Despite being an all-new model, Prius retains its distinctive look. Other than a couple of styling elements here and there, Prius keeps its sweeping, streamlined profile, in part to maintain a low drag coefficient at just 0.25, and in part because many customers would prefer a shape pioneered two car-generations ago by Prius itself. By not changing much appearance-wise, Toyota is in fact catering to customers who may be more concerned with appearing “green” than anything else. While Prius is hardly a car designed or expected to call winding roads a second home, it is good to know that Prius now handles in a surprisingly well-balanced manner, gripping strongly through corners and steering precisely for an electric setup. The light steering also ensures that city driving feels effortless. But the lack of steering feedback limits confidence when you are going for it, while the body control could be tighter, too. Commendably, the process of regenerative braking is undetectable at the brake pedal. The ride feels supple and controlled over rough road surfaces, and remains settled on the highway. While running on electric power alone, Prius is remarkably quiet. Engine, wind and road noise are kept to a low level during cruising. But hard acceleration brings forth a drone from the petrol engine. Inside, the comfortable front seats adjust for height, and the steering adjusts for height and reach. The large digital display at the dash-top provides loads of information in a clear, understandable manner, while all controls are clearly labelled and intuitive to use. The fabric seats and plastic everything else, including the dashboard, do not attempt to hide the fact that Prius is no luxury vehicle. That said, the materials are excellent in quality, put together by a high standard of fit-and-finish we have come to expect from Toyota. A light-coloured interior would however feel more suited for a family car such as Prius. Toyota is renowned for building bombproof cars, so Prius' long-term reliability should really be the last worry on your mind. Prius uses a petrol engine, based on Toyota's 1.8-litre VVT-i unit but without the variable valve lift, that produces 98 bhp. The electric motor generates 20 percent more power than before, spinning up to 13000 rpm and producing 80 bhp. Overall, Prius' drivetrain develops 134 bhp, with a 0-100 km/h time of 10.4 seconds. At low speeds, Prius runs using the electric motor alone. As speed increases, the petrol engine joins in discreetly and smoothly. The electric motor still helps out when needed, contributing to a flexible, punchy performance that the previous Prius lacked. Prius is a consummate five-seater that provides impressive head- and legroom front and rear. Rear headroom is not lacking despite the sloping roofline. The flat floor at the back adds to the feeling of spaciousness. Cabin storage compartments are adequate and there is a hidden tray on top of the spare wheel. The 445-litre boot is well-sized, and can be expanded via the 60:40 split-fold rear seats, although the boot floor is a little high. Under Japan's long-established 10.15 mode fuel cycle system, Prius returns an out-of-this-world figure of 38 km/litre. Real-world fuel consumption is likely to be significantly higher, hence returning a much smaller figure. Like for fellow Toyotas, servicing and repairs should be affordable. Resale values should remain very competitive, too, considering Prius' limited availability and strong image, not to mention the Toyota badge. Prius is one of a kind, without an obvious segment competitor. Yes, there is Honda Civic Hybrid, but Prius is more advanced in terms of hybrid technology. While the first two generations catered to a niche segment, the latest Prius aims to go mainstream. And why not? It makes a spacious, comfortable family car for five, powered by the “greenest” drivetrain available, which proves to be smooth, flexible and frugal. So while Prius is not exactly cheap and struggles to meet the headline fuel economy, Prius is making the most sense as it ever did. Prius comes with standard items including 15" aluminium wheels, front and rear fog lamps, retractable side mirrors with turn signal, rain-sensing wiper, leather steering wheel with audio and air-conditioning switches, head-up display, cruise control, power windows (auto up-down/anti-jam), 8-speaker audio system with radio/CD/MP3/WMA and AUX jack. Safety kit includes 7 airbags (front/front side/driver knee/curtain), active front headrest, braking controls (ABS, EBD, BA), Traction Control (TRC) and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC). Prius is as “green” as it is economical to run. Emitting 89 grams/km of carbon dioxide and with a fuel economy that is way above average, Prius is easiest the cleanest car in the market.