If you want a car that really stands out from the crowd, the Toyota C-HR could be right up your street. But there’s more to this sharp-looking SUV than style. It’s comfortable, well-equipped, lovely to drive and very efficient, particularly with hybrid power.
The C-HR was first sold in the UK in 2017, introduced as a brand-new model. It was the smallest Toyota SUV at the time, slotting into the range below the mid-size RAV4. The car was updated in 2019 with some new styling details, updated tech and new trim levels.
Those trim levels include the entry-point Icon, the plush Excel and the sporty GR Sport, all of which are well-equipped with standard features. Each one is distinguished from the others by the design of its alloy wheels.
You can choose between petrol and hybrid power in the C-HR. The 1.2 Turbo petrol engine gives nippy acceleration with good fuel economy. Some models have an automatic gearbox and even four-wheel drive.
There are two variations on hybrid power, with petrol engines of 1.8 or 2.0 litres. The 1.8-litre Hybrid is by far the most popular choice in the C-HR because it gives good acceleration and excellent fuel economy. The 2.0-litre Hybrid has a lot more power and still gives you very good economy, but it costs quite a lot more to buy. Both hybrids have an automatic gearbox.
And in case you’re wondering, C-HR stands for compact high-rider.
Standard features fitted to every Toyota C-HR for sale include a touchscreen infotainment system, DAB radio, Bluetooth, dual-zone air con, reversing camera and adaptive cruise control. When the car was updated in 2019, a new infotainment system that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was added to all trim levels.
Other C-HR trim levels like the Dynamic and Excel also have sat nav, heated front seats, front and rear parking sensors and keyless entry. The top-of-the-range GR Sport is marked out by bigger 19-inch wheels, gloss-black styling details, dark-tinted headlight covers and tinted back windows.
Running costs for the C-HR are pretty low. According to official figures, the 1.2-litre Turbo petrol engine can give you an average fuel economy of around 40mpg, and both hybrids can give you at least 50mpg. Some models of the 1.8-litre Hybrid can give you more than 70mpg. Exactly what fuel economy a given C-HR can do depends on which model it is and what size its wheels are, which has a surprisingly big effect on fuel-efficiency.
Carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) are low, so your annual car tax won’t break the bank. Neither will insurance or servicing costs.
If you're looking at a Toyota C-HR for sale you might also want to consider the Nissan Qashqai, the Volkswagen T-Roc and the Mazda CX-30. The Nissan is very practical, the Volkswagen has a lovely premium feel and the Mazda is good fun to drive. But there’s a lot to like about the Toyota, not least its distinctive style and hybrid efficiency.
There’s pretty generous space in the C-HR. Whatever size you are, you should be able to get comfortable in the front seats, while there’s room for a couple of average-size adults to sit in the back. However, between the low roof and small back windows, the view out of the back isn’t great, especially for small children, and it can feel rather dark back there. Still, if you rarely have back-seat passengers in the car, that’s hardly an issue.
The boot is big enough for large-scale shopping trips and weekends away but there are other SUVs this size that offer greater practicality if you’re looking for a family car. The back seats fold down easily if you need to carry anything big and bulky.
When it went on sale in 2017, the C-HR was the smallest Toyota SUV available in the UK. In 2021, Toyota added the smaller Yaris Cross, so the C-HR moved up a position in the range. Larger Toyota SUV models include the RAV4, the Highlander and the Land Cruiser. The C-HR is also about the same length as the newest Toyota Corolla hatchback.
Safety organisation Euro NCAP awarded the C-HR a full five-star safety rating. Standard driver-safety features fitted to all models include automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, traffic sign recognition, automatic headlight high-beam and adaptive cruise control.
Although you can find a Toyota C-HR for sale with a petrol engine, hybrid power is much more popular. Indeed, the petrol engine was last sold in the UK in 2019. There are two hybrid models available, with a petrol engine of either 1.8 litres or 2.0 litres. The 1.8 offers relatively nippy acceleration and excellent fuel economy. The 2.0 has more power for a sportier driving experience but it costs more to buy, so isn’t as popular.
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