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NEW YORK, N.Y. - Seven midsize vehicles earned the top rating in a new insurance industry test of high-tech safety features designed to prevent front-end collisions.

The Cadillac ATS and SRX, Subaru Legacy and Outback, Mercedes C-Class and Volvo S60 and XC60 won "superior" ratings in tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The institute tested 74 midsize cars and SUVs from the model years 2013 and 2014. Those equipped with front collision-warning and automatic braking systems generally scored better. The systems can either warn the driver or automatically stop the car if they sense a potential collision.

The institute IIHS, a non-profit research group funded by insurance companies, has pushed federal regulators and automakers to require or offer as an option new safety systems such as antilock brakes. The group also is pushing automakers to bolster front-end crash resistance.

Automakers have been offering the frontal-crash systems on more and more models as the price of the technology falls. The systems use radar, cameras, ultrasonic sensors and computers to spot objects in front of cars and determine if a collision is possible. A driver may be warned to take action, or the system may apply the brakes itself.

The IIHS said its data institute has determined that the devices help drivers avoid frontal crashes, but even so, auto insurance companies generally aren't offering discounts for people who buy them.

Insurance companies say that as the systems become more popular in certain models, insurance claims will decline. Those models eventually will see discounted rates.

In the tests, six other cars got second-best "advanced" ratings, while 25 received "basic" ratings. Another 36 got no rating because they didn't have the systems or their systems didn't meet the institute's standards.

The institute says the tests will help people decide which features to buy and encourage automakers to adopt the new technology faster.

Over this past week, there has been plenty of recalls to go around. Most of us see the reports; glance at the headline or over the body of the article and move on with our day. Gone are the days when we get nervous over recalls and they become major headlines. Now they are a reported footnote for the public to know that these companies are doing the best to seek out these problems and find solutions for them.

The latest recalls mostly come from Japan, where Toyota Canada is recalling 56,211 Sienna minivans from 2004 to 2005, as well as from 2007 to 2009 because of a shift lever problem that could lead to your car rolling away. While, Nissan announced a global recall of 908,900 vehicles (Serena minivan, Infiniti M luxury, X-trail sport utility, and a few other models) due to defective accelerator sensors that could cause the engine to stall. Finally, Honda Canada are recalling 23,300 Honda Odysseys from 2003-2004, as well as 4,800 2003 Acura MDXs because of a possibility for an inadvertent airbag deployment. 

German-based BMW recalled 134,100 5-series cars in the United States and an additional 5,800 in Canada to address faulty rear lights. The recall affects cars from model years 2008 to 2010. 

Recalls were all the talk back in those dark days in late 2009 and early 2010. Toyota headlined the news when they announced recalls of approximately 5.2-million vehicles for a pedal entrapment/floor mat problem, followed by an additional 2.3-million vehicles for an accelerator pedal problem. Toyota totalled over 10 million vehicle recalls in 2010, but it wasn’t only them that dealt with this situation. Luckily, for the rest of manufacturers, they could hide behind Toyota while making recalls of their own. Honourary members to the over a million recall club in 2010 were General Motors, Honda, Nissan and Chrysler. 

Toyota saw a major drop in sales and confidence in their brand, but they’ve been gradually forging forward except for a faulty power window switch hiccup in October of last year. In fairness to Toyota, they tackled the problem head-on and faced their accusations and apologized for their overambitious growth goals that played a factor in a slip in quality.

Toyota felt most of the burden from the 2009-10 recalls, but they helped change the way auto manufacturers attack problems. Recalls are now a good thing, because they show that manufacturers are no longer hiding from their mistakes, but attacking them head-on. Any report of a recall should show that the manufacturer has the customer’s back and they won’t allow any minor issue affect your driving safety. In the new recalls listed above, most of those issues have not affected any drivers on the road, which proves that these carmakers are taking no chances and being over-cautious with any possible situation that could arise.

It was only two decades ago, when Audi, who had a similar problem as Toyota with its Audi 5000. The Audi 5000 could shift into drive or reverse without having your foot on the brake, which in today’s world would cause a big scare. Audi decided to blame its own customers for the problem, rather than face a dreaded recall. Audi sales took a nose dive after that public relations nightmare, but eventually got them back.

