By Paul Bailey

August 2003

Some cars are an instant hit with celebrities. Chunky 4x4s such as the Range Rover and BMW X5 and grand tourers like the Aston Martin Vanquish and Mercedes SL already have a number of high-profile names on their logbooks.

But none of them can beat Toyota's Prius for big-star appeal. Cameron Diaz, Leonardo di Caprio and Harrison Ford can all be seen cruising Hollywood Boulevard in their petrol/electric hy-brids. There's sure to be a rush for this new version, so we got behind the wheel to see what the fuss is about.

Open the driver's door, and it's immediately apparent that the new Prius is an improvement on the version it replaces, with the interior of a higher quality. The original's short boot is re-placed with a more practical hatchback, but although it looks convention- al from the outside, the Prius is far from traditional under the skin.

It is powered by Toyota's new Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD), which uses a combination of petrol and electricity to achieve maximum efficiency. A smaller, more powerful battery and electric mo-tor sit under the boot floor, while up front there is a 75bhp 1.5-litre petrol engine. On the road, that translates into faster acceleration than on the outgoing Prius, and the company's claimed 0-62mph time is down from 13.5 seconds to 10.9. This means overtaking from 35-50mph takes 4.8 seconds rather than 5.9, making the Prius as quick as a comparative 2.0-litre petrol car. And with claimed fuel returns up to 100mpg, it also promises to set new standards in fuel economy.

Drive the Prius through some corners and it surprises even more. The steering, braking, roadholding and ride comfort have all been improved. Toyota has answered criticisms of the original version's lack of stability at speed - but not wholly. While this car is more dynamically competent, the battery's weight still means there's plenty of unwanted movement when cornering.

The Prius is packed with world-leading technology. As with the previous model, the car calculates whether the driving conditions demand electric or petrol power. But because the new 50kW motor has more low-end torque and better acceleration, the petrol unit is redundant for longer periods.

To improve efficiency even further, Toyota has switched many components to electronic operation only. The air-con runs independently of the engine, while the Prius is the first car to use entirely electric brakes. The 'by-wire' method works efficiently, but the pedal lacks the feel of normal hydraulic systems.

As before, the new model provides a serene driving environment. At urban speeds, it travels silently on electric power while on the open road the automatic gearbox and smooth ride create a relaxing journey. It's not designed to be a sports car, but proves good fun. And as a fascinating, brilliant demonstration of environmentally conscious car design, it's certainly set to be a star.

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