IRVINE, CA – The Volvo SUV was among 13 vehicles earning “Top Safety Pick” awards for 2007 announced by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). This award recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting people in front, side, and rear crashes based on IIHS test ratings. A new requirement for 2007 is that the winning vehicles must offer electronic stability control (ESC). This addition is based on IIHS research indicating that ESC reduces crash risk, especially the risk of fatal single-vehicle crashes, by helping drivers maintain control of their vehicles during emergency maneuvers. The IIHS rates vehicles good, acceptable, marginal, or poor based on performance in high-speed front and side crash tests plus evaluations of seat/head restraints for protection against neck injuries in rear impacts. The first requirement for a vehicle to become a “Top Safety Pick” is to earn good ratings in all three IIHS tests. The Volvo XC90 achieved “good” in each of the three crash tests.