Love it or loathe it there is no arguing that Toyota’s hybrid Prius was a truly pioneering vehicle when it was launched almost two decades ago – even if it wasn’t much fun to drive. The original Prius was one of the few cars whose appeal extended from Cameron Diaz to the Bishop of Oxford. 
Since then, petrol-electric technology has moved from the eco-fringe to the mainstream. 
Hybrid engines have become a key competitive advantage for Toyota, with Toyota hybrids making up more than 50 per cent of all the alternative powertrain vehicles sold in Europe – more than all the other hybrids, plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles combined. 
With that shift in sales has come demands for hybrids to not only deliver on their green promises, but serve up with a dash of real style. And the sleek, lower fourth generation Prius certainly does that. Priced from £23,295, the new Prius not only looks the part, it is much more enjoyable to drive. 
Much of that enjoyment comes from the use of a new platform, which not only gives a lower centre of gravity with better handling response and stability, but has also given the designers a freer hand to produce a better-looking, sleeker, eye-catching car. 
As in the current model, Prius’ hybrid system uses a 1.8-litre VVT-i Atkinson cycle petrol engine working with two electric motor-generators to give a combined punch of more than 120 horsepower. 
One motor serves primarily as a generator, converting any surplus power from the petrol engine into electricity, which can be stored in the battery. 
It also serves as the engine’s starter motor. The second is the electric drive motor, which also acts as a generator when the car is in regenerative braking mode. 
It drives the car from start-up, at low speed and is the sole propulsion method when the vehicle is in reverse.
The sharper looks still house an immense amount of technology covering everything from safety and convenience to performance and comfort. 
Dominating the silver-finish framed centre cluster is a seven-inch touchscreen panel that allows operation of the audio and navigation functions, including “flick” actions to scroll through the displays. 
Sitting above the panel, the instrument cluster has dual 4.2-inch colour LCD screens with easy-to-read displays showing vehicle speed and ancillary information such as fuel level, trip meter, driving range, average fuel consumption, outside temperature and drive mode. 
The background colour changes according to the drive mode selected: blue for eco, grey for normal and red for power. 
A second screen provides information about the hybrid system and eco-driving tips and performance, together with multimedia and climate control system details and driver assistance alerts. 
A combination of cameras and radar provide a helping hand with everything from emergency braking and automatic high beam, to displaying road signs on the dashboard.
The upmarket test model came with a range of extra features, such as a wireless phone charger, blind spot monitor with rear cross traffic alert, heated front seats and an auto-dimming rear view mirror. 
Practicality is also given a boost with improved load space, thanks to the use of a smaller, nickel-metal hydride hybrid battery located entirely beneath the rear seats and a new rear suspension system – features that do not intrude in boot capacity.

All versions of the new Prius feature a tyre pressure warning system, which unfortunately proved rather useful for me. For reasons too complicated to go into here, involving astronaut Buzz Aldrin, a wet night in the city of Bath, a piece of metal and a rear tyre puncture, I also got to test Toyota's roadside assistance programme.
Thanks to a friendly AA patrolman and the good folk of Inchcape Toyota, in Kidlington, it worked seamlessly – much like the Prius itself.

Auto facts
Model: Toyota Prius Excel
Price: £27,450
Insurance group: 14
Fuel consumption (Combined): 85.6mpg
Top speed: 112mph
Length: 454cm/179in
Width: 176cm/69.3in
Luggage capacity: 17.7 cu ft
Fuel tank capacity: 9.9 gallons/45 litres
CO2 emissions: 76g/km
Warranty: Five years/100,000 miles