Do you carpool?  If so and do it driving a 2009 Kia Optima, Saturn Aura or a Nissan Altima, then congratulations – you’re driving one of the best vehicles for carpooling! 

Forbes.com has named the Kia Optima sedan, Saturn Aura and Nissan Altima as being three of the best in their “Best Vehicles for Carpooling” list. The Kia Optima took top honors and was lauded for combining excellent class-leading safety features, spacious interior and impressive fuel efficiency.

Using data from Kelley Blue Book, Forbes considered 2009 vehicles that have received five out of five stars on all crash tests and at least four out of five stars on rollover results. The group was then pared down by awarding each vehicle points based on seating capacity, fuel efficiency, amount of front and rear headroom and legroom, and the presence of standard or optional navigation and entertainment systems.

The 2009 Kia Optima is the recipient of a five-star crash safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Optima is equipped with many standard safety features, including six airbags (dual advanced front and front-seat mounted side as well as full-length side curtain), front active headrests, side-impact door beams, height-adjustable front seatbelts with pre-tensioners and force limiters, three-point seatbelts for all seating positions, Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) and a tire pressure monitoring system. Electronic stability control (ESC), a traction control system, brake assist system and four-wheel antilock brakes (ABS) also are standard.

Here’s how the list shakes out:

Mercury Sable
• Safety Rating: 4/5
• MPG: 18 city/28 highway
• MSRP: $25,945

Ford Taurus SE
• Safety Rating: 4/5
• MPG: 18 city/28 highway
• MSRP: $25,995

 Subaru Forester X
• Safety Rating: 4/5
• MPG: 20 city/27 highway
• MSRP: $20,660

 Toyota Camry
• Safety Rating: 4/5
• MPG: 21 city/31 highway
• MSRP: $19,865

Chrysler Sebring
• Safety Rating: 4/5
• MPG: 21 city/30 highway
• MSRP: $21,255

Chevrolet Malibu
• Safety Rating: 4/5
• MPG: 22 city/30 highway
• MSRP: $22,275

Mazda6 i
• Safety Rating: 5/5
• MPG: 20 city/29 highway
• MSRP: $19,220

Nissan Altima 2.5
• Safety Rating: 4/5
• MPG: 23 city/31 highway
• MSRP: $20,595

Saturn Aura XE
• Safety Rating: 4/5
• MPG: 22 city/33 highway
• MSRP: $23,325

Kia Optima LX
• Safety Rating: 4/5
• MPG: 22 city/32 highway
• MSRP: $18,170

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