Toyota’s second-generation C-HR is adopting a plug as part of a wider hybrid offering by the mid-sized crossover with coupe pretensions.
The new C-HR is due to hit our streets next year, hoping to build on the success of the outgoing model. Admittedly its styling seemed too overworked when it first appeared on our roads, while rear space constraints meant it appealed more to empty-nesters than family buyers.
Yet the C-HR’s styling and format have aged well, with a cabin that was favourably compared to a Lexus. Now this latest generation adds some variety in terms of power.
Adopting the sharper nose styling, similar to that on Toyota’s all-electric BZ4X, the C-HR is built on the latest generation of the car maker’s mid-sized family car platform.
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The new C-HR comes with a choice of 1.8-litre or 2-litre regular petrol hybrids or a 2-litre petrol plug-in hybrid.
As in the new plug-in hybrid Prius, a 2-litre petrol engine is paired with a 13.8kWh lithium-ion battery, delivering 66km of electric-only driving range and capable of a full recharge in 2.5 hours on a 7kW AC charger. It will be the most powerful version of the C-HR, with a maximum power output of 223hp and emissions of 19g/km.
Inside it’s still the most premium interior Toyota offers to mid-market buyers, very close to what you might expect from Lexus, but the rear seats remain relatively cramped, so its appeal is still towards empty-nesters rather than family buyers.
The C-HR’s cabin continues to impress, this time dominated by a 12.3-inch digital screen. There’s also a nice touch in the use of ambient lighting, with 24 colours used to reflect the environment depending on the time of day. Many cars have the ability to change interior lighting but few have actively engaged it as smartly as this.
Back on the technical side, the C-HR has the latest features from Toyota’s Safety Sense portfolio, with future system software updates delivered over-the-air, with no need to visit a dealership.
New features include Acceleration Suppression that slows any sudden use of the throttle when risk of a collision with a vehicle is detected ahead. The new Proactive Driving Assist (PDA) works at low speeds, providing smooth deceleration when approaching a slower vehicle or entering a turn. Steering Assist also recognises a turn ahead and adjusts steering force.