The Audi story might be outdated and global communication has changed, but it’s important to give kudos to Toyota and the rest of the manufacturers for coming forward and dealing with their problems. Perhaps, they didn’t have a choice, but regardless the reasoning, it resulted in action being taken and recall not becoming an evil word that at all costs could not be uttered. 

A recall doesn’t mean that the vehicle is inferior. Problems can arise and a lot of these recalls are minor in nature. It’s a cautious approach taken by all for the sake of transparency. And if it ends up being major, at least you’ll know about it. Personally, I rather know what’s wrong with my vehicle, rather than finding out after-the-fact.

In more than 30 years in the automotive industry supplying original and repair parts for auto lifts across the country, I’ve learned a few things about basic auto maintenance, but the most important thing I’ve learned is that most people don’t know jack about their cars, and really don’t want to pretend they’re a mechanic in any way, shape or form. 

If you’re one of those people, it still pays to know some basic strategies on how to take care of your car or truck. So here are five habits every car owner should have. Even if you’re not a mechanic, developing these habits can save you a lot of trouble in the long run. 

5) Keep your tires properly inflated, and rotated

Never underestimate the value of properly inflated tires. Your vehicle will drive better in all road conditions and get better gas mileage too. If you know how to inflate your tires, you know it’s not that hard to read the raised letters on the side of your tires to learn the proper PSI (Pounds per Square Inch). If you don’t know how to inflate your tires, ask your local service station for help. But make sure to keep all four tires evenly inflated, which means you should check them at least every other week. Every 5000 miles or so, have your service station rotate your tires. They have an auto lift and can raise your car up to look at tire wear to see how your tire inflation and wheel alignment are doing. 

4) Keep your headlights in shape

You should keep a couple spare headlight bulbs in your glove box in case one of your headlights goes out. Headlight bulbs are not expensive for the most part and are quick to replace. It’s not that hard to learn but if you don’t want to do it yourself, a service station can usually change a light bulb for you in under five minutes. If your headlights get clouded over with age, it’s possible to fix them without buying a whole new headlight. 3M makes a kit for $20 that can clear up dull headlights, which are really dangerous because they reduce visibility and make it difficult to drive at night. A little precaution can save you major damage and prolong the life of your vehicle. 

3) Wash your car

Until the automotive industry comes out with paint finishes that are matte, completely rustproof, scratchproof and impervious to salt, you need to wash your car once in a while. Yes, washing your car is a good habit to have! Even if you just slide $2.00 into the dollar changer and use those quarters to turn the spray gun on your vehicle, getting the dirt and grime off saves the finish of your vehicle and helps prevent rust and paint damage and abrasion. Here’s a hint: you can actually save your tires if you use water to hose ice off the wheel wells. 

2) Have brakes, brake fluid and steering fluids checked

Your brakes, of course, are life-saving devices and must be operating at peak efficiency if you want to be truly safe on the road. Ask your mechanic to check brake fluid levels regularly and make sure they are adequate. Have your mechanic put your car up on a lift to check brakes and brake pads, and replace as necessary. These have no set "lifespan," since driving habits and road conditions affect their wear-and-tear. Signs that your brakes need repair include "grabbing," vibration, or noise when you push down the brake pedal. Suspected faulty brakes must be checked immediately because they never, ever improve performance on their own. Finally, have your steering fluids checked as well each year. It’s never a good thing when those levels drop too low. 

1) Check oil levels and change oil regularly

With all the oil change options in the world, there’s no excuse for not changing your oil every 7500 kilometers or so, or as recommended in your vehicle’s service manual. In terms of priorities on the 5 Habits Every Car Owner Should Have, changing your oil is really the most important. Experts are now advising that regular oil changes should be done based on the manufacturer's recommendation for your model and make of car. If you want to know how to check the oil level yourself, park the car on a level surface, lift the hood and find the dipstick that usually has a little oil can symbol on it, wipe it clean with a paper towel or clean cloth, and then return it to the oil tube. When you pull it out again, you can see the oil level on the dipstick. There are a couple lines on the dipstick that tell you the acceptable range. But never overfill your oil, which actually damages the engine.

About the author:

Doug Climenhaga is president of SVI International, Inc., a leading supplier of parts for industrial lift equipment. With more than 20 years experience in the hydraulic and automotive lift industries, he holds two patents and has designed scores of problem-solving products. But he also knows that no everyone is mechanical. 

