How the Toyota C-HR+ stands out in a crowded EV market

Electric car brands are sometimes criticised for selling cars that all look too alike. Smooth, two-box SUVs that play it safe, but are rarely memorable. The all-new Toyota C-HR+ represents the opposite approach. From its sharply sculpted flanks and coupe roofline to a 376-mile range*, and ride comfort that What Car? senior reviewer Dan Jones rates as one of its “strongest points”, the C-HR+ arrives with a clear identity in a segment that’s becoming more competitive by the month.

Built on Toyota’s dedicated eTNGA electric platform – shared with the bZ4X – it’s a genuine from-the-ground-up EV priced from around £35,000, and it takes on the Renault Scenic and Skoda Elroq with a combination of stand-out design, thoughtful technology and the long-term peace of mind that only Toyota’s reliability record and industry-leading warranty can deliver. The C-HR+ is, in short, a car that wants to be chosen, not merely selected.

Learn more about Toyota's electrified range
 

A design that actually turns heads

In a car park full of sensible electric crossovers, the C-HR+ stops people mid-stride. Toyota’s designers have leaned fully into the coupe-SUV brief: a low roofline that tapers dramatically towards the rear, sharply defined character lines, and a wide, planted stance that communicates sportiness. The signature ‘hammerhead’ front end – with its sleek LED headlamps and clean, aerodynamic fascia – gives the car an unmistakable face, while the distinctive ducktail rear spoiler and aerodynamic fins along the rear bumper make its rear design equally compelling.

That aero focus isn’t just cosmetic. The C-HR+ achieves a class-leading drag coefficient of Cd 0.262, contributing directly to its impressive real-world efficiency. Active grille shutters manage airflow at speed, the underfloor is as flat as possible to reduce turbulence, and flush rear door handles and optimised wheel designs all play their part. The result is an SUV that looks sleek and is engineered to be efficient: a rare and appealing combination. Five colours are available, with the Excel grade adding a bi-tone finish as standard, along with an optional panoramic roof for an airy cabin.
 

A ride that impresses even tough critics

For all its sporting visual ambition, the C-HR+ is first and foremost a comfortable car to live with. Dan Jones tested the Design trim and found the ride quality to be the car’s standout achievement: it “irons out bumps remarkably well, yet it manages to stay controlled – it’s not floaty or car-sickness inducing.” His verdict? The C-HR+ “pips the Scenic for comfort and is just as impressive as the Elroq. That’s high praise.”

Toyota’s engineers have earned that respect. The eTNGA platform delivers 30% greater torsional rigidity than the C-HR hybrid, while dropping the centre of gravity by 65mm – a meaningful change that promotes stability and composure. Noise insulation is thorough: only a faint electric motor whine is audible in the cabin, that quickly fades away beneath conversation or music, while wind noise is well managed at motorway speeds. Four levels of regenerative braking – selected via steering wheel paddles – all feel natural and easy to modulate, making the C-HR+ an unfussy, smooth car to drive in any conditions.
 

Range that removes range anxiety

The C-HR+ offers the longest official range of any Toyota BEV currently on sale: up to 376 miles on the WLTP cycle, available on Design and Excel grades with the 77kWh battery and 18-inch wheels. The entry Icon grade with its 57.7kWh battery still manages 284 miles – ample for most weekly driving without drama.*

In real-world conditions, the figures hold up. Dan Jones recorded 5.6mi/kWh on What Car?’s test – exceptional for an electric SUV of this size. Every C-HR+ comes with 150kW DC fast charging as standard, enabling a 10-80% charge in around 28 minutes. Excel grade adds a 22kW AC onboard charger (the standard is 11kW), halving charging times at compatible AC chargers. Battery pre-conditioning – triggerable manually, by schedule, or automatically when navigating to a charger – targets sub-30-minute fast charging even in frosty −10°C weather.
 

