Toyota C-HR is especially known as a hybrid, at first about 75 percent of buyers chose this particular powertrain. Plus, until the 2020 facelift, there was a conventional turbocharged 1.2-liter four-cylinder with a manual transmission and 116 hp. At least 49 Toyota C-HR owners and drivers have left a review on AutoWeek.nl and for this article we selected stories with a reader rating of 66 percent or higher. So you’re not reading the best of the best here, but rather the best of the best. It is a coincidence that this only concerns cars with engines with engines 1.8 Hybrid (122 HP) and 2.0 Hybrid (184 HP), although these are the most relevant.

Toyota C-HR: space and seating comfort

When you look at the Toyota C-HR, you might conclude that it must be narrow. That sloping roofline simply doesn’t do much good. From a practical point of view, it turns out to be very good with space. “The leg and height are enough for 1.90 metres,” the tall owner wrote. “Even in the back seat, but recline your head nicely when entering. At 1.95m, I think it will be cramped with headroom in the backseat and the co-driver’s seat.”

“Another important point for us as a family with three (dying) children,” writes the C-HR owner since 2019, “and that’s the space in the front and back. My wife and I are about six feet tall. My oldest son has already outgrown me, so enough space in The back is a must. Despite the sloping roof, my son can also sit comfortably, both in terms of knee and head room. They can also properly seat three people, but it would be a bit difficult to have three adults in the back for a while longer.”

The space is good, although visualizing this space feels like a different story. “The feeling of lack of space is mainly due to the tinted windows and the fact that the rear seats are located on the same level as the rear pillars,” wrote the owner of the first version of the C-HR in 2016. Which makes this feeling arise.”

The pre-facelift Toyota C-HR was part of our endurance test fleet in 2017.

Handling Toyota C-HR

If you write about a modern Toyota, it’s hard not to mention former Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda and his statement “No more boring cars.” Despite the somewhat faltering quote now, the C-HR grew nicely out of that philosophy. Users note this not only from the design, but also from the handling. “The car has 122 hp, which isn’t much for such a heavy car, but I still think it’s enough. After all, I chose the hybrid with the idea of ​​driving economically,” said the owner of the 2019 version. The car still has a very good chassis that sometimes yearns for 100 More horsepower. At higher speeds, the C-HR corners very tight and I experience a bit of rolling.”

It has been approved by the driver from the start. “The sporty chassis invites you to take turns a little faster than necessary.” You’re not just doing it for fun, of course: “This has the advantage that fuel is also saved, because now you need less energy to get back up to speed.”

Thus, the C-HR behaves quite sporty, but, according to drivers, is quite comfortable. However, many drivers note that the car is not the quietest at highway speed. “In the city and on country roads it is drivable for short distances remarkably and electrically quietly, and on motorways over 110 km/h there is still a lot of wind and road noise due to limited isolation,” the 1.8 Hybrid from 2018 notes the owners of the 2.0. Hybrid, which became available after the facelift in 2020, offers a significant reduction in driving noise. The owner who upgraded from 1.8 to 2.0 Hybrid writes: “The car is quieter and that will have to do with the better insulation as well as the heavier engine.”

Hybrid powertrain

Not only are road and wind noises present, the engine also likes to be heard. “The C-HR is still great. I still can’t really get used to the roar of the engine when you really accelerate,” says the owner of the C-HR 1.8 Hybrid Premium. “The Toyota has 122bhp in Sport mode, but you just noticed the 1,500kg car has a hard time with that,” says another. “You almost have to put it to the ground to get a little bit of torque and power to get on the highway, for example. And you hear that. Lots of roaring to get you up to speed a little bit.” Driver 2.0 has the advantage again: “What a nice car, with more than enough power always available. Driving away at the toll gates with a big dot of gas continues to be fun. Even uphill, the engine remains quieter than it is with C-HR 1.8″.

Infotainment and controls

We’ve already seen that Toyota doesn’t excel in infotainment systems with the RAV4. The C-HR system also receives due criticism. “The infotainment/nav/radio system is very slow and doesn’t respond as quickly as you would like,” says one owner. The car is from November 2018 but the navigation is 3 years old. Just a pity.” He shares experience with several drivers: “The infotainment system is very outdated. Everything works, but that’s it. For a car worth over €36,000, Toyota could have done more with this.”

And yes, there’s the 2.0 Hybrid driver again: “I always found the multimedia in the previous C-HR a bit sluggish on startup, but now it’s a lot faster. With the addition of Android Auto, it’s quite nice.” The owner of another copy after a facelift shares the same experience. “Navigation is simple and quick and can be refreshed at home. The screen is pressure sensitive in a good way. You don’t have to press hard, but you don’t have to press soft either.” He points out another feature: “For important functions, there are still physical buttons. The buttons don’t look cheap either. The blue interior lighting doesn’t bother you while driving and looks good.

disturbances and irritability;

The C-HR doesn’t have any really big problems. The most common problem seems to be with the DAB receiver. The digital radio signal breaks for many users, and the external antenna offered as a solution provides no solace. On at least one car, an external cause could be identified: “The loss of signal turned out to be caused by the 12v to 5v USB power supply from the dashcam supplied by Toyota, which, by the way, appears to be Chinese (inferior) quality. I had to find that cause.” Myself. My dealer installed a different power supply that worked without discussion, and I’ve had an excellent reception ever since.” As with the RAV4, the C-HR’s driver encountered a flat 12-volt onboard battery, which prevented the car from starting.

The Toyota C-HR is a huge hit, and if the owners are to be believed, it’s not for nothing. The car feels more spacious than it looks and drives perfectly. However, there is wind and engine noise, especially with the 1.8 Hybrid and versions from before the facelift. After the facelift, not only has the insulation improved, and the infotainment system no longer causes irritation. If Toyota continues this streak, it seems that the new C-HR also has a glorious career ahead.