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL (AP) - It carried hippies through the 1960s, hauled surfers in search of killer waves during endless summers and serves as a workhorse across the developing world, but the long, strange trip of the Volkswagen van is ending.

Brazil is the last place in the world still producing the iconic vehicle, or "bus" as it's known by aficionados, but VW says production will end Dec. 31. Safety regulations mandate that every vehicle in Brazil must have air bags and anti-lock braking systems starting in 2014, and the company says it cannot change production to meet the law.

Although output will halt in Brazil, there should be plenty of VW vans rolling along for decades if only because there are so many, and they are so durable. VW produced more than 10 million Volkswagen Transporter vans globally since the model was introduced 63 years ago in Germany, though not all resemble the classic hippie machine. More than 1.5 million have been produced in Brazil since 1957.

The VW van is so deeply embedded in popular culture, it will likely live on even longer in the imagination.

"The van represents freedom," said Damon Ristau, the Missoula, Montana, director of the documentary "The Bus," which follows van fanatics and their affection for the machine. "It has a magic and charm lacking in other vehicles. It's about the open road, about bringing smiles to peoples' faces when they see an old VW van rolling along."

Perhaps nothing with a motor has driven itself deeper into American and European pop culture than the VW, known for its durability but also its tendency to break down. Van lovers say its failures only reinforce its charm: Because its engine is so simple, it's easy to fix, imparting a deeper sense of ownership.

The van made an appearance on Bob Dylan and Beach Boys record album covers, among many, though in music circles its most closely linked to the Grateful Dead and the legion of touring fans that followed the rock group across the U.S., the machines serving as rolling homes. Steve Jobs is said to have sold his van in the 1970s to buy a circuit board as he built a computer that helped launch Apple. The vehicle is linked to the California surf scene, its cavernous interior perfect for hauling boards.

But in poorer regions like Latin American and Africa, the vehicle doesn't carry the same romantic appeal. It definitely doesn't hold the cool mystique in Sao Paulo that it does in San Francisco.

It's used in Brazil by the postal service to haul mail, by the army to transport soldiers, and by morticians to carry corpses. It serves as a school bus for kids, operates as a group taxi, and delivers construction materials to work sites. Brazilians convert their vans into rolling food carts, setting up on street corners for working-class lunchtime crowds.

In Brazil it's known as the "Kombi," an abbreviation for the German "Kombinationsfahrzeug" that loosely translates as "cargo-passenger van."

One recent drizzly morning in Sao Paulo, Jorge Hanashiro took a break inside his light green 1974 Kombi while his wife, Anna, served deep fried meat and vegetable pastry pies to customers at an open-air market.

"There may be safer and more modern cars around, but for me the Kombi is the best vehicle to transport my stall and products to the six open air markets I visit each week," the 77-year-old Hanashiro said. "It is economical, rugged and easy to repair."

The vehicle has found its way into the hearts of Brazilians like Enio Guarnieri, 54, who stood grinning next to the blue-and-white 1972 van he keeps in his cluttered garage in a working-class Sao Paulo neighbourhood.

Guarnieri bought the vehicle a year ago to stoke childhood memories. When he was 10, his father taught him to drive a van.

"Driving a Kombi with your face up against the windshield is a thrilling adventure," he said. "There is no other van like it. There is no other van that is so easy and inexpensive to maintain. Anyone with a minimum amount of knowledge about engines and a few tools can fix a Kombi."

A VW plant in Mexico stopped producing the classic version of the van in 1995, leaving a factory on Sao Paulo's outskirts as its last lifeline. Production in Germany was halted in 1979 because the van no longer met European safety requirements.

Sao Paulo advertising executive Marcello Serpa says the van's spirit will live on after its demise.

He has a 2007 version meant to have a 1960s American hippie feel. He painted it in bright green, yellow, blue and red colours with cartoon-like drawings of his wife, daughters and himself, surfboard in hand.

Serpa said the bus evokes "a spirit of playfulness and happiness," causing people to pause and smile when he drives it down Sao Paulo's chaotic streets.

"The Kombi is part of Brazil's cultural and emotional landscape," he said, "and that explains the strong feelings of affection most people have for it."