Launched at the start of 2016, the new Toyota Prius continues to impress and turn heads: last April, it passed the Euro NCAP safety test with flying colours. The fourth generation of the hybrid car par excellence, redesigned and improved in terms of efficiency — both in consumption and emissions, thanks to Toyota Full Hybrid technology — features a high-tech cabin accommodating five people. Among the new features are a wide colour head-up display where the driver can easily and immediately read all necessary information; the Simple Intelligent Park Assist system, which makes parking manoeuvres easier and stops the vehicle before a collision thanks to its sensor; the Rear Cross Traffic Alert system, which detects any approaching vehicles while the car is reversing out of a parking space; and finally Toyota Safety Sense, standard across all trim levels, the technology that has allowed the vehicle to receive the maximum Euro NCAP rating for the third consecutive time.

The Prius was awarded 5 Euro NCAP stars: specifically, the vehicle recorded scores of 92 per cent for adult occupant safety, 82 per cent for child occupant safety, 77 per cent for pedestrian safety, and 85 per cent for safety assist. The results were excellent in the side barrier impact test, as well as in the emergency braking tests carried out using a moving pedestrian dummy — a new feature introduced in 2016. The Toyota Prius is in fact equipped with a next-generation low-speed AEB system that detects the obstacle and applies the brakes in the event of no reaction from the driver: this reduces the risk of rear-ending other vehicles while also increasing safety for pedestrians. The emergency braking function is an integral part of the Pre-Crash system, which together with Adaptive Cruise Control with Full Speed Range Following function, Lane Departure Alert with steering control, and the Automatic High Beam and Road Sign Assist systems, makes up the Toyota Safety Sense package of features. The excellent performance in the crash tests is also due to the Toyota New Global Architecture, which increases the vehicle's resistance through the use of steel, improves its elasticity, and diverts the force of impact away from the cabin.

And speaking of Prius, keep an eye out for the new Prius+ Model Year 2016, in which the use of the electric motor is expanded and, as a direct consequence, ride quietness and driving comfort are increased. CO2 emissions have been measured at around 95 g/km, while fuel consumption stands at 4.1 l/100 km.