Toyota C-HR – crossover creativity

SPOTTING a genuinely stylish car that goes the extra mile for the environment by using the likes of recycled materials and weight saving measures, never mind the advantages of a hybrid powertrain, is something of a find in today’s crowded automotive market.

Enter Toyota’s ‘concept car for the road’ the C-HR compact crossover, with its head-turning coupe character and unconventional design – both inside and out.

The original C-HR proved a breakthrough model for the Japanese brand, notching up more than 840,000 sales, and while the latest generation offers UK customers a choice of 1.8-litre hybrid and 2.0-litre plug-in hybrid versions, only the latter has the promise of 41 miles of fully electric range.

It pairs a 2.0 four cylinder petrol engine with a 13.6kWh battery for a combined output of a hefty 220bhp, giving it sufficient kick to reach 62mph from standstill in 7.4 seconds.

Charging is straightforward in that you can top up in around 2.5 hours from a home wallbox or, failing that, in seven hours using a three-pin plug.

With the battery fully charged the compact Toyota glides away in near silence providing a smooth transition between electric and petrol power, with the former offering sufficient range for most commutes or shopping trips.

Plant your right foot and the C-HR responds with enthusiasm – it’s not going to bother a hot hatch but it feels nippy enough to put a smile on the driver’s face.

The GR Sport treatment sharpens things up too, with more direct steering, impressive body control plus an agile chassis, especially on twisty roads where the Toyota feels composed, eager and engaging.

While the PHEV is available in three trim grades – Design, Excel and GR Sport – opting for the flagship GR Sport makes quite a difference, adding some design touches inspired by Toyota Gazoo Racing.

So the likes of 20-inch machined alloy wheels, a head-up display, panoramic roof, JBL audio set-up and cornering lights are all included in a compact crossover that looks more concept car than production model – all sharp creases, plunging roofline and aggressive front end.

Move inside and the dash area is dominated by a 12.3-inch touchscreen and matching digital display. The graphics are sharp and you also get Android Auto and Apple CarPlay while GR Sport trim adds more body-hugging ventilated sports seats plus contrast stitching.

It’s a modern, pleasant cabin but one let down by a lack of space in that there just isn’t sufficient room in the back for a pair of adults to feel properly comfortable. It’s okay for kids but falls short on headroom for any tall rear occupant.

And if the rear seats are slid forward to accommodate longer legs then it impacts on a front seat passenger.

There are also quite small windows, making the interior feel dark, though GR Sport models do come with a panoramic roof which brightens things up considerably.

The 310-litre boot is smaller than you get with standard hybrid versions of the C-HR due to space needed for the PHEV’s battery pack, but there’s still a decent amount of room for carrying larger items when the rear seats are folded down, which opens up 1,076 litres.

At the end of the day though this is a car with serious personality, one that looks the real deal and offers terrific efficiency, low running costs, engaging performance and standout design.