Toyota’s king of the crossovers

Impress?

Crossovers are all the rage in the new car market, and the race to electrification is seeing a world of hybrids and EVS coming to the fray - but the, err, crossover between the two has been rather minimal so far. The car that leads the way in hybrid within its segment is the Toyota C-HR, which has featured an electrified variant since its 2016 introduction. Keen to build on its success, Toyota has refreshed the car for 2020 - but is it enough to grab a stronger hold in arguably the most competitive new car arena?

WHAT’S NEW?

Toyota is proud of its ‘self-charging’ hybrid powertrains, and has decided to offer only electrified units in the refreshed C-HR. The previous 1.8-litre option remains with a little bit of fettling to boot and now lines up with a fresh 2.0-litre alternative drafted in from the Corolla hatchback. Examples powered by the latter see some suspension and soundproofing tweaks too.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE? One thing Toyota didn’t need to alter about the C-HR was the driving experience - and luckily it hasn’t. Town capabilities are impressive, with the car taking the difficulty out of driving thanks to its well-judged steering and compact dimensions, which is sure to win buyers over. A supple ride and low wind noise make it relaxing on motorways, while a keen chassis means there’s fun to be had on twisty roads.

WHAT’S IT LIKE INSIDE?

The theme of changes being minimal but effective continues into the C-HR’S cabin. It remains spacious up front, with an impressive deployment of premium-feel materials around the cabin. Build quality continues to be impressive, with the sense that nice stuff is built to last. Boot space hasn’t been altered, remaining at 377 litres. The main change inside is the new infotainment system.

THE VERDICT

Tweaks to the new Toyota C-HR may be minor, but they each enhance the overall package without compromising too much. Its new powertrain immediately stands out as the sweet-spot in the line-up, though its high price point will likely steer buyers toward the smallercapacity unit. However, the C-HR continues to be an effortless drive, exceptionally stylish and offers a lot of equipment.