Toyota has changed things again with its fourth generation Prius. Not content with the extraordinary success of this pioneering hybrid model to date, the Japanese brand has ripped up its own rule book and redesigned the entire platform on which this car sits, underpinnings that’ll also be used for many of its future products. This MK4 model Prius is the first model to feature the revised architecture, benefiting from improvements in space, safety and handling.

Hybrids are known to be much heavier than traditionally fuelled cars because of the big pile of battery-cells that provide the electric power. What is crucial to handling though, is where the extra weight is positioned. Toyota’s modular architecture allows the centre of gravity to be lower and closer to the middle of the Prius, which translates into a better balanced ride for passengers but not a car you would ever describe as ‘sporty’. It takes a fraction longer to get going than the model it replaced, reaching 62mph in 10.6 seconds, but the emphasis is now on making this car appeal to business users, so a comfortable, economical ride takes precedence over speed.

That being said, efforts have been made to make the Prius a more pleasant car to drive. The nickel-metal hydride battery pack gets the electric motor turning first and only when the Prius starts to pick up speed does an updated version of the familiar 1.8-litre petrol engine from previous models fire up and seamlessly take over.

Being a Toyota, quality is ingrained in the car-building process, so costly faults are unlikely to arise but just-in-case, the Prius comes with a 5-year/ 100,000 mile warranty. Despite the modest increase in price, the residuals should remain relatively strong when it comes time to sell it on.

Lower, wider and longer than previous generations, the design now features improved handling and space - though there’s a price to pay for that. The business customers that Toyota is increasingly seeking here should be receptive to this though, and better-heeled family buyers will want to try one too. As ever, it seems, there still is nothing quite like a Prius.

CAR: Toyota Prius
PRICE: £21,995 - £27,450 – 
on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 11-15E
CO2 EMISSIONS: 70-92g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-62mph 10.6s / Max Speed 120mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: 
(combined) 94.2mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front, side, front & rear curtain airbags / anti lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution / electronic stability control
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR 
GARAGE?: length/width/height 4540/1760/1470mm