Toyota CH-R

Futuristic C-HR brings the Mad Max look to suburbia

Andrew Walker loves the ultra-modern look of the funky Toyota C-HR

Toyota’s C-HR crossover has been updated for 2020 and now comes with an all-hybrid line-up, giving customers the choice of a newgeneration 1.8-litre hybrid system or a more powerful, all-new 2.0-litre powertrain.

The established 120bhp 1.8-litre hybrid system remains in the range, with its eco performance enhanced by size, weight and efficiency improvements in all its principal hybrid components, plus an upgrade to a lithium-ion high-voltage battery. CO2 emissions start from 109g/km WLTP, and the new 2.0-litre system produces 182bhp, with CO2 emissions from 119g/km WLTP.

When we drove the C-HR in 2017 we noted the lack of connected Apps on both it and across the rest of the Toyota range. That’s changed: the new C-HR now features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, allowing the most commonly used smartphones to synchronise and merge with the car’s media-system.

The new C-HR follows Toyota’s established grade structure. Entry point is the Icon, offered exclusively with the improved 1.8-litre selfcharging hybrid system, followed by Design, which can be specified with either the 1.8 or new 2.0-litre hybrid powertrain, and then Excel and Dynamic grades sharing top-of-the-range status.

Whichever model you choose you’ll find it well equipped, with Icon featuring 17” alloys, a reversing camera, dual zone automatic air-con and Toyota Safety Sense. Design grade builds on this specification, with 18” alloys, rear privacy glass, Intelligent Clearance Sonar with auto brake, front and rear parking sensors, SatNav and smart entry. Dynamic is further enhanced by the addition of Rear Cross Traffic Alert with auto braking, a blind spot monitor, adaptive LED lights front and rear, metallic paint and a black bi-tone roof. Excel includes rear LED lights, a heated steering wheel, leather seat upholstery, powered driver’s seat adjustment and an adaptive front lighting system.

The C-HR features a low roofline, which gives its five-door body a coupé-look. The rear door handles are hidden in the C-Pillars and are a style statement all on their own. The roof has a cool rear overhang on it, the rear lights look like the badges worn on Star Trek uniforms and the aggressive front is finished off nicely by the two highly placed front headlights. There doesn’t appear to be a right angle anywhere, which is refreshing to say the least !

Crucially, Toyota has worked hard to deliver a premium interior, and the latest C-HR is much closer to the inside of a Lexus than a Toyota has the right to be. High quality plastics and gloss black inserts featured on my test model. The stand out is still the large central infotainment screen, located in the centre of the dashboard.

The C-HR offers both a comfortable ride and decent handling, with all four passengers benefitting from the supple suspension and lack of body roll that’s on offer. The relatively high driving position offers a good view of the road ahead, but you do need the reversing camera to get past those massive C-Pillars when reversing. rest assured it’s a great camera.

My 1.8 model, was a big improvement over the old 1.2 I drove back in 2017. The extra power makes a big difference on the motorway and in town you get the benefit of an auto box and zero noise in EV mode.

All versions come with a choice of Sport, Normal or Eco modes, which alter the weight of the steering, the throttle response and CVT gearbox strategies to suit your mood and the road conditions. I tried all three, choosing in the main to drive with Eco on the motorway in cruise control, Normal around town and Sport on the open road. In all honesty the difference between all three wasn’t that noticeable, though Normal Mode definitely felt the most comfortable to be in.

On the motorway the useful adaptive cruise

control made longer journeys just that bit easier and, of course, far more relaxing, especially on any Smart motorways I encountered.

The 1.8 engine offers only 120bhp and consequently, the C-HR takes 11 seconds to go from 0-60mph. CO2 emissions of 110g/km will appeal to fleet customers, as will the claimed combined fuel economy of 57.6mpg. We drove the C-HR for 450 miles on a selection of urban, extra urban and motorway roads and managed to average 51.4mpg in our seven days in it. I would say that was a pretty good return and something self-charging hybrids are really good for.

Negatives? The adaptive cruise control made it hard to adjust the distance between you and the car in front, and the CVT auto box, though brilliant in town, isn’t as polished when accelerating on an incline, especially on the motorway. But that, as they say, is it.

VERDICT Updates make a big improvement, particularly the connected Apps. Fleet customers will be happy with the improved economy and lower emissions. Still looks ahead of its time, reminiscent of a vehicle from Mad Max, which has to be a good thing.