The sheetmetal got more sculpted for 2016, especially the nose and sides, but the rear end got confused. The black roof pillars make the roofline float, but there are two little comma-shaped tails that look weird, where they wrap around the corners of the hatch. They’re non-cohesive touches that make the tail look even higher than it is, despite the blacked-out bottom of the bumper.

In short, the egg-shaped and aero-eco Prius looks distinctive.

Interior

There are more non-cohesive elements in the cabin that are downright conflicting. The way the dashboard wraps to the doors makes the interior look clean and sophisticated, and we like the instrument display with upmarket color screen, and the way the console sweeps into the big touchscreen. But the plastics, textured or glossy, are questionable, and the bins are clunky. The available two-tone beige and gray upholstery looks more adult, but the optional pearlescent-white center console scratches so easily that they’ll sell you a $200 cover for it.

The front seats in the 2017 Prius are better bolstered and more comfortable than they were in 2015. The more expensive models get eight-way power adjustment with lumbar support.

Most passengers will fit in the back, but the slope of the roofline will make it hard for very tall passengers to fit back there. The bolsters on the outboard rear seats push those occupants to the middle, squeezing that third person. The rear seats split and fold.