IT TOOK some time to get it right – six years, in fact since its launch – but Toyota has finally produced an Auris of which it can be justly proud.

And that’s not all. Mated to hybrid technology, it is now the most enjoyable petrol-electric hybrid car I have driven.

This latest Auris is vitually a complete overhaul of the previous model, particularly in terms of looks but also what’s beneath the bonnet.

Toyota has listened – and listened hard – to customer feedback and produced a new raft of trim levels.

Yes, the Auris remains a very practical five-door car with ample rear legroom. But it’s so much more rewarding to drive now.

The range now starts with Active, moving up to the likely big-selling Icon, then the Sport and top-of-therange Excel.

My test drive was in the Icon version, which will probably account for half of Auris sales. The reason for that is for most drivers the Icon specification brings with it virtually everything you will need in terms of comfort and technology.

As well as climate control, USB connection and heated, electricallyadjustable mirrors that are standard even on Active spec, Icon lays down a mighty gauntlet to the opposition with alloy wheels, DAB radio, a touch-screen media interface, Bluetooth connectivity, a rear-view camera, electric windows all round, leather-trimmed contact points in the cabin and front fog lights.

The range-topping Excel comes with larger 17-inch alloys, dual-zone climate control, half-leather seats including heating for the front two, automatic lights and wipers, a full parallel-park assist system with front and rear sensors, cruise control and adjustable driver’s seat lumbar support.

There’s a choice of efficient smallcapacity petrol and diesel engines, plus a pokier 1.6-litre petrol and Toyota’s truly excellent Hybrid Synergy Drive. It’s the latter on test here, since the predictions are that about 40 per cent of buyers will plump for the eco-conscious and road tax-free petrol-electric model.

Its drivetrain, mated to an automatic gearbox of course, is designed primarily for silky-smooth transport around urban and suburban traffic battlegrounds.

It is here where the fully-enclosed hybrid system recoups energy from braking, always seeming to have enough electric power available where it’s most needed and where it will save the most fuel. After generations of development it’s something of a tour de force. It’s exceptionally refined, reliable and – when used as it’s meant to be – marvellously efficient.

It’s quite easy to use the electric motor as much as possible, simply by being smooth and not using more throttle than you need to. Three driving modes provide three levels of choice biasing the drivetrain more towards the 1.8-litre petrol engine or the electric motor. Eco Mode is the halfway house and generally the best bet. What the drivetrain doesn’t provide is bags of pace above 50mph or so. Up to that point it’s torquey enough, but beyond there the noise-to-performance ratio, partially due to the standard continually variable automatic transmission that encourages the revs to drift very high and stay there, starts to count against the driving experience.

Toyota is known the world over as a pioneer of the petrol-electric hybrid, and remains committed to introducing more and more of them to its model line-up. With the Auris, it has just raised the bar yet again.

Fact file

Toyota Auris Icon Hybrid Synergy Drive

Price: £19,995

Engine: petrol-electric hybrid with 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine

Transmission: continually variable transmission driving the front wheels

Performance: top speed 112mph, 0-62mph in 10.9 seconds

Economy: 74.3mpg

CO2 rating: 87g/km