The neighbours won’t complain when you park this on your drive
FAST FACTS
IF hybrids are the future for motoring, as some pundits predict, it’s only fitting that cars using the hybrid system should look futuristic too.
And they don’t come much more futuristic than Toyota’s C-HR.
In a world of look-alike cars, this dramatic looking crossover dares to be different.
With its muscular appearance, tall stance, swept back headlights, radically flared wheel arches, futuristic creases in the metal and high-set rear lights, this is a car that’ll get you noticed.
At first glance, it’s easy to take it for a coupe thanks to the cleverly concealed handles in the rear doors but the C-HR (it stand for Coupe High-Rider) is a full five-door model with a generous amount of interior space for a car of its size.
Get behind t he wheel and while one of t he t wo dials facing you is a conventional speedometer, t he rev counter has been replaced by a dial which reads charge, eco and power.
It’s a dial which not only tells you what’s going on under the bonnet but helps you keep fuel consumption to a minimum.
And for the best results, the idea is to keep the needle in the charge or eco bands.
And, to be fair, it’s quite easy to do with the C-HR, which is why the car is so economical.
In fact, at one stage, I seriously wondered if the fuel gauge was broken because the needle didn’t move off the full mark for the first three days of driving the C-HR, which is probably not surprising for a car with a claimed average consumption of more than 72 miles per gallon.
It‘s surprising when driving around town just how often the car is powered – in silence – by the electric motor alone.
When you really need the power the petrol engine cuts in instantly, and while you can hear it, this is still a very quiet car.
And while it’s never going to win any burn up at the traffic lights it’s not lacking in performance either when the needle goes into the power zone.
The ride, too, is impressive, with a suspension firm enough to provide good cornering ability but supple enough to ensure comfort for all on board.
Standard features on the Dynamic model tested here includes a rear view camera, front and rear parking sensors, Park Assist, satellite navigation, dual zone air conditioning and keyless entry.
Full leather seating – with comfortable heated front seats – was included as part of a £1,595 premium pack.
In the centre of the dashboard sits an eight-inch iPad-like touch screen to access the car’s infotainment functions and satellite navigation.
And while the interior is predominantly black a vivid blue strip stretches across the dashboard and onto the two front doors to add a touch of colour.
The C-HR has a decent sized boot, too – offering 377 litres of space with the rear seatbacks in place – so it‘s just as suitable for the family motorist as the unattached single one.
Whatever your family status, you can be sure your neighbours won’t miss it when you park a C-HR on your drive.