Forbes finds fewer supersafe cars in 2006

With all the new investment in car technology over the past 12 months, can it be that we're actually getting less safe on the roads? That's the message from Forbes in its newly published list of the market's safest autos for 2006, which this year numbers only four models, compared with five in 2005.

The 2006 fab four are the Acura TL, the Honda Civic, the Saab 9-3, and the Volvo S80.

According to Forbes, these four were the only models to get the top ratings for accident avoidance from Consumer Reports, as well as the highest official crash-test ratings. In a truism of the auto world, Forbes notes, "Sex appeal can translate into big sales volume, but safety technology almost never does."

One car we just reviewed that combines sexy and safe is the 2007 Mercedes-Benz S550, but its sales volume might be low for other reasons: about 105,000 of them.