Toyota dominates new hybrid vehicle ranking

It was just about this time last year when some drove their Toyota Prius hybrid into my aging Volkswagen Jetta, prompting a "totalled" declaration from my insurance company and a new car search for me.

Sadly, my options in the hybrid category were miniscule compared to what's available today. I settled on a traditional engine with a decent fuel-economy rating, so it will be some time before I can actually invest in my own hybrid. Flash forward to December 2007. There's a whole lot more information available for those of you shopping for a new car.

Since I can't go out and test drive all these new vehicles myself, if you're hybrid-inclined, here's a new ranking from U.S. News & World Report. As you can read, Toyota still dominates the rankings, but Ford could have a winner with its Escape Hybrid suburban utility vehicle.