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Research from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that the statistical risk of death is generally no higher in a convertible than in a fixed-roof car, although vehicles with rigid roofs still have a structural advantage over ragtops and convertibles with retracting hardtops.

Moreover, the Saab 9-3 convertible with its fabric roof gets the same top crash ratings in front, side and rear crashes as the hardtop 9-3 sedan.

Saab is not alone. The Volvo C70, a convertible with a retractable hardtop, also has received top-notch crash test ratings from the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Three other convertibles — the 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder, 2007 Volkswagen Eos and 2008 Chrysler Sebring — have received the highest marks in front and side-impact crash testing. The 2007 Toyota Camry Solara received the highest rating in the front test and the second-highest mark in side evaluation, but it ranked poor in rear tests.

The Ford Mustang, meanwhile, received the second-highest ranking in front-end testing and the highest marks in side-impact. It also scored poor in rear tests, however.

The institute says that convertible buyers who want the best safety features should look for roll bars, which help reduce the risk if the convertible rolls over. Pop-up roll bars, which deploy automatically if the sensors detect a potential rollover, are standard equipment on the 9-3, C70, Eos, BMW 3-Series and Audi A4.