Oshawa, Ontario – It’s every automaker’s dream to produce the vehicle that, in the public’s perception, defines a segment. Toyota has pretty much done that with the Prius; for many people, it has become a generic name for a hybrid, much like Kleenex or Aspirin have come to define tissues and tablets. Other hybrid manufacturers are aiming their big guns at it, while Toyota counters with an all-new version for 2010, the third generation of the model.

Overall, it retains the same iconic shape, but it’s completely new, with an improved and roomier interior, new engine, stiffer body and better fuel economy. It’s going up against full hybrids such as the Ford Fusion and Nissan Altima, and mild ones such as the equally all-new Honda Insight, but it also faces competition from within: the Prius may be the car people equate with hybrids, but in Canada, it’s outsold by the more mainstream-looking Toyota Camry Hybrid.

CanadianDriver Green Scene Test Drive: 2010 Toyota Prius