Terrain has to receive some love for going far beyond minimum mpg standards.

And this year, quantifying how far a vehicle has to go beyond those federal safety standards to qualify as a Top Safety Pick has become a brewing controversy. More than 90 vehicles made the IIHS list last year, while only 27 did for the 2010 model year. The difference is that the IIHS has added a new roof-strength test to the mix. Top Safety Picks had to receive a "good" rating in this test, and, per the IIHS, "Vehicles rated good have roofs more than twice as strong as the current federal standard requires."

That's a significant addition to the testing regimen, and I don't think anyone can argue that the resulting Top Safety Picks are those that take safety performance to significantly extreme lengths. But just to be clear, they do so in the same way Bugatti takes performance to extreme lengths when it packs 1,000 hp into the Veyron.

That's the reason that Toyota, which had 11 Top Safety Picks last year, has a grand total of zero this year, a number matched by BMW.

With all this in mind, here's how I break down the winners: Ford and its Volvo division had six Top Safety Picks. Four were Volvos, and these, frankly, don't get any extra attention for making the list; Volvo "owns" safety, and every one of their vehicles should be a Top Safety Pick. Getting the Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS on this list, however, is further evidence of the Blue Oval's momentum.

Subaru put every one of its models except the high-performance Subaru Impreza WRX on the list, which is an impressive feat; but as I hinted at above, one of the company's key safety advantages — its all-wheel-drive technology — continues to hamper its ability to make fuel-efficiency gains.

Volkswagen scored with the Audi A3, Volkswagen Golf, Volkswagen Jetta, Volkswagen Passat and Volkswagen Tiguan. The notable thing here is that this includes two vehicles offered with diesel power — the Golf and Jetta — giving VW a sort of two-for-one bonus. But I also have to point out that the Tiguan appears to be another vehicle sacrificing fuel efficiency for safety; the EPA rates it at 19/26/21 in terms of city/highway/combined mpg, which is well off the Terrain's numbers. Plus, the Tiguan calls for premium gasoline.

Honda put both the Honda Civic Sedan and Element on the list, the latter of which joined the equally geometrically challenged Kia Soul and Nissan Cube among the safest boxes on the road. Along with the Buick LaCrosse, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Chevrolet Malibu, these vehicles all stand out as winners that can bring the safety without sacrificing in other areas.

Of course, the oddest thing about this year's IIHS list was that Chrysler saw four vehicles earn Top Safety Pick honors: the Chrysler Sebring, Dodge Avenger, Dodge Journey and Jeep Patriot. I mean, I didn't know the awards were given out posthumously.

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2010 Ford Taurus
0.0% Interest and $1,000 Cash Back

The 2010 Ford Taurus has been completely redesigned for 2010, and its shows. Larger, more comfortable and more capable than any of its predecessors, the Ford Taurus is a definite competitor on the world stage when it comes to full-size family cars. Matching the sedan’s sharply aerodynamic exterior styling is an interior that wraps around the driver and features a level of quality previously not found in a Ford. The entry-level Ford Taurus comes with cruise control, power everything, an MP3-capable CD player and a power driver’s seat. Other options and trim levels add luxury items such as leather seats, a sunroof, adaptive cruise control and a blind spot warning system.

The 2010 Ford Taurus is available in SE, SEL Limited and SHO trims. The first three come standard with a 3.5-liter V-6 that has been tuned to provide a hefty 263 horsepower and 249 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission sends all of this power to the front wheels, although all-wheel drive is available on non-SE editions. Fuel mileage for the V-6 is rated at 18 miles per gallon around town and 28 miles per gallon on the highway. The Ford Taurus SHO is a performance model that makes use of an EcoBoost version of the same V-6 engine, and whose twin-turbochargers help to generate 365 horsepower and 350 l-ft of torque. The transmission remains the same, and all-wheel drive becomes standard equipment. Fuel economy for the more rapid SHO comes in at an impressive 1 mile per gallon lower for each measure when compared to the standard Ford Taurus.

There is a financing incentive of 0.0% interest and $1,000.00 cash back on the 2010 Ford Taurus effective until 11/02/2009.

2009 GMC Acadia
0.0% Interest or $2,500 Cash Back

The 2009 GMC Acadia is a great full-size crossover option for families who need a bit more room than the typical compact SUV or station wagon has to offer them. The GMC Acadia provides the large interior and cargo space typically associated with a truck-based SUV, but maintains the unibody construction of a sedan in order to ensure a compliant ride and much better handling. Three rows of seating means that the Acadia can accommodate up to eight passengers, in addition to almost 117 cubic feet of cargo space – cavernous by any definition. Like many GMCs, the GMC Acadia can be decked out with a full load of luxury gear, include high class leather seats, parking assistance, a DVD entertainment system, a power liftgate and even a heads-up display that projects vehicle information onto the windshield.

