Consumer reports' dream car: the features that count.(SPECIAL AUTO SECTION)

If we were to conceive a car from scratch, what qualities would it have? We would want a car that meets essential safety needs, has a well-designed interior, is well mannered and agile on the road, and provides good performance while getting respectable fuel economy. Of course, it better be reliable.

Here we've compiled a checklist of what we would want in our dream car. Our auto experts drive more than 100 vehicles a year and look for these characteristics while testing. No one vehicle offers all of these attributes today, but we've provided examples of those that meet each standard where possible. You should look for them when you shop for your next car.

* HEADLIGHTS We want headlights that provide good intensity and distance at both low- and high-beam settings. They should also have a uniform light pattern, and the leading edge of the low beams should transition smoothly from light to dark. Good headlights can be either halogen or high-intensity discharge. Some of the best headlights are found in vehicles such as the BMW 745Li, Buick LaCrosse, Honda Ridgeline, and Toyota Sienna.

* ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL

We believe all cars should be equipped with ESC, which helps prevent loss of control in a turn. It is of particular benefit to SUVs in preventing rollover situations. A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) study found that cars and SUVs with ESC are involved in 30 percent and 63 percent fewer fatal single-vehicle accidents, respectively, than vehicles without it. That can potentially save 7,000 lives a year. We like the systems in Jaguars and Lincolns, which can warn other drivers by illuminating the taillights when ESC is activated. ESC's effectiveness depends on how well calibrated it is, and some systems, like that on the BMW 5 Series and Infiniti M35, stand out. ESC is standard on many vehicles and optional on others.

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* TRANSMISSION We'd want a transmission that's well matched to the engine and does not have to downshift constantly for easy acceleration. Shifts should be smooth, quick, and jolt-free when a gear is selected. Five- and six-speed automatic transmissions often contribute to better fuel economy. The automatic transmissions in some Acura, BMW, Cadillac, Honda, and Nissan models are close to ideal. The manual transmissions found in the Acura RS-X and Honda S2000 are some of the best we've tested.