Since safety is important to you, the most important new feature likely on the 2002 model will be an OnStar-like system that will alert emergency authorities automatically after an accident in which the airbags deploy, alerting them as to your position using GPS. These systems are too new for any stats on death rates with vs. without, and they are expensive since you have to pay for the service yearly, but supposedly differences of a few minutes often make the difference between life and death in severe accidents.