Four small sport utility vehicles earned top scores in crash tests released today by the insurance industry.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gives top crash test scores in front-end, side and rear tests to the 2009 Ford Escape, 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan, 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander and the 2008 Nissan Rogue.
Institute President Adrian Lund says all four SUVs are equipped with standard electronic stability control -- which guards against rollovers -- and side air bags.
Electronic stability control will be required on all new vehicles by the 2012 model year. Automakers have said all their products will have side air bags by the 2010 model year.