WHEN it comes to superminis, the bar has been set incredibly high, with some fantastic cars on offer.

That market - the so-called B-segment - is approaching three million sales in Europe, making it the largest new car sector with a 20.4 per cent share of the total market in 2013.

So when Toyota went for a facelift on the best-selling Yaris, it went to town, investing £70 million, a sum which included 1,000 new parts and consuming a total of 576,000 people hours.

It has also embraced hybrid technology in the supermini segment at an affordable price.

Starting at just under £15,500 and packed with kit, it as cheap as many conventional petrol and diesel rivals of similar trim.

The 1.5 petrol engine and battery combination means it cheap to run, with a claimed 85mpg and CO2 emissions of just 75g/km.

It looks good, a match in exterior design anything on the market, particularly the hybrid with its blue flashes on the Toyota badges to signify its green credentials.

Many manufacturers are now adopting a corporate look to front and rear styling across the range and the new Yaris, shares the front-end look of the smaller Aygo, with its trapezoidal grilles forming a distinctive X-shape on the nose.

Other upgrades includes light headlight cluster with the now ubiquitous LED running lights.

The rear features new bumper design and rear light cluster with LEDs.

The interior is the best yet, with upgraded soft touch trim in most, though not all, areas and satin finish instead of the previous bright chrome trim. The result is a simple, uncluttered design including a thinner instrument panel and redesigned binnacle.

The centrepiece is a seven inch touch screen which controls major functions including sat nav, where fitted and Toyota's clever multimedia system.

The comfortable and supportive seats have been upgraded with new trim. The cabin has a light and airy feel, while the boot, even with the hybrid battery, remains one of the biggest in its class at 286 litres.

Standard kit is impressive, even on entry level vehicles, but this range topper included goodies such as reversing camera, rain sensing wipers, dusk sensing headlight, auto-dimming mirror, cruise control and climate control.

Also included is the multi-media system with Bluetooth and DAB radio, however, sat nav is an optional extra.

Safety equipment is comprehensive with seven airbags, traction and stability control and ISOFIX child seat fitting.

The hybrid system consists of a 1.5-litre petrol engine and electric motor delivering 100bhp in total.

It is mated to a variable transmission that is mostly reasonably muted, but frankly raucous under heavy acceleration.

But this is not designed for performance, more economy and when in electric mode only, particularly around town and in slow traffic, the economy is brilliant.

But the claimed 85mpg, shrinks dramatically under normal driving, to a still more than respectable 50-plus.

I drove hundreds of miles on the motorway and was pleasantly surprised at only having to visit the petrol station once.

Acceleration, particularly on the motorway is sluggish however and the car can feel unsettled on tight bends and even worse when being overtaken by juggernauts speeding in 50mph motorway zones.

However the ride is generally comfortable and the steering light and responsive.