Saturn continues its hybrid renaissance with the 2009 Saturn Aura. Freshly updated for 2009, versions of the Aura now feature a hybrid drive and best in class fuel economy across the whole range.

One of the Auras key selling points has been its consistently high safety ratings and the 2009 iteration is no different. The new Auras have been certified with an overall 5 star crash safety rating, making them some of the safest sedans on the road. When coupled with antilock disc brakes, stability control and traction control systems, it’s easy to see why the Aura has such a good safety record.

The drive isn’t bad either. The standard Aura uses a 164 horsepower, 2.4-liter engine. The hybrid technology uses a large starter motor, which will shut down the petrol engine when the vehicle is stopped at a light or elsewhere. The engine seamlessly restarts when acceleration is requested. Still, mileage is not the Auras finest feature, with even the hybrid drives producing around 26 city MPG and 34 highway MPG.

Saturns traditionally have a slightly edgier look and design than other cars on the market and the Aura doesn’t disappoint. The body styling is futuristic but contemporary, and overall engineering quality is good. Buyers looking decent performance coupled with excellent performance could do a lot worse than a 2009 Saturn Aura.