Toyota C-HR (2024) - Wondrous Small Sport SUV!

Thanks: Toyota Plaza Sonkar

Toyota C-HR review
£31,060 - £46,535

“If you like the mad looks of this second-generation C-HR, there's very little else to count against it”

Good stuff

Stands out, more practical than it looks, good control layout and screens, tidy road manners

Bad stuff
Visibility poor in the back, stay away if you dislike hybrids

What is it?
This is the second generation of Toyota’s C-HR, a mid-size crossover that started life in 2017 as a funky SUV commissioned by Toyota boss Akio Toyoda as a sort of experiment to see what the company could do. A toe in the water, with no expectation of how it might sell.

Much to the company’s own surprise it sold in far bigger numbers than expected. Up to 330,000 or so C-HRs a year rolled out globally, with customers sold on the blend of sensible shoes powertrains and funky styling.

Bit more pressure for the second one...
You’d think so, but clearly Toyota hasn’t felt the need to play it safe. If anything, the newer one is even more out there than the original. Which is good, because it means the car stands out in a heavily congested part of the car market that includes the Nissan Qashqai, Seat Ateca, Citroen C3 Aircross and Ford Puma.

It slots into the Toyota range above the Aygo X and Yaris Cross. But it's smaller than the RAV4, which is quite a chunky thing these days. In most of the world there's now a thing called Corolla Cross, which is the same size as the C-HR but has a boxier outline for more interior space and outward vision.

It looks... pretty good.

It does, doesn’t it? The C-HR hits all the latest trends to go for a full house in design bingo: two-tone paints, contrasting roof, slimline LED headlights, aero-led styling and even this season’s must-have full-width rear light bar. Better aero helps economy at motorway speeds. But not much, because the frontal area has grown, and the wheels now go up to 20 inches.

Toyota says the C-HR is designed for people "who are not afraid to stand out". The irony of course of the C-HR’s ‘something a bit different’ schtick is that there are thousands of other people feeling equally individual behind the wheel of their mass market SUVs from one of the world’s largest carmakers.

Is it hybrid only now?

All C-HRs are electrified now, but just one has a plug. There are both 1.8- and 2.0-litre engines available as prime movers, just as with the Corolla, with the regular Toyota hybrid system. Boosted by their motors at full throttle, they give total system outputs of 138 and 193bhp.

There’s no EV option, but you can get a plug-in hybrid (or at least, you will get the option when it goes on sale later in 2024). It has the same 2.0 engine, but because the electrical system is more juiced up, you've got a total of 223bhp.

What’s it like inside?
The interior is jazzed up from what we’d usually expect inside a Toyota. The 50 shades of grey plastic have been given fancy new textures and patterns, and there’s certainly a better variety of material inside. It feels more premium than before.

Maybe most important for modernising the car, the instrument and touchscreens are about two full generations on from the old car's. Toyota screens were pretty ugly before but they're up to par now.

It looks a bit cramped though.
The sloping roofline does impinge on headroom for tall adults in the back. And the small side glass means this isn't the perfect transport for kids prone to car sickness, or indeed those who like to look out of the window. But the actual legroom and bootspace aren't bad. See the Interior section of this review for more.

[PONDOCK]

It's not a car, it's a Starship, beautiful...

[sonyb]

The utmost beautiful car in the whole world💕💕💕💕... Toyota C what a machine

[jon]

I recently drove one for a week and just returned it yesterday (a rental 2021 C-HR). It was nice.

[alistairpaterson]

Looks absolutely amazing in tbe flesh. Pick the right colour and it's the best looking car on the road

[Natalia.Vina.Concetta]

I have the 2022 with yellow color.
Very nice car and eye catching, too.. 😍😍.

[SalimMusa-gtwc]

Winning IPL lottery on 4RBT is thrilling with Finch supporting 4ra 😎🍀 adds to the fun.

[amauriaparecidodepaula]

Simplesmente espetacular extraordinário maguinifico show parabéns pela apresentação.

[danteblink]

It's strange. On the outside, it looks like a vehicle five years ahead, and on the inside, it looks five years behind.

[NazimGonca]

Even when I lose, 4ra gives cashback. Really helpful, my brother was right.

[tomatomaacai]

Apaixonante ! Gostei do design.. lindo lindo lindo

[FerdaFerhanAYIKGEZMEZ]

Çok heyecan verici bir araba. Ayrıca konuşmadan bu kadar güzel tanıtım yapılabilirdi. Teşekkürler.

[dunket]

New choices for new opportunities. With 2022 being its last model year, C-HR is now discontinued. To keep you heading toward new adventures, the compact and stylish, similarly sized Corolla Cross offers versatile driving.

[AliErdinc-zbwz]

4ra makes every IPL match thrilling 🥳🎉 My brother knew it was the best.

[Sonambulo]

The designer traveled to the future in two stages, but was confused when finishing his Frankenstein😂😂😂

[juannysshbarraza]

I have the 2021 but I fall in love again ♥️♥️♥️♥️just love it ✨✨✨ TOYOTA THE BEST

[jano]

Is it so loud inside like previous generation? Old Ford Mondeo give better comfort at highway than previous Toyota CHR.... Did they improved cheap plastics inside (especially black piano which get scratches just when looking on that). Did they still used 80microns of the paint - scratches are present after 1st cleaning (do not mistake as I did - black colour). Did they use some anty rusting protection from the bottom side or it's naked painting like at previous version... Or like at raw4... Or..Yariss Cross... Did they do any of those improvement which was shame for Toyota?

[ugurburhan]

Bu müzik gibi zırvayı koyanın kulaklarını çınlattım...

[jess]

My Husband Car we got it a month ago darker grey with black roof The GR Version wit 197HP

[elizethbezerra]

Estou apaixonada e lindo, já quero um.😊

[serkancandemir]

küçük de değil baya kocaman geldi bana,