2009 Toyota Prius

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Safety - What the Auto Press Says

The 2009 Toyota Prius receives respectable safety scores from the federal government, earning four out of five stars in most tests. Five stars, however, is now commonplace.  The Prius does better in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety testing, with top scores of "Good" in all tests. 

A few criticisms remain. Among them, Electronic Stability Control is still optional on the Prius, while many competitors now offer it free of charge. Also, the odd shape creates visibility concerns for some drivers. In particular, a horizontal bar across the rear window bothers many.

• "A solid bar across the back glass impairs rearward visibility." -- Cars.com
• "The front of the car can't be seen from the twin seats, so you have to guess where the bumper ends. The windshield is huge and the dashboard top is low for good road visibility. However, the split rear window has a rather thick molding that partially hampers rear vision." -- MSN