It’s been 20 years since the Prius arrived on the scene and car-buyers were quick to grab the opportunity to show the rest of humankind how much they cared about the planet.

Toyota led the way with the first mass-produced hybrid powertrain but two decades on and the Prius no longer has things all its own way. There’s hardly a manufacturer around the globe that doesn’t have at least one green model rolling of its production lines.

It is into this competitive market that the fourth-generation model has emerged. Going green is no longer the straightforward choice it once was so the latest Prius has its work cut out. It’s no longer enough to simply wave environmentally friendly credentials at potential buyers who no longer just want to save the planet, they want to have fun while they do it.

While the silhouette remains familiar, the styling has been sharpened up considerably, and quite literally. There’s a stark, occasionally jarring, contrast between the rich curves and hard surfaces. The front end creates a focal point of the Toyota badge which, not by accident, is at the same height above the road as on the GT86. Details, details.

You can’t argue that the car’s designers haven’t put some effort into make the face of the new Prius distinctive, but the angular lines dissecting the front of the car can appear a little fussy and it’s certainly not what I would describe as pretty.

The rear, despite the tall, angular, tail light assemblies, is a much simpler affair and all the better for it.

The overall height has been reduced by 20mm while the belt line has been lowered and angled forward to give the design more dynamism. The wheelbase remains the same (2,70mm) as the previous model but there’s an increase of 60mm in overall length (4,540mm) and an additional 15mm in width (1,760mm).

Those changes have helped lower the Toyota’s centre of gravity and should, combined with the 60% increase in torsional rigidity – thanks to greater use of high-strength steel and additional body reinforcement – and revised MacPherson struts at the front and new double wishbone rear suspension, tighten up the handling.

And they have.

The Prius was not the car I was expecting to drive. I certainly didn’t expect it to be as much fun. Whether that’s because my expectations were low, it matters not, because the truth is I thoroughly enjoyed my time behind the wheel.

The steering is surprisingly communicative and the weight builds consistently as the front wheels load up. It will turn in precisely and predictably and will hold its line well through a corner.

The suspension settings have been edged marginally closer to firm and, as a result, the Prius corners reasonably flat with good body control. That additional stiffness means there’s fractionally less comfort to be found across more persistent surface imperfections where the ride can get a little fidgety, but the fact is that the Prius behaves more like a standard family hatch than it has ever done.

Much like the handling, the hybrid’s performance has the power to spring more than its fair share of surprises. The sprint to 62mph takes a somewhat leisurely 10.6 seconds with a manual CVT gearbox or 10.4 when fitted with the automatic, but it’s the in-gear flexibility that most impresses.

Even the slightest additional pressure is rewarded with increased forward momentum thanks to a responsive hybrid power train.

The electric motor is quite capable of coping with driving demands in town and will even give the petrol engine an occasional break at higher speeds.

Adaptive cruise control – included as standard – takes the stress out of negotiating heavy traffic, adjusting your speed to match that of the vehicle ahead while efficiently recuperating energy that would otherwise be lost.

If the exterior styling hasn’t long given the game away then climbing inside the Prius does provide more clues that this is no ordinary combustion-engine powered automobile.

Ahead of the driver is nothing but a small head-up display. The instrument binnacle spans the centre of the dashboard housing a digital speedometer and multi-function trip computer.

Below that, and standard across the range, is the seven-inch colour touchscreen multimedia system with DAB tuner, Bluetooth audio streaming and handsfree calling and reversing camera, plus an aux in and USB port.

You can add sat nav and some online features or you can go the whole hog and upgrade to Toyota’s ‘Touch 2 with Go Plus’ system which reads out text messages and includes a wireless hotspot.

The touchscreen display isn’t as crisp, or clear, as you might expect in a car that puts a very strong emphasis on technology and the omission of smartphone-style gestures, such as swiping and pinch to zoom, is a glaring one.

All models, except entry-level cars, are fitted with a wireless phone charger.

The cabin is cosseting, comfortable and classy. The fit and finish is first class with lots of squishy plastics, tactile textures and glossy surfaces in evidence. There’s no clutter, no unnecessary buttons, switches and dials, just a simple oasis of minimalist calm.

There’s plenty of room, too. Taller passengers in the rear might notice the lack of headroom thanks to the aerodynamically necessary sloping roof but they’ll have no such issues with their legs. Access to a 12v power outlet, decent-sized bottle holders in the doors and cupholders in the armrests should help stave off any other complaints. If not, there’s always the bus.

The boot will swallow 343 litres of your luggage. Its long, wide shape makes it particularly useful for accommodating large, bulky items.

The Toyota Prius is a remarkable piece of engineering. It is real-world efficient, laden with equipment, solidly built, spacious and performs as well as any regular hatchback. The styling might prove divisive, especially the front which is a little fussy, and it isn’t a cheap car but if you’re looking for transport that can make the daily slog through our clogged up towns and cities more bearable, financially as well as emotionally, and still put a smile on your face when you hit the open road, it’s well worth a look.

Toyota Prius range

Price from: £24,100

Engine: 1.8-litre 4-cylinder

Max power: 97bhp @ 5,200rpm

Max torque: 142Nm @ 3,600rpm

Motor

Max power: 71bhp

Max torque: 163Nm

Transmission: Electric CVT

Max speed: 112mph

Acceleration (0-62mph): 10.6sec

Fuel consumption

Urban: 97.4mpg*

Extra urban: 91.1mpg*

Combined: 94.1mpg*

Emissions (CO2)

Urban: 67g/km*

Extra urban: 72g/km*

Combined: 67g/km*

*15in wheels

For more information visit www.toyota.co.uk