Airbag

Since 1994, the government has required all cars sold in the United States to have a front driver-side airbag, and dual front airbags have been required since 1997. By the 2007 model year, all U.S. cars will be required to have advanced front airbags that inflate with greater or lesser power according to the needs of the occupant. Sensors that determine the occupant's size and position, whether a seatbelt is in use, and the severity of the crash all determine the force with which the airbag is deployed. These airbags, already in use in many vehicles, are safer for children and smaller occupants than the current single-stage airbags.

Studies show that front airbags aren't always enough, though. Side impact airbags are especially helpful in the event of a side collision. According to a 2003 study by the IIHS, head-protecting side airbags accounted for a 45 percent reduction in risk of death in side crashes. Torso-protecting side airbags reduced risk of death by 11 percent in the same study. Based on this data, safety-conscious buyers will obviously want to include head-protecting and/or torso side airbags on their SUV shopping lists.