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Toyota C-HR PHEV Test Drive

On the Road 66 ... km

by Philippe Lacroix
Toyota has extended the range of its C-HR with a rechargeable hybrid version capable of travelling
up to 66 km in 100% electric mode. The starting price is €44,900.

limited to 180 km/h. from the electric motor when additional power
Equipped with a is needed. This results in fuel consumption of
CVT gearbox, the around 4.5 litres, which is less than that of a
clutchless dual- C-HR hybrid that is 180 kg lighter!
e n g i n e sy s te m As for Charge mode, it can be used to recharge
consumes much the battery using energy generated by the
less fuel than most petrol engine, so that the EV mode is available
of the competing in the city and in areas reserved for ‘clean’
plug-in hybrids when cars. The fuel consumption will obviously be
operating in hybrid higher as a result.
mode.
Improved Quality and Comfort
4 Driving Modes The perceived quality is noticeable in the
Available cabin thanks to the optimised materials used,
In 2017, Toyota gave birth to the C-HR, an The EV mode is activated at startup and but the dashboard remains too conventional
SUV shaped like a coupe, with a style that enables the car to be driven in 100% electric compared to the exterior design, and the
was ‘hybrid’ yet very dynamic and somewhat mode (with 163 bhp) for 80 km in urban areas space between driver and passenger is too
masculine. Initially its lines might have been and 40 km on the motorway. significant. The very large central screen is
found jarring by some, but its sporty looks The auto mode engages the gasoline engine easy enough to use, but not intuitive enough.
soon won over almost everyone, and success (providing 223 bhp) when more power is The head-up display is a welcome addition.
came fast. But above all, the C-HR had another required. On a mixed route of around a However, it should be noted that the boot has
lethal weapon under its hood: namely a hybrid hundred kilometres the fuel consumption lost 54 litres compared to the hybrid version,
powertrain version expertly developed by barely exceeded 3 litres. and is now 310 litres.
Toyota, the champion and forerunner in the The HV mode is engaged when the battery The comfort level on the road is very high
field. This version soon filled the bulk of the reaches a low level of charge, or can be thanks to good damping and efficient
order books, prompting the manufacturer selected manually to preserve the battery sound insulation. The engine speed on the
to abandon the model powered solely by a charge. On a long journey, the 152 bhp motorway has been reduced by 500 rpm, and
combustion engine. Even some taxi drivers combustion engine is therefore used the continuously variable transmission has
have swapped their Prius for the sexier-looking continuously, with occasional assistance become almost imperceptible.
C-HR, knowing that it has retained the same
highly efficient technology that keeps it cost-
effective.

225 bhp for the Plug-in Hybrid
The end of 2023 saw the arrival of the second
generation of the C-HR, exclusively as a hybrid.
This new model showcases an even more
sophisticated design and offers two engine
options: a 1.8 litre 4-cylinder engine producing
140 bhp and a 2-litre engine delivering 197
bhp, the latter is also available with 4-wheel
drive. The rechargeable hybrid (PHEV) version
is ready for use with a 163 bhp electric motor
on the front axle, powered by a 13.6 kWh
lithium-ion battery, and a 152 bhp 2-litre petrol
engine ready for use in the spring of 2024. The
combined power output is 223 bhp, with the
vehicle accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in
7.4 seconds. The top speed is electronically

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