Toyota has a tradition of making practical and perhaps slightly plain, boring-looking cars. With the C-HR SUV, Toyota is really showing off.
Toyota’s C-HR SUV differs from all previous Toyota models in name alone. In the past, the model name was a word, now it’s just a special abbreviation that stands for Coupé High-Rider.
The whole car also has nothing to do with Toyota. The car’s exterior is even a little futuristic.
The car’s designers have probably been given a fairly free hand to develop something completely new.
In many places, appearance has perhaps taken precedence over practicality. For example, visibility to the rear and from the back seat is poor, and the boot suffers a little from the body design.
The Toyota C-HR is probably intended to attract new and different kinds of customers to Toyota. Traditional Toyota customers can still buy traditional Toyota models such as the Auris, Avensis, Corolla and Prius. And there is still the RAV4 SUV on the market.
The Toyota C-HR is a favourite with buyers. In the first four months of this year, 693 C-HR models have already been registered.
Available with or without hybrid
Although hybrid technology is part of Toyota’s image, the C-HR is also available with or without hybrid technology. Without the hybrid, you get a 1.2-litre petrol engine with 116 horsepower. Four-wheel drive is also available with this engine.
The hybrid model has a 1.8-litre petrol engine and an electric motor. They have a combined output of 122 horsepower.
The petrol engine has CO2 emissions of 135 to 143 g/km and the hybrid 86 g/km.
The second most expensive hybrid version with the Style trim level was test-driven.
The driver’s seat seemed a bit confusing at first, but eventually you got to grips with it quite quickly. There are 18(!) switches on the wheel, plus cruise control switches.
In a hybrid, it’s always a problem to notice that the car is ‘running’. The car starts up quietly and creeps along. You start off with the electric motor and as soon as you press harder on the accelerator, the combustion engine starts to do its best.
As soon as you take your foot off the accelerator, the internal combustion engine shuts down and the energy from braking starts to recharge the batteries.
Because the body style is an SUV, you’re a little higher up than in the Prius. Otherwise, driving a hybrid is pretty much the same as driving a Prius.
Behaves consistently
The car behaves consistently on the road and obeys the steering well. The change from electric to internal combustion engine is completely unnoticeable.
No complaints about the seats. The front seats have sufficient lateral and thigh support. There’s room for an adult to sit in the back seat.
The gearbox is a so-called CVT gearbox, which means that the revs are increased first, before the car starts to accelerate. If you press hard on the throttle, you can hear a good roar from the engine compartment for a while.
The hybrid powertrain is basically the same as in previous Toyota hybrids. There’s an internal combustion engine at the front and two electric motors.
One electric motor acts as the starter motor for the combustion engine and the other as the actual electric motor driving the car. Both electric motors also act as generators, charging the battery during braking, for example.
The nickel-metal hydride batteries are located under the rear seat.
Trailer to the rear
The C-HR is Toyota’s first hybrid model to be equipped with a trailer hitch. with a towing capacity of 725 kg, it can tow light trailers.
The car has a top speed of 170 km/h and accelerates from zero to 60 km/h in 11 seconds.
The car is available in four trim levels – Life, Active, Style and Premium. The hybrid model has no Life trim level.
Adaptive cruise control, pedestrian-sensitive emergency braking, lane departure warning and automatic high beams are standard across the range.
The Life trim level has manual climate control, while the other trims have automatic dual-zone climate control.
Depending on the trim level, options include rain sensor, 8-inch screen, traffic sign recognition, reversing camera, keyless entry and folding door mirrors.
Parking assist, heated steering wheel, blind spot warning, LED lights and leather upholstery are also available.
Music can be enjoyed with the optional JBL audio system. The system includes 9 speakers.
Although the rear seat looks a little cramped from the outside, there is plenty of room on the seat, as the roof only drops down after the rear seat. There is also a reasonable amount of legroom.
The biggest problem is the darkness and the small windows.
The car is built on Toyota’s GA-C platform, which is also the platform on which the Prius is built.
The basic model without the hybrid costs €26 394, while the basic test car costs €32 509, with a further €3 500 worth of optional equipment. The cheapest hybrid model costs €30 315.
The Toyota C-HR is the perfect choice for people who want a hybrid SUV. Of course, there is also a four-wheel drive version, but it is not available as a hybrid.
The car is suitable for family use with reservations because of the poor visibility from the rear seat. This problem is particularly acute for children.
There is still no real choice in hybrid SUVs. Toyota’s most likely competitor is the Kia Niro, which is slightly cheaper than the Toyota.
Why should I buy a Toyota C-HR?
- I want a hybrid SUV
- Easy to get into an SUV
- I want a car with a different look
Why I wouldn’t buy a Toyota C-HR
- No rechargeable hybrid yet
- I don’t want to stand out in traffic
- Poor visibility from the back seat
