Toyota C-HR review

The Toyota C-HR is much easier to get in and out of than its high-riding coupé looks might suggest. The driving seat is a reasonable 676mm from the road, which is not too much of a drop down. You can’t get a height-adjustable seat on entry-level Icon trim, so if you want one, you’ll need to go for the next trim level up, Design.

The door opening is a good size but there’s a 410mm step up from the ground to the door sill. The drop from the sill to the car floor is also quite high, at 130mm. For comparison, the figures for the Mazda CX-30 are 420mm and 123mm.

The C-HR has you covered if you need an automatic gearbox – in fact, there are no manual options. There are two petrol engines available, both of which are hybrids: a 120bhp 1.8-litre and a more potent 181bhp 2.0-litre unit.

Seat adjustment is manual for both front seats, with the driver’s adding electrically adjustable lumbar support. Both front seats are heated, but there’s no adjustable lumbar support for the front passenger. You’ll also have to step up to Excel for full electric seat adjustment.

All C-HR models have adaptive cruise control as standard, plus automatic lights and wipers with automatic full beam, but you’ll need to step up to Design trim if you want front and rear parking sensors.