If you’re shopping for a new car or SUV, you now have one more good reason to consider a hybrid. Hybrids, which allow you both traditional gasoline power as well as electric power, have been shown to better shield their occupants from injuries in crashes than their conventional counterparts that only use gasoline engines. This is according to research done by the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), an affiliate of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) on more than 25 hybrid-conventional vehicle pairs.
The study showed that there is approximately a 25% lower chance of injury in a crash when traveling in a hybrid than in its conventional twin. All other things being equal, it is weight that makes the difference since hybrids are about ten percent heavier.
In the past, cars were made smaller and lighter to get better fuel economy; but in doing so, they were at risk for greater damage in a crash and therefore greater potential for occupant injury.
The new HLDI findings are welcome news among green-minded car shoppers who no longer have to choose between safety and fuel economy. Moreover, the less the chance of injuries in a crash the better the likelihood of lower insurance rates – another reason for considering these safer hybrid vehicles.
- View this video for more information: Hybrid vehicle models have lower injury risk
- Find out more about Crash Testing by the IIHS
- Learn more about Auto Insurance
