Toyota C-HR Review 2025: Price, specs & boot space

The original incarnation of the Toyota C-HR saw healthy sales notched up across the UK and Europe. The second edition of the small SUV has the potential to do the same, although it has some shortcomings.

The snug front part of the cockpit might not suit larger frames unless the seat is pushed back as far as it can go. Even then, the front seat area is narrow on both sides. Things are just as compact in the back too, which means the latest Toyota C-HR will work for families with smaller children, but anyone with kids approaching their teens might find it all a bit of a squeeze. The theme continues when it comes to boot space.

You can buy the Toyota C-HR in one of four different model grades; Icon, Design, Excel and GR Sport editions along with a special edition called the Orange Edition; no guesses how it got that name. Toyota previously offered a Premiere Edition on the car’s launch too. However, all cars come with respectable levels of comfort and refinement. It’s worth noting though that the entry-level Icon, Design and Excel feature a 1.8-litre hybrid powertrain as standard. Only the GR gets the 2.0-litre hybrid, while the 2.0-litre plug-in hybrid is available as an option on all models apart from the Icon.

Looking more closely at those engines, the Toyota C-HR comes with petrol hybrid powertrain options in the shape of a 138bhp, 1.8-litre, which delivers 136lb ft of torque, closely followed by the 2.0-litre unit that boasts 195bhp and offers up 152lb ft of torque. To be honest, it doesn’t feel like there’s a whole lot to differentiate the two, although after side-by-side drives the 2.0-litre engine felt, to us at least, a little bit smoother when it came to delivering the power. The plug-in makes 220bhp, with more electric assistance to help power it down the road.

With the 2.0 hybrid only offered in the more expensive GR Sport, we’d generally stick with the 1.8-litre if you’re keen to squeeze slightly better economy figures from your purchase. The plug-in hybrid costs quite a bit more up front but if you have somewhere to plug it in, then it may be worth it for the extra performance, and the significant reduction in fuel bills if you keep it long enough to pay off the difference.

There are plenty of crossover rivals to tempt you away from the C-HR, including the likes of the Skoda Karoq, Peugeot 3008, Honda HR-V and hugely popular Nissan Qashqai. However, if you’re keen on making a style statement there’s no denying the visual charm of the new Toyota C-HR, especially if you plump for one of the bi-tone cars with their contrasting roofs.

Overall, the quality and finish of the Toyota C-HR is everything you’d expect from the brand. This is particularly noticeable inside and there’s a nice attention to detail with design features like the wraparound dashboard and a good mix of seat covering and door panel materials.

The overall feel is one of quality, which is reflected in the high-ish asking price. This is boosted even more as you head up the trim range, with top-end models boasting special trim treatments that help make them stand out from the crowd.

The standard edition of the Toyota C-HR comes with a eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system, while the more expensive models get the benefit of the 12.3-inch Toyota Smart Connect+ setup.

The Icon grade car comes with a seven-inch digital driver’s instrument display and Toyota’s Smart Connect multimedia system with eight-inch touchscreen. Convenience details include smart entry, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and automatic wipers, as well as cloud-based navigation, wireless smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and a front USB-C device charging port. Safety and assistance features include the latest, third-generation Toyota Safety Sense with functions including Pre-Crash System, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Trace Assist, Road Sign Assist and Automatic High Beam. There’s a blind-spot monitor that also links to Safe Exit Assist.

The Design grade adds the 12.3-inch customisable driver’s instrument display, 12.3-inch Toyota Smart Connect+ with navigation, front and rear USB-C ports and a wireless phone charger. Meanwhile, the Excel adds ambient interior lighting with 64 colour settings and a panoramic roof. There’s a Panoramic View Monitor that uses a 360-degree camera and the Toyota Safety Sense package is extended with Lane Change Assist, Front Cross Traffic Alert and Adaptive High-beam System headlights. Cornering lights and a driver monitor camera top it off, while the options list includes a premium JBL audio system and a Tech Pack comprising a digital key, head-up display and digital rear-view mirror.

The GR grade gets you a head-up display and JBL audio while the Premium Pack includes a panoramic roof, digital key, digital rear-view mirror, cornering lights and Adaptive High-beam System. This can be boosted with a Safety Pack that adds a driver-monitor camera, Adaptive High-beam System with automatic levelling, cornering lights, Lane Change Assist, Panoramic View Monitor and Front Cross Traffic Alert.

While the design of the Toyota C-HR has always been about turning heads, the space and practicality levels are compromised as a result. This is most noticeable towards the rear of the car, with headroom inside improved slightly thanks to the addition of a panoramic glass sunroof. But the back seats feel as compromised as ever, with less-than-generous levels of legroom and the angled tail-end of the design making it look and feel quite cramped.

Boot space is also compromised. Official figures are yet to appear from Toyota, but be warned that the PHEV edition of the C-HR could provide even less boot space than the standard car

The Toyota C-HR features a hat-trick of power options including 1.8- and 2.0 litre full-hybrid variants plus a 2.0-litre plug-in hybrid which arrived shortly after launch. The 1.8 hybrid system produces a total output of 140PS, or 138bhp. Meanwhile, the 2.0-litre hybrid has a slightly higher output of 197PS (195bhp), and the plug in raises this further with 223PS (220bhp).

Drive with a leaden right foot and you’ll experience some of the high-rev droning that Toyota’s hybrids have always had, but the brand has done a pretty good job of toning it down over the years; it’s less harsh than it used to be and far better insulated. Better performance helps too, since you’re unlikely to need full throttle as often as you might have in the past. The plug-in model is more serene too, since it doesn’t require quite as much effort from the engine, instead using more electric power day-to-day.

