JUDGING by the global success of the Toyota Prius there is little surprise that Lexus - the premium arm of Toyota - has developed an equally impressive hybrid model that will meet all the demands and expectations of buyers looking for that extra touch of flair and luxury.

The CT 200h was the world's first luxury full hybrid hatchback when it made its debut back in 2010, but now the car has been given quite a dramatic makeover and offers improved refinement, superior driving dynamics, better ride quality and greater efficiency.

Cosmetically there are a number of alterations, namely a new grille design, a smarter rear end and a much brighter and more sophisticated interior layout with techno treats galore at your disposal.

The F Sport model has LED daytime running lights, LED rear lights, front fog lights, electric-folding and heated door mirrors, rear privacy glass, a shark fin antenna, F Sport front bumper, honeycomb grille and side skirts, active brake lights, a large rear spoiler and two-tone 17-inch alloys.

The interior is exceptionally modern in its design and the instrumentation wouldn't look out of place on a luxury jet with plenty of information at your disposal. For example, you can view the power usage when driving in electric vehicle mode or watch that dial transform to a more traditional rev counter when the car is pushed a little harder.

Creature comforts are plentiful and include F Sport luxury upholstery, dual-zone climate control, heated and electrically-adjusted seats with memory settings on the driver's side, a multi-function steering wheel with F Sport embossed on the bottom, a 10-speaker premium sound system with sat nav, DVD player, DAB radio, Bluetooth connectivity and a rear view camera.

The many systems are navigated via a remote touch control dial which acts a little like a computer mouse and information is displayed on a colour screen mounted in the centre of the dashboard.

The CT 200h F Sport is powered by a 1.8-litre 99bhp petrol engine linked to an 81bhp electric motor and if those figures sound quite small fear not, because the car has some eye-catching performance stats. It can sprint to 62mph from a standing start in 10.3 seconds and redlines at 112mph. But perhaps most importantly, it can deliver combined fuel economy of 68.9mpg and low carbon emissions of just 94g/km.

These figures mean that this car offers the lowest cost of ownership in its class with zero road tax, congestion charge exemption and very attractive tax benefits for company car drivers and fleet operators.

The ride and handling also impress with plenty of power on tap. The CT 200h pulls away in complete silence, offers good road-holding as it accelerates through the automatic CVT gearbox and a highly-efficient suspension system that seems to iron out the uneven road surfaces along the way.

There is ample room for four adults with a generously-sized boot that can cater for 375 litres of luggage. This capacity can be increased to 965 litres thanks to 60:40 split-folding rear seats and there are also additional under-floor compartments in the boot.

And as one would expect these days, the car boasts a comprehensive list of safety features too.

All in all, the Lexus CT 200h F Sport is quite a car. It looks great, handles beautifully and brings with it a whole host of financial rewards.