Which are the Top 20 Most Dangerous Vehicles?

Forbes has put together a list of the top 20 most dangerous vehicles on the road. The Buick Rendevous SUV/ Minivan topped their list as possibly the worst car to buy right now in terms of safety. Compared to other minivans the Rendevous is up to three times more likely to cause a fatality.

Forbes analyzed crash test results, fatality statistics, safety equipment and Consumer Reports' accident avoidance ratings to come up with their top 20 list. Standard safety equipment was one of the priorities in the ratings.

Here are the vehicles that made the list (2007 Models In Order):

1. Buick Rendezvous 4-Door SUV
SCORE: 161
Consumer Reports' accident avoidance: N/A
The minivan-based Rendezvous helped bring new customers to Buick dealerships, thanks to the Tiger Woods ad campaign behind it. But after the 2007 model year, the Rendezvous, with its abysmal three-star (out of five) NHTSA frontal impact rating, is history, to be replaced by the 2008 Buick Enclave, a crossover SUV with a full roster of standard safety equipment.

2. Ford Ranger / Mazda B-Series Pickup, Regular Cab/Extended Cab: 4WD
SCORE: 153
Consumer Reports' accident avoidance: N/A
The Ranger still follows a simple, proven design that's good for pickup buyers who really want to keep it basic and affordable. Unfortunately, side airbags or curtain bags aren't available, even as an option; neither is stability control. What's more, the Ranger (and the nearly identical B-Series) gets a low three-star NHTSA rollover rating, (which corresponds to a 20% to 30% risk of rollover in a single-vehicle crash) with one of the highest rollover risk factors (0.3) of any vehicle.

3. Nissan Frontier Extended-Cab Pickup
SCORE: 145
ConsumerReports' accident avoidance: Average
Stability control is optional on the Frontier, and recommended considering its three-star NHTSA rollover rating. The King Cab Frontier has surprisingly low three-star NHTSA frontal crash-test ratings (most other pickups do quite well in the frontal tests), though a four-door Crew Cab Frontier was given a better four-star frontal rating. The Frontier was also rated "Poor" (out of good, acceptable, marginal or poor) by the IIHS in rear impact. Both Frontiers tested didn't have side airbags or side curtain bags, which are also optional.

4. Ford Escape / Mercury Mariner 4-Door SUVs
SCORE: 138
Consumer Reports' accident avoidance: N/A
Ford's small sport-utility vehicle, the Escape, and its cosmetically different sibling, the Mariner, were given an overall evaluation of "Poor" (the lowest possible rating) from the IIHS due to its lacking driver torso- and head-protection in the Institute's side-impact crash test (without the optional side airbag package). The federal government also gives the Mariner one of few three-star ratings, which corresponds to a relatively high risk of rollover. And stability control isn't available. Waiting for the '08 would be a smart move, as front side airbags, side curtain bags and stability control will all finally be standard.

5. Toyota Yaris Four-Door
SCORE: 132
ConsumerReports' accident avoidance: Worse than average
Even though the Yaris has impressive fuel efficiency, a nicely designed interior, high expected reliability, and a number of other positive attributes, Consumer Reports' John Linkov says that the Yaris can't be recommended, "because its emergency handling is quite tail-happy and the driver could get out of control very quickly." And to make an especially dangerous combination, the Yaris four-door performs badly in both major side-crash tests, with three stars from NHTSA and a "Poor" rating from the IIHS.

6. Hyundai Accent Two-Door
SCORE: 132
Consumer Reports' accident avoidance: Average
The Accent tested near the bottom among all cars, according to IIHS crash testing, with the organization giving it a "Poor" rating in both side-impact and rear-impact tests, plus an unimpressive "Acceptable" frontal rating. And this is with standard side airbags. When the federal government tested an Accent four-door sedan, it rated its side-impact performance with three stars--the lowest it gets in 2007.

7. Toyota Matrix / Pontiac Vibe 4-Door
SCORE: 131
Consumer Reports' accident avoidance: Average
The Matrix and the closely related Vibe fair acceptably with four- and five-star results in the federal government's crash tests. But without the optional side airbags, the Matrix gets only three stars for front-seat passengers in the side-impact test. Stability control is optional on both models, which are due to be replaced by a new model after '08.

8. Kia Rio Four-Door
SCORE: 127
Consumer Reports' accident avoidance: Better than average
The Rio is structurally similar to the Hyundai Accent. And like the Accent, it gets a low, three-star NHTSA side impact rating, plus appalling "Poor" ratings in both side- and rear-impact tests and the not-quite-passable "Acceptable" frontal rating from the IIHS. Surprisingly, those results are with the standard side airbags. Fortunately, the Rio has "better than average" accident avoidance qualities, according to Consumer Reports testing.

9. Chevrolet Aveo 4-Door
SCORE: 126
Consumer Reports' accident avoidance: Average
The basic, lightweight Aveo, which is assembled in Korea by GM affiliate Daewoo, is the lowest-priced U.S.-market vehicle, starting at $9,995 for 2007. Side airbags are standard for front passengers, but not in back, and by the three-star side-impact result for rear-seat passengers and the "Marginal" side-impact result from the IIHS, occupants might not fare so well in a side-impact accident.

