Toyota C-HR
What Car? UK|November 2023
Fresh family SUV builds on the original's charms and adds plugin hybrid power On sale Spring 2024 Price from £36,000 (est)
Lawrence Cheung
Toyota C-HR

THE ORIGINAL C-HR represented a stylistic turning point for Toyota. After years of producing cars that were quietly competent if all but invisible in a crowd, here was a funky-looking family SUV that really stood out. It was as interesting inside as it was functional, too, and its frugal engines didn't get in the way of driving fun.

It's hardly surprising, then, that it proved popular. And, likewise, that popularity means it's no shock that Toyota has stuck with a similar formula for this replacement.

The biggest change is that the new car is available as not only a conventional hybrid but also a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), which combines a 150bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine with an electric motor for a combined output of 220bhp. More importantly, its longer electric-only range will translate into lower company car tax bills.

In the PHEV, the electric motor does most of the initial work, helping the car to pull away quickly, while the petrol engine tends to kick in to lend a hand when you put your foot down above town speeds. There's plenty of poke for overtaking, and a 7.3sec 0-62mph time makes it quicker than an equivalent Ford Kuga, Hyundai Tucson or Kia Sportage. As for the big-selling Nissan Qashqai, that isn't available as a PHEV at all.

Alternatively, if you don't want to mess around with charging cables - and don't mind spending more time running on petrol power - there are two regular hybrid C-HRs: a 1.8 with 138bhp and a 2.0 with 194bhp. The former takes 9.9sec to get to 62mph from a standstill, while the latter needs 8.1sec, although we haven't yet tried either.

Denne historien er fra November 2023-utgaven av What Car? UK.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra November 2023-utgaven av What Car? UK.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA WHAT CAR? UKSe alt
Lexus RZ 450e+ Takumi Bi-tone
What Car? UK

Lexus RZ 450e+ Takumi Bi-tone

Greater stamina and a lower price would have enhanced our opinion of this upmarket electric SUV

time-read
3 mins  |
Ocotber 2024
Audi A6 Avant 45 TFSI quattro Sport
What Car? UK

Audi A6 Avant 45 TFSI quattro Sport

Our new posh estate has to deal with a mega-miles commute and an older sibling. How will it get on?

time-read
3 mins  |
Ocotber 2024
Renault Clio 1.0 TCe 90 Evolution
What Car? UK

Renault Clio 1.0 TCe 90 Evolution

It's our reigning Small Car of the Year, but will the latest Clio continue to impress in daily use? We're finding out

time-read
3 mins  |
Ocotber 2024
ALL POSHED UP
What Car? UK

ALL POSHED UP

Looking to buy an upmarket SUV? For around £35,000, you could have a new Lexus LBX or a used BMW X1. Let's see where your money should go

time-read
7 mins  |
Ocotber 2024
JOINING UP THE TOTS
What Car? UK

JOINING UP THE TOTS

Small, cheap cars bring numerous benefits, especially if most of your driving is around town. We take three leading examples on a road trip to see which of them paints the most complete picture

time-read
10+ mins  |
Ocotber 2024
GRIPPING STUFF
What Car? UK

GRIPPING STUFF

Tyre choice can make a huge difference to how your car behaves in changeable weather. We search for the best

time-read
10+ mins  |
Ocotber 2024
Audi A6 e-tron
What Car? UK

Audi A6 e-tron

BMW i5 rival uses the same tech as the Q6 e-tron SUV for serious pace and range On sale Late 2024 Price from £62,000 (est)

time-read
3 mins  |
Ocotber 2024
Renault Symbioz
What Car? UK

Renault Symbioz

Slightly smaller than Renault's existing Austral, this new hybrid family SUV has its sights set firmly on the popular Nissan Qashqai On sale Now Price from £29,295

time-read
3 mins  |
Ocotber 2024
Volkswagen Golf
What Car? UK

Volkswagen Golf

Family car celebrates its 50th birthday with an update, including much-improved infotainment On sale Now Price from £27,035

time-read
2 mins  |
Ocotber 2024
Hyundai Tucson
What Car? UK

Hyundai Tucson

Update for Hyundai's family SUV includes a redesigned interior and a revised engine line-up On sale Now Price from £32,000

time-read
2 mins  |
Ocotber 2024