NEW YORK - Forbes has developed a list of 15 of the safest 2009 cars. Read on to find out who made the list:

2009 Mercedes-Benz M Class

Base Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price: $45,750 (up to $5,000 dealer incentive on 2008 model). Environmental Protection Agency Combined Fuel Economy: 17 mpg. Safety Features: Dual front and rear side-mounted airbags; front and rear head airbags; driver and passenger head restraints that reduce neck injuries.

2009 Acura MDX

Base MSRP: $40,790 (up to $4,000 dealer incentive on 2008 model). EPA Combined Fuel Economy: 19 mpg. Safety Features: Front, rear, and third-row airbags; driver and passenger head restraints that reduce neck injury.

2009 Volvo XC90

Base MSRP: $37,000 (up to $4,250 dealer incentive on 2008 model). EPA Combined Fuel Economy: 16 mpg. Safety Features: Front, rear, and third-row airbags; driver and passenger head restraints that reduce neck injury.

2009 Acura RDX

Base MSRP: $33,695 (up to $3,000 dealer incentive on 2008 model). EPA Combined Fuel Economy: 19 mpg. Safety Features: Front and rear impact-absorbing crumple zones; side-impact door beams; emergency tailgate opener; breakaway inside rearview mirror.

2009 Subaru Tribeca

Base MSRP: $29,995 (up to $3,000 on 2008 models). EPA Combined Fuel Economy: 18 mpg. Safety Features: Standard curtain side airbags for front and second rows; roll sensor system that detects a potential vehicle rollover and deploys side curtain airbags.

2009 Honda Pilot

Base MSRP: $27,595 (up to $4,000 on 2008 models). EPA Combined Fuel Economy: 19 mpg. Safety Features: Front-seat head restraints designed to reduce neck injuries when impacted from the rear; three-row side curtain airbag with rollover sensor system.

2009 Ford Taurus X

Base MSRP: $27,575 (cash rebate $1,500 to $2,000). EPA Combined Fuel Economy: 19 mpg. Safety Features: Side curtain airbags for all three rows; seat-deployed side air bags for front-seat passengers.

2009 Volkswagen Tiguan

Base MSRP: $23,200. EPA Combined Fuel Economy: 21 mpg. Safety Features: Front and rear head airbag protection; rear-side thorax airbag protection; rear head restraints.

2009 Saturn Vue

Base MSRP: $22,075 (10% employee discount on all 2008 and select 2009 models). EPA Combined Fuel Economy: 22 mpg. Safety Features: Driver and passenger head restraint whiplash protection system; dual front-seat-mounted airbags; front and rear head airbags.

2009 Mitsubishi Outlander

Base MSRP: $20,230 (cash incentives of up to $1,000 direct to the customer). EPA Combined Fuel Economy: 22 mpg. Safety Features: Passenger airbag occupant-sensing deactivation; driver and passenger head restraints that reduce neck injury.

2009 Subaru Forester

Base MSRP: $19,995 (cash incentives of up to $2,000 direct to the customer). EPA Combined Fuel Economy: 22 mpg. Safety Features: Seat-position sensor on the driver’s track detects if the driver is sitting too close to the airbag, in which case the system delays deployment of the airbag’s second stage; front-seat side-impact airbags for thorax-area protection.

2009 Acura RL

Base MSRP: $46,280. EPA Combined Fuel Economy: 18 mpg. Safety Features: Front- and rear-impact absorbing crumple zones; front head-restraint system with adjustable front headrests for height and tilt; side-curtain airbags for front and outboard seats. Appealing features: Hands-free phone connectivity; DVD-audio stereo entertainment; genuine wood-instrument panel trim.

2009 Acura TSX

EPA Combined Fuel Economy: 25 mpg. Base MSRP: $28,960. Safety Features: Side curtain airbags for all outboard seating passengers; front five-mph bumper and rear 2.5-mph bumper that won’t bend in fender-bender accidents; rear head restraints for all seating positions. Appealing features: Leather-trimmed seats; thicker leather-wrapped steering wheel with fingertip controls; dash-mounted electronic compass.

2009 Honda Odyssey

EPA Combined Fuel Economy: 20 mpg. Base MSRP: $26,255. Safety Features: Three-row side-curtain airbags with a rollover sensor; active front seat head restraints; pedestrian injury mitigation design in the front of the vehicle. Appealing features: Third-row seat accommodates up to three passengers or folds completely flat into the floor; DVD entertainment system with nine-inch screen.