Years in the making

When it comes to hybrid vehicles, we’re always expecting a lot – however, in many cases, these cars simply aren’t able to live up to the expectations set by the manufacturers. With this in mind, it’s highly worth considering how the car performs outside of the test results themselves and see how it stacks up in the real-world over a period of time. After 3 years of ownership, we see how the Toyota C-HR holds up.

The Basics

A unique crossover with a clean-cut, sharp finish that’s sure to attract attention, there’s undeniably a lot to love about the Toyota C-HR. It’s easy to see the sort of inspiration the designers had for this model, and it’s safe to say they’ve managed to produce an excellent crossover. What’s more, the vehicle is a self-charging hybrid, running on both electricity and petrol. There is no diesel version available.

We are reviewing the 2018 1.8 DYNAMIC Sport 5d AUTO 122 BHP model on this occasion. The vehicle is capable of towing an impressive 725kg in total, making it very handy if you’re looking for a vehicle capable of doing so. Many different functions within the vehicle are automated, including – headlights, wipers, and start/stop functions, making it easier than ever to get going. Meanwhile, additional comfort features within the model include heated seats, noise-reduction, telescopic steering wheel, illuminated entry systems, and electric power steering. You’ll also be getting lane assist, cruise control, a reverse camera, safety sensors, and even a self-parking feature. You even get shopping bag hooks, making it easier to get your shopping from the store and into your cupboards.

Meanwhile, premium-quality materials and an eye for detail during the construction process make the Toyota C-HR undeniably classy and sophisticated throughout the interior. There’s also a healthy 377 litre boot, which is plenty of space for your weekly shop. The model comes in a selection of different colors, including a clean white or dramatic black, or even a bright bold red or deep orange. No matter what colour you pick, the Toyota C-HR is sure to turn heads, and even though we first saw it way back in 2016, we still haven’t got tired of its clean-cut looks.

Brand new, the Toyota C-HR will likely set you back around £33,000 for a good model – however, the prices for second-hand models are likely to be much more affordable.

How Does it Perform in Real Life?

While the Toyota C-HR sounds terrific on paper, we all know that the real-world performance can be a little different, especially over a longer period of time – that being said, the Toyota C-HR still performs well years down the line.

Generally speaking, this particular model lives up to expectations relatively well. Sure, it’s not in line with the manufacturer’s fuel economy predictions, but when motorway driving you can reach 80mpg, which isn’t too shabby by anyone’s definition. Fuel economy can take a little hit though when making small slow drives into town – hitting lows as little as 30mpg. Meanwhile, the car is easy to drive, with good responsive steering, and comfortable on both short and long journeys.

In terms of interior design, it’s pretty apparent that the interior leather is fake across the dashboard, which is a shame. Nevertheless, the interior design is still very decent, but passengers in the back may have to prepare for a more claustrophobic experience – this is thanks to the very small rear windows and cramped feel of the rear seats. This shouldn’t be a problem if you have young children, but might be something to think about if you have adults in the back on long journeys.

In terms of resale value, the Toyota C-HR also leads the way in terms of depreciation. As such, after 30,000 miles with the average-spec model, you can expect to achieve roughly 61% of the original value upon resale. This isn’t necessarily such great news for second-hand buyers, but it does mean good news for sellers.

Conclusion

Thanks to its reliability, comfortability, fuel economy on motorways and resell value, it’s easy to see why the Toyota C-HR is so popular. But, it’s not all 5-star across the board, you will have complaints from adult passengers sitting in the rear seats thanks to its claustrophobic experience, and that fuel economy falls dramatically when making slow drives into town. But, that being said, finding a car that ticks all of the boxes can be tough, there does come a time when you’ve got to compromise on some things.

FOR
Great features
Good fuel economy on motorways
Stunning looks
Comfortable interior
Resell value
Reliable

AGAINST
Small rear passenger windows
Fuel economy on short drives

8/10