Cash for clunkers: The safety advantages with new cars

The immensely successful—if less than smooth-running—"cash for clunkers" program brings numerous benefits to the national vehicle fleet. Obviously, the most visible improvement is in fuel economy, as that was a key goal for the program. Considering that the most common clunkers traded in have been mid-1990s pickups and SUVs, there are also big improvements in safety equipment and vehicle dynamics. (Read: "Cash for clunkers: Most popular clunkers, new cars.")

To take measure of the potential safety impact, we referred to our test data. One notable example: the 60-0 mph stopping distances of a new Ford Focus (137 feet on dry pavement, 147 feet wet) are a lot better than the 1995 Ford Explorer Limited (148 feet dry, 181 feet wet). Learn how we test cars.

Beyond that, the rollover risk of a mid-1990s SUV or pickup is relatively high. These older vehicles typically lacked side and curtain airbags, now standard on many new cars. They also lack electronic stability control (ESC), which can help prevent loss of control and skids that can lead to rollovers.

In the not-so-distant past, getting ESC required buying a fairly expensive car, or hunting for it as an option. But as we march towards mandatory ESC by 2012, the feature is becoming increasingly common. Happily, "cash for clunkers" just happened to coincide with the addition of commonly-available ESC on some popular cars.

Take the top five new cars bought under the auspices of the cash for clunkers program:

Toyota Corolla – Got standard ESC for the 2010 model year, which went on sale late spring.

Ford Focus – If you get the $745 anti-lock brake option, it is bundled with ESC on 2009 models. That option isn't hard to find. For 2010, ABS and ESC are standard on Focus.

Honda Civic – This is the outlier of the group. To get ESC, you need to buy a relatively expensive model: an EX-L with a leather interior, the Si sports edition, or the hybrid.

Toyota Prius – ESC is standard on the redesigned 2010 Prius.

Toyota Camry – Got standard ESC for the 2010 model year, which also went on sale late spring.

Other small fuel-efficient cars with standard ESC include the Hyundai Elantra SE, the Pontiac Vibe, the 2010 Toyota Matrix, and the most popular models of the 2010 Mazda3. The Chevrolet HHR, Scion xB, Subaru Impreza, and Volkswagen Rabbit and Jetta also have standard ESC, but their fuel economy isn't quite as good. With the exception of the Nissan Altima 2.5, most popular mid-sized family sedans now have standard ESC, as well.

Beyond putting a new ride in the driveway, the cash for clunkers program offers the opportunity to replaced a tired, dated vehicle with a more-efficient model with modern safety features. Make sure you do your home work before visiting the dealership. With our handy, interactive new car selector you can quickly assemble a list of good replacement cars based on the factors that matter most to you.

For more information on the cash for clunkers program, see our guide. Also, check out our forum to share your buying experience.

—Tom Mutchler