10. Suzuki Reno / Forenza 5-Door/ 4-Door
SCORE: 125
Consumer Reports' accident avoidance: Average
The Reno and Forenza, a four-door hatchback and sedan, respectively, are also made by GM-Daewoo in Korea. Both come with standard front seat-mounted side airbags, but that doesn't seem to help them in IIHS side-impact tests, where they get "Poor" ratings in side impact, as well as rear impact. Side curtain airbags and stability control aren't available in either the Reno or Forenza.

11. Ford Focus 2-Door Hatchback
SCORE: 124
Consumer Reports' accident avoidance: Average
The economical Focus received a "Poor" rating from the IIHS in its side impact test, and in federal tests it achieved only a three-star rating, with an accompanying warning regarding the high likelihood of head trauma. Compiling the risk, side-curtain airbags and stability control aren't available on the Focus, and seat-mounted side airbags are optional for front occupants.

12. Jeep Liberty 4-Door SUV
SCORE: 118
Consumer Reports' accident avoidance: Average
The Jeep Liberty maneuvers much better in real-world driving than its height might suggest, and the "Average" CR accident avoidance score is reassuring. Yet it's also given just three stars in the federal rollover rating system. Additionally, in IIHS tests, the Liberty didn't fare so well, with a "Poor" rating in rear impact and a "Marginal" rating in front impact, together corresponding to a significantly higher chance of injuries if an accident occurs.

13. Dodge Dakota 4-Door Pickup
SCORE: 117
Consumer Reports'accident avoidance: Average
First, the good: The mid-size Dakota is one of the least-tipsy pickups, with a four-star rollover rating, plus an "Average" accident avoidance rating. Now, the bad: It's rated "Acceptable" in front- and rear-impact tests, and there's no available stability control. Side airbags and side-curtain bags are optional.


14. Chevrolet Cobalt / Pontiac G5 2-Door
SCORE: 117
Consumer Reports' accident avoidance: Much better than average (Cobalt SS)
The Chevy Cobalt and its almost identical twin, the Pontiac G5, are a little more dangerous than average due to their side-impact performance. The IIHS gave the Cobalt a "Poor" evaluation in its side-impact tests, and when NHTSA tested the Cobalt, they noted a safety concern over the higher-than-average likelihood of serious head trauma. Front-side airbags and side-curtain airbags are optional, but stability control is not available.

15. Nissan Xterra 2-Door SUV
SCORE: 115
Consumer Reports' accident avoidance: Average
The tall, boxy Xterra sport-utility vehicle flaunts its rugged looks toward active young men, and fortunately comes with stability control to help remedy its three-star NHTSA rollover rating and especially high rollover risk. Frontal impact results are passable but unspectacular, at four stars. Side and side-curtain airbags are optional.


16. Saturn ION 4-Door
SCORE: 115
Consumer Reports' accident avoidance: Better than average
The ION shares its underpinnings with the Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5, but has some more substantial differences. For instance, the rollover index is slightly better. The ION gets a "Poor" rating from the IIHS in side-impact testing, along with a three-star NHTSA side-impact rating for front occupants. Head-protective side-curtain airbags are optional; stability control is not.

17. Chrysler PT Cruiser Van
SCORE: 114
Consumer Reports' accident avoidance: Average
The very retro-stylish yet roomy PT Cruiser has been around for quite a few years essentially unchanged, with no major update during that time. NHTSA side-impact performance for front occupants is a modest four stars. Front-seat side airbags aren't standard on all Cruisers, but they're available at extra cost. Stability control isn't available at all.

18. Honda S2000 Convertible
SCORE: 114
Consumer Reports' accident avoidance: Much better than average
The high-performance S2000 convertible has stellar handling and accident avoidance, and gets a surprisingly good five-star rating in NHTSA's side-impact test, plus a top five-star mark for rollover risk. But side airbags aren't at all available on the little, low-riding roadster.


19. Toyota Scion TC 2-Door
SCORE: 113
Consumer Reports' accident avoidance: Better than average
Like most small, sporty coupes, the tC boasts good handling--as evidenced by CR's "better than average" rating for accident avoidance and a relatively low risk of rollover. But side-impact airbags aren't standard and if not equipped with the optional side airbags and curtain bags, the tC can be a little risky. It received a just-acceptable, four-star side-impact rating.

20. Mazda3 4-Door Hatchback
SCORE: 113
Consumer Reports' accident avoidance: Much better than average
The Mazda3 has been the darling of automotive critics. The styling is unique and still stands out several years after introduction, the powertrain is peppy, and it's one of the best-handling small cars. Now for the bad part: Both the sedan and hatchback versions of the 3 fared very poorly in side-impact crash tests, garnering a lowly three-star rating from NHTSA and the lowest "Poor" rating from the IIHS. Side airbags aren't standard, either.