I have a Toyota Camry Hybrid. I like it a whole bunch. There is lots of room and fun features to play with. *I really like the navigation system.* But best of all, I don't really remember the last time I put gas in it. I easily get 450 miles out of a tank and I live close to where I work. It doesn't have the guts my former car had, but at about twice the mileage, I can live with it. I had it all winter and NEVER had a problem starting it, even on the coldest of days (I do not have a block heater and don't know if that is even an option on this car). I think that bank of batteries could start most anything. There is a gauge on the dash that constantly monitors your mileage. So you really learn to lay off the gas pedal and also learn to let the car coast more. The hybrids seem to have the ablilty to coast faster at much greater distances than a regular car.
I also have to say, my son has a 2006 Honda Civic with a manual transmission. He gets about the same mileage as my hybrid. So there are options out there.
I also think the Camry is a very safe car to drive. The thing has airbags all over the place. The Prius has a different look. But even those are growing on me.