As a youngster growing up in the 1980s one of my favourite cars was undoubtedly the MR2, with a design that was years ahead of its time. On the rare occasion that you see one on the roads all these years later they still make me smile, and there's no doubt that the distinctive front end of the new Prius certainly has a resemblance in its design. Toyota's designers also appear to have taken a few ideas from the classic Celica for the curvaceous back end of the new model.Throw in a dose of sportiness from the more up to date GT86 and what you're left with is a car that is certain to turns heads and is worth a second glance wherever you are, thanks in no part to Toyota's new Global Architecture chassis.This new model is the fourth generation of the Prius which, despite being the world's most successful hybrid car since it was first launched back in 1997, has had a bit of a mixed press over the years.But that is undoubtedly set to change with this version, which offers the biggest advances yet in emissions, fuel economy and drivability.True to Prius's tradition of being a pathfinder for advanced technologies, the new model combines an improved, more efficient full hybrid powertrain with a number of new safety, comfort and convenience features. It also displays a striking new look inside and out, with lower exterior lines made possible by the Toyota New Global Architecture chassis. But, as well as being technically advanced, stylish and well-equipped, new Prius remains a thoroughly practical car that is easy and enjoyable to drive.There's plenty of space in the front thanks to the dashboard sitting well away from the driver, and I had no problem in getting two seats in the back for the children.The boot is bigger than its predecessors too at an impressive 502 litres. A new grade line-up has been unveiled for the Prius in a bid to strengthen its appeal to business car drivers with new Business Edition and Business Edition Plus versions. Active and Excel versions are the entry point and top of the range models respectively.All Prius models benefit from LED headlights with Automatic High Beam, electric driver's seat adjustment, Smart Entry with push-button start and the brilliant and easy-to-use Toyota Touch 2 multimedia system with touchscreen control and DAB radio reception that I have spoken fondly of on numerous other occasions in these pages. An enhanced Toyota Safety Sense package is also standard.A very clever new dual-zone air conditioning system is also standard, equipped with a function that detects whether the front passenger seat is occupied and automatically adjusts air vent opening and air flow accordingly, for more efficient and energy-saving operation.Higher grade models such as the Business Edition one I drove gain even more advanced features, such as a very useful colour head-up display (a Toyota first), a wireless phone charger, blind spot monitor with rear cross traffic alert, heated front seats and an auto-dimming rear view mirror.The new Prius marks the first European appearance of SIPA, Toyota's new Simple Intelligent Park Assist system. As well as providing automatic steering into a parallel or series parking space, the system can also help the driver exit a tight space. An automatic braking system provides a safeguard against colliding with parked vehicles or obstacles.The technology on the Prius is simply mind-blowing, but as I've mentioned before, and the reason I am such a fan of Toyota cars in general, is that it's not in your face and is tidily laid out.I have to admit that I wasn't totally sold by the front end of the Prius at first, which reminded me of one of the stingrays I saw swimming around on a recent visit to The Deep. But by the end of the few days that I had it on my drive it was beginning to grow on me. The only other part of the Prius that I was a bit unsure about was the use of white plastic for the centre console and on the bottom of the steering wheel.It works well on Toyota's smaller models aimed at younger drivers such as the Aygo or the Yaris, but on a car that has a truly luxurious feel it didn't seem to fit somehow. But I am clutching at straws because there is no doubting that the new Prius is a great car that is guaranteed to put a smile on your face when driving it. At first you get that feeling that you're at the controls of aspaceship rather than a car.At low speed it is almost totally silent, and the transition from the battery to the 1.8-litre petrol engine when you get out of the town is barely noticeable apart from when you really let the Prius go.Like the outgoing model, the new Prius has three distinct driving modes – 'normal' gives a suitable balance between fuel economy and throttle responsiveness; 'eco' optimises the powertrain and air conditioning to save fuel; while 'Power' mode gives more acceleration.The Prius is available in seven exterior colours, including Hypersonic Red, a new pearlescent shade that offers extra depth and reflective qualities. The interior is available in Cool Grey or Black, with matchingtrim and cloth upholstery. A numer of option packs are also available to either add style, protect the cabin and bodywork and provide extra in-car entertainment.Like all Toyotas, it comes with a five-year, 100,000-mile warranty; a five-year warranty for the hybrid system; a 12-year anti-corrosion and perforation warranty and a three-year paintwork and surface rust warranty.Prices for the new Prius start from just short of £24,000 OTR. The model I drove started from £24,195.