The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in partnership with the United States Department of Transportation has released vehicle safety ratings for most 2009 models.  The information posted on the SaferCar.gov website includes safety ratings on many hybrid models.  If you’re in the market for a 2009 hybrid vehicle, check out the safety ratings before making your decision.

Ratings Explained
Frontal driver and frontal passenger ratings are how the driver and passenger fare in a frontal crash.  The side driver rating is how the driver is impacted during a side crash.  Side rear passenger is how a person in the backseat will do in a side crash.  Rollover ratings are how well the vehicle’s passengers will do in the event of a rollover accident.

2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid
The Escalade received five stars (the highest rating) in the frontal driver, frontal passenger, side driver and side rear passenger rating sections.  When looking at rollover safety, the hybrid Escalade received three stars in both the two-wheel and four-wheel rollover rating sections. 

2009 Ford Escape Hybrid
The 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid garnered the same safety ratings that the 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid did.  If you’re looking at a safe hybrid and don’t need to have all the luxuries of the Escalade, you can save yourself $40k or so by choosing the Ford Escape Hybrid. 

2009 Saturn Vue Hybrid
The Saturn Vue received the same five-star ratings with regards to driver and passenger safety as the other SUV models listed here; however the Vue steps it up a notch when it comes to the rollover ratings.  When looking at rollover safety in both two and four-wheel drive modes, the Vue receives four stars in both categories.

2009 Toyota Prius
Surprisingly, the Toyota Prius only earned a four-star rating when it comes to frontal driver, frontal passenger, side rear passenger and two-wheel drive rollover ratings.  The side-impact driver-side rating did earn a five-star rating from the NHTSA.

2009 Honda Civic Hybrid
The Civic hybrid fares better than the Prius earning five stars in the frontal driver, frontal passenger and side rear passenger ratings.  The Civic earned four stars for the side driver and two-wheel drive rollover ratings.

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