The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is an independent, nonprofit, scientific and educational organization dedicated to reducing the losses — deaths, injuries, and property damage — from crashes on the nation's highways.
The Highway Loss Data Institute's mission is to compute and publish insurance loss results by make and model. Both organizations are wholly supported by auto insurers.
2006 Toyota Prius hybrid scores 'Poor' on IIHS side impact tests unless it's equipped with the side airbag option.
With the airbags installed it scored well.
So make sure you don't cheap out on your Prius purchase.
Your life may depend on it.