Adjusting the rearview mirror
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The first generation Toyota C-HR debuted in 2016, and one glance is enough to tell you that Toyota chose bold styling as a means to differentiate its family SUV in a busy and competitive class. But it’s got far more going for it than just striking looks - underneath it’s still a Toyota, which means low running costs and high reliability are selling points too.
An all-new car arrived in 2023, which means now is a good time to pick up a nearly-new example of the outgoing car - or look at an even earlier C-HR for bigger savings, safe in the knowledge it’s unlikely to throw up any nasty surprises. The C-HR is good to drive, doesn’t use too much fuel, and is generously-equipped too - all qualities that make it a fine buy.
As an efficient family car, it’s difficult to go wrong with the Toyota C-HR. If you can live with the unusual styling - some may be turned off immediately - then you’ll find a car that drives well, is reasonably practical, very well built, and based on Toyota’s reputation for reliability (particularly with its hybrids), should go on for a very long time indeed.
The hybrids are likely to be the main choices for most buyers, being economical in most driving conditions and also being relaxing to drive. Not that the 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol offered earlier isn’t also good to drive, but it’s slightly more expensive to tax, not quite as efficient in the real world, and doesn’t really enhance the driving experience. The C-HR does have a bit of a sporty feel, most notable on larger wheels (though these can introduce a firmness to the ride quality).
The C-HR’s interior isn’t quite as wild as the exterior but it’s well laid out. If you’re fickle about plastics then you might want to look elsewhere, but some of those soft-touch rivals won’t be screwed together as well as the Toyota, so appearances can be deceiving. A rustle of wind noise and some tyre rumble are the only real things that spoil the C-HR’s refinement.
Toyota introduced an all-new C-HR in 2023, which means there are some good deals to be found on the outgoing model. If you’re not convinced by the Toyota’s styling though, other family SUVs to consider include the Peugeot 3008, Kia Niro, and Skoda Karoq, while Toyota’s own slightly larger RAV4 is slightly less polarising to look at but just as sensible to run.
There’s not a lot to choose between the two hybrids in terms of economy, but if you’ve got the budget for the 2-litre car then it does offer a useful performance improvement which should make it easier to live with if you regularly find yourself on faster roads. Don’t discount the older 1.2-litre turbocharged cars though - they’re the only ones available with a manual gearbox, if that’s a requirement, and came with an all-wheel drive option too. As far as trim levels go, basic Icon spec is actually quite well equipped, and with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (at least in later cars), phone apps can make up for the lack of built-in navigation.
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Like the engines listed above, the trim levels below apply to C-HRs sold prior to the new model going on sale in 2023, so if you’re looking at an earlier car, or looking at the very latest C-HR, there may be some differences in trim names and specification. Some engines are restricted to only a certain trim level, so you’ll not find the larger 2-litre hybrid engine in the Icon, for instance.
The Toyota C-HR’s dimensions are:
The Toyota C-HR’s boot size is:
For the 2024/2025 tax year it will cost you £180 per year to drive a hybrid C-HR, and £10 more than that for the 1.2-litre turbocharged car. Pre-April 2017 models are instead taxed on CO2 emissions, so you can save quite a lot of money on tax with the earlier hybrids.
Toyota C-HR insurance ratings aren’t too high, and compare favourably with most rivals. 1.8-litre hybrid versions start in groups 15-16 depending on trim level, and the 2-litre hybrid steps up to groups 21-22.
£32,250
£17,700
£28,995
£16,295
£29,999
£26,499
£14,995
£36,995
£14,095
£22,399
£17,717
£15,695
£21,950
£670 off£15,970
£21,764
£17,591
£1,099 off£17,990
What is the most popular colour for Toyota C-HR ?
What is the most popular gearbox for Toyota C-HR ?
What is the most popular fuel type for Toyota C-HR ?
What is the most popular engine for Toyota C-HR ?
What is the average mileage for Toyota C-HR ?
21988
How many Toyota C-HR cars are available for sale?
482
