The car that set the standard for small hybrids is all new for 2010, and it remains the benchmark against which compact and smaller midsize hybrids like the Honda Insight and Civic must be judged. They lose, because of the Prius' technical excellence, low price and unique looks.

Prices for the 2010 Toyota Prius start at $22,000 and range to $27,270. All Priuses — the cars' aficionados seem to prefer the Latin-sounding plural Prii, which might be pronounced "Pree-eye" if it were actually a word — have a 98-horsepower, 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, 80-horsepower electric motor and continuously variable transmission.

Toyota designates the various Prius models with Roman numerals. For a dead language, Latin is doing very well on Planet Prius, thank you. The four-model range starts, oddly, with the Prius II and tops out with the fourth model, the Prius V.

I tested a nicely equipped Prius III with a sticker price of $25,000. All prices exclude destination charges.

The 2010 Prius' — the plural is debatable, the possessive is not — chief claims to dominance are its EPA fuel economy rating — 51 mpg in the city, 48 mpg on the highway for an unmatched 50 mpg combined rating — and a button to activate "EV mode," which allows the Prius to run on battery power alone at low speed for up to a mile.

The EV mode isn't much different from the ability any full hybrid has to run solely on electric power. It requires a very light touch on the accelerator, and the battery must be around two-thirds' charged.

The Prius automatically shifts into gas-saving electric-only mode when the car is stationary and at speeds up to about 25 mph.

The transition when the engine automatically switches itself on and off for battery operation is less smooth than on the Ford Fusion hybrid, but the new Prius' air-conditioning and other accessory systems function very well when the engine is off.

I was particularly impressed by how long the AC could run without starting the engine on a very hot day when a friend's car broke down and we sat comfortably in the Prius until a tow truck arrived.

The system is a significant improvement over the previous Prius' climate control, which required more frequent engine use.

The Prius' most underappreciated virtue remains its performance. The electric motor's 153 pound-feet of torque is immediately available, supplementing the engine's 105 pound-feet for excellent acceleration.

Watch for the Prius owner with a gleam in his or her eye — the one waiting to dust off BMWs and Mustangs at the stoplight. The car's responsive steering and handling make it far more enjoyable than its detractors would like to believe.

Most Prius owners, of course, buy the car for its fuel economy, and the 2010 delivers that as well. I averaged around 49 m.p.g. without modifying my driving style at all in a test that included city and highway driving.

An "eco" driving mode shifts the drivetrain to higher fuel economy, but there's a noticeable penalty in performance.

The 2010 Prius offers yet another mode to maximize regenerative braking and charge the batteries in stop-and-go driving.

The new car's overall size is nearly unchanged from the '09. The Prius' interior is accommodating, thanks to its practical hatchback body, which handles larger loads than a similar-sized sedan would.

Headroom is generous, and a big new console provides plenty of storage space, although a slightly longer armrest would make it easier to use the joystick controller that manages some of the Prius' systems.

The interior design is modern and attractive, but the materials are basic. Toyota chose hard plastic trim in places where cushioned coverings are becoming common.

Surprisingly, the Prius still has a pressed-fiber headliner made of the material that critics derisively call "mouse fur." The headliners in most new cars use more attractive materials.

The car I tested had a slight whistle at highway speeds, but was otherwise quiet. The ride is smooth and comfortable.

The Prius remains one of the most recognizable cars on the road. Its smooth, aerodynamic profile and double-bubble roof are an attractive evolution of the previous car's looks. The Prius' front styling has been modified for a look that's more consistent with other Toyota models like the Yaris, Corolla and Camry.

The Prius remains the benchmark among small hybrid cars.

At least until new technologies like lithium-ion batteries and the Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric car hit the road next year, buyers and other automakers should accept that fact.

Resistance is futile.

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2010 TOYOTA PRIUS AT A GLANCE

Front-wheel drive five-seat hybrid hatchback

Engine: 1.8-liter, 98-horsepower variable valve-timing four-cylinder and 80-horsepower electric motor

Transmission: Continuously variable automatic

Price range: $22,000 to $27,270 (excluding destination charges)

Key features:

Antilock brakes; brake assist; electronic brake-force distribution; electronic stability control; front-seat side air bags; curtain air bags; tire pressure monitor; EV, eco and power driving modes; pushbutton start; electric air-conditioning compressor; AM/FM/MP3 sound system with six-disc in-dash CD changer and eight speakers; six-way manually adjustable driver's seat, manual tilt and telescoping steering wheel

Options: Solar-powered ventilation system; navigation system; Bluetooth phone and music compatibility; floor mats, backup camera.

Competitive EPA fuel economy ratings:

(Automatic transmission models)

Toyota Prius: 51 mpg city/48 mpg highway

Honda Insight: 40 mpg city/43 mpg highway

Honda Civic hybrid: 40 mpg city/45 mpg highway

Ford Fusion hybrid: 41 mpg city/36 mpg highway

Nissan Altima hybrid: 35 mpg city/33 mpg highway

Volkswagen Jetta TDI: 30 mpg city/42 mpg highway

2010 Toyota Prius III:

Five-passenger front-wheel drive hybrid

Base price: $22,000 (excluding destination charges)

Price as tested: $25,000

Safety equipment: Antilock brakes; electronic stability control; curtain air bags; front-seat side air bags; tire pressure monitor.

Specifications as tested:

Engine: 1.8-liter variable timing DOHC 16-valve four-cylinder; electric motor

Power: Engine: 98 horsepower at 5,200 r.p.m.; 105 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 r.p.m. Motor: 80 horsepower; 153 pound-feet of torque.

Transmission: Continuously variable automatic

Fuel economy: 51 mpg city/48 mpg highway

Wheelbase: 106.3 inches

Length: 175.6 inches

Width: 68.7 inches

Height: 58.7 inches

Curb weight: 3,042 pounds

Where assembled: Toyota City, Japan

Comparative base prices:

(not including destination charges)

(Automatic transmission coupes)

Ford Fusion Hybrid: $27,625

Honda Insight hybrid EX: $21,300

Nissan Altima hybrid: $26,650

Volkswagen Jetta TDI: $23,760

2010 Toyota Prius III

Five-passenger front-wheel drive hybrid

Rating: 4 out of 4 stars

Price as tested: $25,000

Reasons to buy: Fuel economy, looks, technology

Shortcomings: Interior materials and fits, highway noise

4 stars: Best in its class

3 stars: Above average

2 stars: Competent

1 star: Below average