All stability control is not created equal
Consumer Reports' testing reveals that some ESC systems are better than others
Electronic Stability Control has the potential to prevent more deaths and injuries from motor-vehicle accidents than any safety feature since the advent of the safety belt, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA estimates that as many as 10,600 lives could be saved annually if all vehicles on the road were so equipped. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety research showed ESC reduces highway fatal crashes by 43%, and that as many as 10,000 of the 34,000 yearly crash deaths could be avoided if all vehicles had ESC. The benefits are particularly significant for SUVs, where the NHTSA figures indicate 67% of all single-vehicle crashes could be prevented.
As good as those numbers sound, Consumer Reports' testing has shown that all ESC systems are not created equal. Some work far better than others.
ESC works through sensors that monitor the steering angle and yaw angle of the vehicle. If the ESC system senses that a vehicle is sliding out of control in a turn, it selectively applies the brake to the appropriate wheel to help keep the vehicle on its intended course.
All major automakers offer ESC on at least some of their models, marketed under a variety of names, such as AdvanceTrac or Vehicle Dynamic Control. As with most new safety technologies, manufacturers have tended to offer ESC first on their premium models, but it's becoming increasingly available on moderately priced vehicles. For 2007, the vast majority of SUVs have standard ESC; while worthwhile for all vehicles, ESC is of particular importance for SUVs because it can significantly reduce the chance of a rollover accident in these high-center-of-gravity vehicles.
Since 1998, Consumer Reports has tested hundreds of vehicles equipped with ESC. We have found that the best systems act decisively, yet don't kick in prematurely. Others can be slow to react, help only in certain situations, or interfere too often in normal driving. Consumer Reports has found that, over time, ESC programming has improved significantly on some vehicles.
It is important to remember that ESC is only one part of what contributes to safe handling. Factors such as suspension geometry, center of gravity, steering response, weight distribution, and tires all have a dramatic effect on performance and secure handling. Regardless, ESC is always a benefit. For SUVs, ESC brings an additional benefit, such as preventing the vehicle from getting into a situation that might lead to a rollover.
While it's always better to have ESC than not, some systems work better than others. A way for consumers to determine how good a stability control system performs is to check our Ratings for cars equipped with it and notice how they performed in our emergency-handling and avoidance-maneuver tests.
Here are some examples of good and not so good ESC from our testing.
Well tuned
2006 Ford Explorer -- Quick-acting system, although not a particularly good handling vehicle.
2005 Kia Amanti -- A car with clumsy handling is kept in check with the aggressive stability control system.
2006 Chevrolet Corvette -- Excellent. Allows some fun, but adds a measure of safety.
2006 Porsche 911 -- Exceptional handling. ESC only intervenes when necessary.
Not quite there
2005 Lexus GS300 -- Secure, but it can intervene a bit prematurely in spirited driving.
2006 Cadillac CTS -- A laid-back stability control system that allowed too much tail slide. Improved with 2008 redesign.
2006 Subaru Outback VDC -- ESC allows too much sliding before intervening.
2008 Dodge Nitro, Jeep Liberty, and Jeep Wrangler -- Caused a temporary loss of steering ability due to sustained under-steer in our lane-change maneuver.
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Not all ESC systems are created equal
They can not ever say anything good about the Dodge Nitro!
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