Toyota C-HR
Hybrid crossover is catching the eye
aybe it’s because I’m driving one, but I’m noticing more and more C-HRS on the road. The more I see them, the more the styling has grown on me; it’s a distinctive look that’s so unlike anything else in Toyota’s range and far more exciting than a crossover deserves to be. While our hybrid model might share its drivetrain with the Prius, no one treats you like an Uber driver when trying to change lanes or pull out of junctions.
It has made me drive a bit like one, mind. If the continually high engine revs, courtesy of the CVT gearbox, weren’t deterrent enough against flooring it away from every set of traffic lights, the instrument dials make you painfully aware the instant you’re not running on battery power. The whole point of a car like this is to be efficient, and it seems to have subconsciously persuaded me to drive it in the manner to which the powertrain is accustomed, with as little assistance from the petrol engine as possible. It has made a difference to my wallet, too: the C-HR is edging close to 50mpg, and my visits to the pumps are less frequent, despite my central London commute and plenty of motorway miles.
The dramatic styling has had people asking about rear visibility, because the thick pillars and narrow windows restrict the view on the rear corners. They do get in the way a bit but I’ve not found them to be a problem, either at speed or while parking. Our C-HR came with object detection warnings, a rear parking camera and distance sensors, and all make easy work of manoeuvring.
Those looks also come at the expense of cabin space, with that swooping rear end taking a fairly large chunk out of the available rear storage. But while it’s no Tardis back there, a bit of origami with the rear seats rendered the C-HR roomy enough for the ladders and camera equipment needed for our 2018 Handling Day shoot on Anglesey.
I don’t usually carry this extra gear with me but ended up karting it around for a while before I could drop it back at the office, so I was glad of the tinted windows that helped to hide it from passers-by.
Toyota’s unique approach to design continues inside the cabin and has earned praise from several passengers who were fans of the detailing and repetitious shapes strewn across the dashboard and interior trim. I’m not quite so convinced but am inclined to let Toyota off a few of the cheaper-feeling plastics. Given the price, it would be unfair to expect a Mercedes-benz-level of interior finish.
The built-in sat-nav isn’t the most reliable, at least when it comes to dealing with traffic. It’s usually rather optimistic with estimated journey times – often being more than 30 minutes off the mark on longer trips, which doesn’t instil a great deal of confidence when you have somewhere to be. There’s no alternative unless you buy a dedicated sat-nav (or a mount for your phone), because there’s no support for Android Auto or Apple Carplay. Toyota is adding the latter for next year, apparently. I’d definitely make the switch from the built-in system given the option.