Toyota C-HR+ review

Driving position

Though it sounds familiar, the C-HR+ is a newer, all-electric SUV built on Toyota’s eTNGA platform, which is different from the hybrid C-HR.

It’s built to accommodate the EV’s much bigger battery, aiding the driving position. For example, the floor doesn’t feel unnecessarily high and awkward, and there’s plenty of headroom inside.

The seating position is similar to how Peugeot has been designing its interiors for more than a decade now, with the speedometer and driver’s display positioned above the steering wheel (rather than through it).

During our short test drive, we didn’t find it as intuitive or easy to use as Peugeot’s, and the driver’s display itself also feels slightly dated and basic.

Thankfully, there’s plenty of steering wheel and seat adjustment, the A-pillars don’t cause any major blind spots and a standard reversing camera helps with rearward visibility, which is slightly impacted by the coupé-like roofline. Though not as much as the Tesla Model Y.

Tech and features

Toyota C-HR+ trims

– Icon

– Design

– Excel

Toyotas are well-known for their value for money, and all trims come with a lot from the get-go. It starts with a large, 14-inch touchscreen mounted onto the dashboard iPad-style.

It’s easy to use, has built-in sat-nav with cloud-based traffic data, includes wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, features MyToyota connected services and supports over-the-air (OTA) updates.

All models also come with twin wireless phone chargers for convenience, and heating for the front seats and steering wheel for comfort.

This covers Icon models, but mid-spec Design cars also get styling upgrades like optional 20-inch wheels and tinted windows, as well as a standard powered boot lid. It’s not a major upgrade.

Top-spec Excel is more of an upgrade, with an electrically adjustable driver’s seat and 360-degree parking cameras. You can also pay extra for a JBL sound system or a panoramic roof.

Electric motors and power

Toyota C-HR+ performance stats

– Power: 167hp or 224hp

– 0-62mph: 7.3 to 8.4 seconds

– Top speed: Up to 99mph

– Driven wheels: Front-wheel drive (FWD)

You’ve got a choice of two electric motors producing either 167hp or 224hp – both feel punchy enough with 0-62mph times that aren’t far off what we got from hot hatches a decade ago.

More importantly, acceleration is broadly in line with rivals, though some other electric crossovers offer higher-performance models.

Power is put down through the front wheels, so occasional wheelspin under heavy acceleration from a standstill can happen, but it’s nowhere near as common as in some other FWD electric cars. In fact, Toyota’s done a good job of smoothing out power delivery to avoid this.

Top speed is limited to either 86mph or 99mph depending on model, which might sound disappointing, but it’s well over any speed limit we’ll ever see in the UK.

Handling and ride comfort

The C-HR+ is very much its own vehicle – it’s about 30% more rigid than the hybrid C-HR, and has a different suspension system to Toyota's other electric SUV, the bZ4X, so you know you’re in for a good ride.

This attention to detail makes it feel pretty agile on country roads, but it’s also really comfortable around town. As in, really comfortable. And quiet.

Steering feels light and easy at slower speeds, but it also weights up at speed for more control, so you get the best of both worlds.

It also helps that the paddle shifters behind the steering wheel give you access to different strengths of regenerative braking – it’s strong enough to slow you right down, but it doesn’t offer true one-pedal driving, which is a shame.

The gear selector isn’t the most intuitive to use – it’s a push-and-turn dial on the centre console. Column-mounted shifters are generally easier to use for three-point turns, for example.

Boot space

Toyota C-HR+ boot space:

– Boot space: 416 litres

– Incl. rear seats folded: Not disclosed

The 416-litre boot means the all-electric C-HR+ offers more space than its hybrid counterpart, which has 310 to 388 litres of space.

However, it falls short of many rivals. They include the Renault Scenic E-Tech (545 litres), Škoda Elroq (470 litres) and BYD ATTO 3 EVO (490 litres).

It misses out on any under-bonnet storage, whereas the ATTO 3 EVO has a 101-litre cubby, but it does have a dual-level boot floor with space underneath to hide your charging cable.

Rear seats

This is another area where the C-HR+ is better than the C-HR – it has a 110mm longer wheelbase, which means more rear legroom.

That’s good news, because the hybrid model isn't especially spacious in the back, but the EV is much better.

The sloping roofline doesn’t really eat into headroom unless you’re very tall – children and teenagers would be absolutely fine.

Storage solutions

There’s not a lot going on in the centre console – it’s more about a funky design beneath the screen. You’ve got twin wireless phone chargers and a couple of shortcut buttons.

The cupholders sit slightly lower, between that and the central armrest. The front door bins are bigger in the front than the back, and the centre console lacks any real storage for rear-seat passengers.

Toyota C-HR+ dimensions

– Height: 1,595mm

– Width: 1,870mm (excl. door mirrors)

– Length: 4,530mm

– Kerb weight: Up to 1,950kg

Safety

It’s good news here, because the C-HR+ got a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating with outstanding scores across the board – especially adult protection.

All models get adaptive cruise control, adaptive high beams, lane-departure warning, blind spot monitoring and driver monitoring.

It makes sense that high-spec Excel cars get Lane Change Assist as an extra layer of self-driving, but it’s a shame you have to pay to get front cross traffic alert when rear alert is included as standard. Safety kit should be standard regardless of trim level.

Range and charging

Toyota C-HR+: electric range, battery and charging

– Range: 284 to 377 miles

– Battery size: 57.7kWh to 77Wh

– Max charging speed: Up to 150kW

– Charge port location: Front left

– Charge time (AC): Around 8.5 hours (57.7kWh) to 11 hours (77kWh) with a 7kW charger

– Charge time (DC): 10-80% in 28 minutes

– Efficiency: 4.2 to 4.6 mi/kWh (claimed)

Efficiency is where the C-HR+ comes into its own. With claimed figures as high as 4.6 miles per kWh, it’s enough to put the Tesla Model Y to shame, which is widely regarded as one of the most efficient electric SUVs.

The 284-mile range from the 57.7kWh battery is already very impressive – the Elroq gets a lesser 279 miles from a bigger 61kWh battery, and the Kia EV3 gets 270 miles from a 58.3kWh pack.

347-377 miles from the bigger pack, depending on trim level, provides the distance for regular drivers.

It beats the Elroq 84kWh (370 miles) and Kia EV3 81.4kWh (375 miles).

Standard 11kW charging is more than adequate because nearly all homes in the UK are limited to 7kW, so you can only take advantage of this at public charge points.

Excel models get a 22kW upgrade, which again, isn’t entirely useful for those who charge at home.

The only downside from what we can see is the 150kW rapid charging. 10-80% in under half an hour is good, but isn’t revolutionary.

It’s in line with most compact electric crossovers, but bigger family SUVs can do better, including the BYD ATTO 3 EVO (220kW).

Reliability

You’re in safe hands. Toyota’s been building high-voltage hybrid batteries since the turn of the century, so it knows a thing or two about electronics, batteries and motors.

Plus, you can extend the standard three-year warranty all the way up to ten years if you service your C-HR+ annually at an approved Toyota garage.