The 2009 GMC Acadia features a 3.6-liter V-6 engine throughout the entire model range. With 288 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque in tap, there is more than enough motivation on tap to keep the large vehicle feeling spry when the accelerator is depressed. All-wheel drive can also be ordered in place of front-wheel drive, which gives the vehicle a traction advantage during slippery conditions. Unusual for a crossover, the GMC Acadia provides owners with a very decent tow rating of 4,500 lbs. A six-speed automatic transmission handles gear shifting duties, and fuel economy for the GMC Acadia is rated at 17 miles per gallon in the city and 24 miles per gallon during highway cruising for front-wheel drive models.

There is a financing incentive of 0.0% interest or $2,500.00 cash back on the 2009 GMC Acadia effective until 11/02/2009.

2009 Hyundai Elantra
$2,000 Cash Back (Sedan) or $1,500 Cash Back (Touring)

The 2009 Hyundai Elantra is an entry-level compact automobile that fills an affordable niche for first-time car buyers on a budget. Offered in both sedan and wagon form (Hyundai Elantra Touring), the Hyundai Elantra is pleasantly styled with just a hint of sportiness hiding amongst its gentle curves. The vehicle manages to trump most of its compact competition in the interior space category, with a passenger compartment that is so big it actually falls into the mid-size category when it comes to EPA ratings. The Hyundai Elantra Touring grafts an enclosed cargo compartment onto the rear of the vehicle that increases total storage capacity to 65.3 cubic feet, a number good enough to challenge a few leading compact SUVs when it comes time to haul home a load of groceries or camping gear. Interior amenities are basic but more than adequate, with even the base model sedan coming with power windows and door locks as well as keyless entry.

The 2009 Hyundai Elantra and Hyundai Elantra Touring each come with a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine that is good for 138 horsepower and 136 lb-ft of torque. In terms of transmission choice, buyers have the ability to equip the compact with either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic unit. With its small size and low weight, the Hyundai Elantra acquits itself well in the fuel mileage department, with a rating of 25 miles per gallon in stop and go driving and 33 miles per gallon on the highway.

There is an incentive of $2,000.00 cash back on the Hyundai Elantra sedan or $1,500 cash back on the Hyundai Elantra Touring effective until 11/02/2009.

2009 Jeep Compass
$1,500 Cash Back

The 2009 Jeep Compass is a capable compact sport-utility vehicle that aims to corner the lower end of the not-quite off-road market. Unlike other Jeeps, the Jeep Compass performs better on the beaten path than off, rendering it more suitable as a daily driver than as a vehicle for wilderness exploration. The Jeep Compass can seat up to five passengers, and its interior has been retouched for 2009 in order to bring fit, finish and overall quality up to a much higher level. The SUV comes with air conditioning, a CD player and 17-inch wheels. Buyers can choose to add cruise control, nicer rims, satellite radio and even leather seats through a number of options packages or trim upgrades. The Jeep Compass offers a 22 cubic foot “trunk” behind the rear seat that expands to 53.6 cubic feet with that row folded forward.

The 2009 Jeep Compass is outfitted with a four-cylinder engine displacing 2.4-liters. This mill offers drivers 172 horsepower and 165 lb-ft of torque while displaying fuel economy that is markedly improved over older Jeep offerings: 23 miles per gallon in the city and 28 miles per gallon on the highway, regardless of whether front-wheel or four-wheel drive is specified. The Jeep Compass can be equipped with either a five-speed manual transmission (standard) or a continuously-variable automatic (optional).

There is an incentive of $1,500.00 cash back on the 2009 Jeep Compass effective until 10/31/2009.

2009 Kia Borrego
$4,500 Cash Back

The 2009 Kia Borrego is a rugged and inexpensive sport-utility vehicle that combines the toughness of a full truck frame with the practicality of seven passenger seating. The Kia Borrego is a strong indicator that the Korean car company has turned over a new leaf in terms of exploring new markets, as the vehicle does a competent job when compared against other similarly priced SUVs. The vehicle comes with cruise control, air conditioning, and a full range of power accessories right out of the box, and it also provides such features as hill assist and hill descent control, two crucial off-road technologies. For those more likely to herd the Kia Borrego through a crowded mall parking lot than a national park forest, the SUV offers a gulping 97 cubic feet of total cargo space with the rear rows out of the picture.

The 2009 Kia Borrego’s entry-level LX model comes with a 3.8-liter V-6 that generates 276 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque. A five-speed automatic is the only available transmission with this engine, and fuel economy comes out to 17 miles per gallon in the city and 21 miles per gallon on the highway. The Kia Borrego EX is upgraded to a 4.6-liter V-8 that offers 337 horsepower and 323 lb-ft of torque through a six-speed automatic. Fuel economy is reduced to 15 miles per gallon in the city, but rises to 22 miles per gallon on the highway. Four-wheel drive is available with either engine choice.

There is an incentive of $4,500.00 cash back on the 2009 Kia Borrego effective until 11/02/2009.