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Four Small SUVs Receive Top Crash Test Ratings

Four small sport-utility vehicles received top scores in crash tests released Wednesday by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
The four with the highest rankings include the 2009 Ford Escape, 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan, 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander and 2008 Nissan Rogue. All vehicles were crashed in front-end, side and rear impact tests.
All four SUVs have standard electronic stability control, which guards against rollovers, and side air bags, reports the AP and USA Today.
"This is a huge change from just five years ago when most small SUVs were rated either marginal or poor in our side test, and standard side air bags and electronic stability control were rare," said Adrian Lund, the Institute’s president.
The lowest rating goes to the 2008 Jeep Wrangler, which was tested without optional side air bags. The Wrangler received the lowest score of poor in the side test.  Previous versions of the two-door Jeep Wrangler received the second-lowest score of marginal in side crashes.
Photo via the AP.