The safest cars to drive

Technological advances such as second-generation airbags, electronic stability control, brake assist, tire pressure monitors and smart headlights continue to revolutionize car safety. While many of these features aren't standard on many cars, most are available in a wide range of models.

Overview of features
Here's a rundown of the latest safety features:

Adaptive front airbags. While front airbags are standard in all cars, some were causing injuries when deployed. The new adaptive systems can sense whether a passenger has fastened his or her seat belt and how severe the crash is likely to be so that the airbags inflate appropriately.

Side airbags. Front airbags were a huge safety advance, but they don't protect passengers in all types of crash situations. Side airbags for passengers in front and rear seats protect passengers' torsos in a crash.

Side curtain airbags. Head injuries are the worst kind of crash injury. Side curtain airbags, which deploy downwards from an area above the windows, are not only designed to protect passengers from head injuries, but also can keep passengers from being ejected from a car when it rolls over.

Knee airbags. Designed for the driver and front-row passenger, these airbags deploy at knee level to protect your legs in a front-end collision.

Electronic stability control. This feature helps drivers avoid accidents -- especially SUV rollovers -- by keeping a vehicle from sliding or skidding out of control. Sensors in a vehicle can tell how fast a car is going, where it is being steered and if it is spinning, and will apply brakes and, in some models, reduce the power of the engine to keep the car on its intended path. Electronic stability control is known by different names from different car manufacturers, so if you're interested in the feature ask your salesperson what it's called.

Brake assist. An add-on technology to the anti-lock brake systems standard in most cars today, brake assist senses how forcefully or fast the driver is pressing the brake pedal, and will make sure that anti-lock brakes are deploying, which can aid drivers in avoiding accidents.

Tire pressure monitors. With all the publicity about tire blowouts a few years ago, most drivers are aware of the danger that under-inflated tires pose. While the government is considering mandating that all new vehicles have such a monitor, it probably won't happen for a couple of years. So some manufacturers are incorporating this system into cars now.

"Smart" headlights. These new headlights, made from intensely bright xenon bulbs, incorporate sensors that control headlights so the driver can see the road better. Currently, these are only available as options on very high-end cars, including some BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, Acura, Audi and Porsche models.

Crash alert systems. Several car manufacturers, including GM and Lexus, include this feature in safety and security car systems such as OnStar, which notifies police and fire departments if you are in an accident.

Built-in car seats. Studies show that many parents install child car safety seats incorrectly, which can lead to severe injury or death in a crash. Some car makers are including built-in car seats in models designed for families, such as mini-vans.

Most desirable features
It's easy to want every single safety feature you can get, at least until you see how much they cost. Many luxury car makers include most of these features in their models, especially their high-end models, but those models can run $40,000 and up for a new car.

And some of the newest features, such as knee airbags, aren't yet standard in virtually any make or model. Costs vary widely: Smart headlights, for example, can cost you between $800 and $1,200 on the models where they are available, while electronic stability control runs anywhere from $600 to $800.

If you have to choose between safety features, Mark Bilek, automotive editor at Consumer Guide Automotive, recommends side curtain airbags, which cost between $300 and $800 as an add-on, or may be bundled with other features.

"I believe that side curtain airbags are the most important safety feature you can add to your car purchase," he says. "While side collisions aren't as prevalent as front-end collisions, you don't have the cushion of the front-end in such a crash, so your head is more likely to hit the window or the pillar more quickly, causing a severe head injury."

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