Technology that earns its keep

At the centre of the dashboard sits a 14-inch Toyota Smart Connect+ multimedia display – running fast, responsive software with sharp graphics and a logical layout. Dan Jones was particularly taken with the physical controls on the steering wheel: “I really like the amount of physical buttons that you get on the C-HR+’s steering wheel. Not only do they make life easier as you drive along, but they also feel of a good quality.” It’s a meaningful detail in an era when too many EVs bury everything in touchscreen menus.

Two wireless smartphone chargers are standard across the range, as are wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, built-in sat-nav and cloud-based EV routing that proposes charging stops based on real-time consumption – updated dynamically as you drive. The MyToyota app extends control further: monitor battery charge, pre-condition the cabin temperature and schedule charging for the cheapest overnight tariff, all from your phone. Ambient lighting with 64 colour options and plush sustainable seat materials round out an interior that feels considered and upmarket, rather than simply spec’d to win a features list contest.
 

Safety kit and value that set the standard

Toyota Safety Sense is standard across the C-HR+ range, including Toyota’s Pre-Collision System with Intersection Turn Assist, Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Trace Assist, Road Sign Assist, Emergency Driving Stop and a Driver Monitor for fatigue detection. A Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross Traffic Alert with auto braking are standard too. One feature worth singling out: Safe Exit Assist links the ambient door lighting to the Blind Spot Monitor, illuminating door handles red if a door is about to open into the path of following traffic – exactly the kind of quietly useful detail that Toyota does well.

Pricing is competitive. Oliver Young, What Car? reviewer, noted: “I’m glad to see that the pricing is competitive with the Elroq.” At around £35,000 for the Icon before the £1,500 government grant it’s eligible for, and around £37,000 for the Design trim, that verdict is well-founded. Even the Icon is generously equipped: heated front seats and steering wheel, adaptive cruise control, dual-zone climate with a heat pump, parking sensors, a rear-view camera and Toyota’s Advanced Parking Assist are all included from the start.
 

Toyota’s warranty: the most reassuring in the class

Buying an EV is a significant investment, and long-term confidence matters. Toyota ranked fourth out of 31 manufacturers in What Car?’s latest Reliability Survey – ahead of Kia, Renault and Skoda – and backs that reputation with the longest standard warranty in this segment. Every new Toyota is eligible for up to 10 years or 100,000 miles of warranty cover (provided the car is serviced with an authorised dealer from year four), compared with seven years from Kia and just three from Renault and Skoda.

Toyota’s Battery Care Programme extends that confidence further: at least 70% of original battery capacity is guaranteed for up to 10 years or one million miles, subject to an annual health check. For buyers making their first move into electric ownership, that level of assurance is genuinely invaluable – and it underpins an ownership experience that’s designed to be reassuring from the moment of purchase, not just the moment of delivery. Toyota’s reputation for competitive servicing costs and straightforward ownership compounds the advantage: this is a brand that earns loyalty across the full lifecycle of a car, not just at the point of sale.

The Toyota C-HR+ makes its case simultaneously on design, range, ride quality, technology and long-term peace of mind – and does so with a personality that the segment doesn’t always offer. Dan Jones sums it up: “comfortable, well equipped and reasonably priced.” 

For buyers who want an electric family SUV with genuine visual identity, anxiety-free range and the lasting dependability that Toyota has been building its reputation on since launching the Prius hybrid in 1997, the C-HR+ is a compelling and distinctive proposition. Add in pricing that undercuts some key rivals, and the value case sharpens further still. The Design trim, with its 77kWh battery, 376-mile range and 18-inch wheels, is the sweet spot of the range – and a very good reason to make the C-HR+ the next car you test drive.*

Learn more about Toyota's electrified range

*Model shown is Toyota C-HR+. Fuel economy mpg (1/100km): Not applicable. CO2 emissions: 0g/km. Electric range 284 to 376 miles. Electric range figures are the maximum official (WLTP) test values provided for comparison purposes and may not reflect real life driving conditions.