In terms of pure numbers, the 1.8-litre will get you from 0-62mph in 10.2 seconds and on to 106mph, the 2.0-litre chips this down to 8.1 seconds and raises top speed to 112mph, while the plug-in hybrid is quickest, at 7.2 seconds from 0-62mph, and tops out at 111mph.

The Toyota C-HR looks great from the outside but open those doors and the interior looks just as plush. It’s nicely put together too and once you’ve hit the road the overall impression is one of cosseted calm. 

No matter what trim level you’ve plumped for, the soundproofing is effective, and the road noise is kept to a minimum. In fact, the only audible factor that spoils the calm somewhat is the enthusiastic revving that comes from either hybrid powertrain when pushed. This, working in tandem with the e-CVT transmission, means the result isn’t quite as hushed as it could be.

Despite being on sale for a few years now, the C-HR hasn't yet been tested by safety organisation Euro NCAP. Even the old model was never put through its paces.

It comes with a raft of the latest safety assistance systems, all from within Toyota’s Safety Sense package. This means drivers get the benefit of adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning and automatic high-beam assistance along with road-sign recognition and autonomous emergency braking.

Toyota is a regular towards the top of reliability and customer satisfaction surveys. The brand finished 8th in the most recent Honest John Satisfaction Index (and third in the reliability category, with Toyota’s luxury brand Lexus topping the list) while the Corolla, available with similar engines to the C-HR, was also third most reliable of the individual cars. Put simply, things look good for the C-HR’s reliability, certainly early on, but likely longer-term too.

The Toyota C-HR’s insurance spans groups 20-29. At the bottom of that range is the Icon, while the 2.0-litre Premiere Edition available at the car’s launch tops the list. The GR Sport is actually a little lower at group 27, and the plug-in version is one group below that, despite its higher list price. A Kia Sportage runs from groups 17, to 26 for one of the plug-in hybrids, so at the bottom end it may be a little cheaper to insure than the Toyota, but there shouldn’t be a huge difference overall.

From April 2025 the UK’s VED car tax policy has changed. Broadly speaking it means that most cars now pay the same flat rate from year two, whatever fuel powers them or whatever CO2 output they produce.

For the C-HR, relatively low CO2 means the first-year rate isn’t too harsh but could be better, with most models attracting a £390 bill, with a handful (including the GR Sport with certain specification changes) falling into the next band up thanks to its 111g/km CO2 rating, and a £440 bill.

From year two onwards, most of the C-HR range will set you back £195 per year. But new buyers beware, because several models in the C-HR range start at more than £40,000, or can be taken above that point with options. This attracts an ‘expensive vehicle’ surcharge, taking the VED bill in years two to six to £620 a year. Existing C-HRs, including all previous-generation models registered since April 2017, will also be subject to the new rates: £195 per year if they originally cost under £40,000, £620 per year for cars up to six years old if they were over that.

The Toyota C-HR is available in Icon, Design, Excel and GR Sport versions, supplemented with a limited Orange Edition. Icon grade models come with 17-inch alloy wheels, flush door handles, powered folding door mirrors and a natty signature Toyota C-HR rear light bar. The cockpit features cloth upholstery, a seven-inch digital instrument display supplemented by Toyota’s Smart Connect multimedia system inside an eight-inch touchscreen. Icon models also get smart entry, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, automatic wipers and cloud-based navigation. 

There’s also wireless smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto along with a front USB-C device charging port. Driver safety and assistance comes in the shape of Toyota’s third-gen Safety Sense, which includes Pre-Crash System, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Trace Assist, Road Sign Assist and Automatic High Beam.

The Toyota C-HR Icon grade features 18-inch alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, a power tailgate and parking sensors with an automatic brake function. Inside the cockpit, there are heated front seats and individual climate control. You also get the benefit of a larger 12.3-inch driver’s display along with a 12.3-inch infotainment screen packing the Toyota Smart Connect+ system that includes navigation.  Wireless charging along with front and rear USB-C charge points also feature. However, it is also possible to add a Skyview fixed panoramic roof with thermal glass along with a bi-tone paint finish as options. 

Move on up to the Excel edition of the Toyota C-HR and it comes with 19-inch machined alloy wheels, bi-tone paintwork, sportier front seats finished in a plush suede effect covering along with ambient lighting that offers a range of 64-different colour settings for the interior. There’s a panoramic glass roof along with a 360-degree camera system and a full suite of driver aids via Toyota’s Safety Sense package, which includes the likes of Lane Change Assist, Front Cross Traffic Alert and adaptive main beam headlights. Additional options include a JBL audio system and Tech Pack that comprises a digital key, head-up display and digital rear-view mirror. 

The Orange Edition slots into the range after Excel trim, and aside from its most obvious feature – a coat of metallic orange paintwork – it also gets a different 19-inch alloy wheel design in a matte dark grey finish, body-colour bumper inserts, and a digital tachometer and standard head-up display normally only available in the Tech Pack.

The Toyota C-HR GR Sport grade takes the interior quality up a notch or two, with additional styling touches based on the Toyota Gazoo Racing theme. Wheels are upgraded to 10-inch GR Sport alloys plus there’s a head-up display and an audio system from JBL. The Premium Pack add-on includes a panoramic glass roof, Panoramic View Monitor and Front Cross Traffic Alert.