Toyota C-HR+ review 2026: Prices, specs and verdict

What is the Toyota C-HR+?

The Toyota C-HR+ is an electric SUV that has the potential to shake up the EV market.

While it may share its name with Toyota’s popular C-HR SUV, the ‘+’ model is actually based on the all-electric bZ4X. This means it’s larger than the hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of the C-HR, with the promise of improved handling, better tech and a maximum range of 377 miles.

It’s worth noting that Toyota has form when it comes to building capable SUVs. We are big fans of the Yaris Cross and RAV4, while the Lexus LBX and NX are excellent premium offerings.

As with all Toyotas, the C-HR+ is backed by the Japanese company’s hard-earned reputation for build quality and reliability. This is reflected by the manufacturer’s warranty protection for up to 10 years or 100,000 miles.

The EV battery in the C-HR+ is covered for up to 10 years or one million miles (whichever comes first), which is impressive.

If the C-HR+ is to succeed, Toyota has to beat the Skoda Elroq, Renault Scenic E-Tech and Kia EV3. It also takes on the best small electric cars.

Can the Toyota C-HR+ rise above the rest and become one of the best electric SUVs money can buy? Read our review to find out

Verdict: is the Toyota C-HR+ a good car?

The C-HR+ is a solid offering from Toyota. It has excellent range, lots of equipment as standard and a well-rounded driving experience. It’s also easy to live with and very user friendly.

That’s not to say there aren’t any shortcomings. In our opinion, the C-HR+ isn’t as practical as its rivals and rear-seat comfort could be better. However, given its excellent value, we think the C-HR+ is a stylish and capable EV.

Pricing, specs & rivals

Prices for the Toyota C-HR+ start at £32,995 for the entry-level Icon model, which comes with a 57.7kW battery that covers up to 284 miles on a full charge.

We'd recommend spending more on the Design trim (£35,495) as it gets the larger 77kWh battery and an official range of 377 miles.

You’ll pay £39,495 for the range-topping Excel 77kWh model. All prices include electric car grant deductions.

In comparison, the Skoda Elroq with the 63kWh battery starts at around £32,470 (including the ECG deduction) and rises to £35,560 for the cheapest version with the 82kWh battery. You’ll need £35,495 for the entry-level Renault Scenic 87kWh.

Toyota has a reputation for being generous when it comes to standard equipment and the C-HR+ continues this trend with LED lighting, alloy wheels, heated front seats, touchscreen navigation, parking sensors, adaptive cruise control and a reversing camera included on all models. 

Design trim doesn’t get much in the way of extra kit (just privacy glass for the rear windows and a powered tailgate) but you do get the 77kWh battery and more powerful 224hp electric motor.

Excel spec adds a 360-degree camera, powered adjustment for the driver’s seat, synthetic leather and suede upholstery. You also get headlamp washer jets and a front cross warning system that alerts you of approaching traffic at junctions.

A set of 20in alloys are also fitted as standard on Excel, while all other versions get 18in wheels.

Rivals

The Toyota C-HR+ rivals the Skoda Elroq, Renault Scenic, Nissan Leaf and Peugeot e-3008. It also competes with the Hyundai Kona Electric and Kia EV3.

You may also want to consider saving money and choosing some of the best small electric cars, which includes the Citroen e-C3, BYD Dolphin and MINI Cooper Electric.

Toyota C-HR+: Interior comfort, quality & technology

The interior of the electric C-HR+ feels like a significant upgrade over the hybrid C-HR with a user-friendly design and lots of soft-touch materials.

If you look hard enough, you’ll find a few hard and cheap plastics, but generally everything you see and touch has a high-quality fit and finish. It doesn’t quite match the Skoda Elroq for outright quality, but it’s on par with what you get in the Renault Scenic and Nissan Leaf.

Finding a good driving position is easy. Both the steering wheel and driver’s seat has a good range of adjustment, while all versions of the C-HR+ feature power lumbar support for the driver’s seat.

Forward visibility is fine with slim pillars and a large windscreen, but the small rear window and thick rear pillars do obscure your view. That shouldn’t be a big issue, given all versions of the C-HR+ get a reversing camera and parking sensors as standard.

The driver’s instruments are displayed on a 7in screen that sits at the top of the dashboard. It does eat into the windscreen view a little and you must adjust the steering wheel to ensure it doesn’t block the driver’s instruments.

We didn’t have any issues finding a comfortable driver’s set up, but some people might find the driver’s instrument layout awkward to use.

The dashboard itself doesn’t have many physical buttons, but you get dials to control the heating and audio volume. The steering wheel also has lots of buttons, which means you can change a radio station or adjust the volume without needing to use the touchscreen.

Infotainment, sat-nav, stereo and connectivity

All versions of the C-HR+ get a 14in touchscreen that’s similar to the system you find in Toyota’s posh Lexus models.

The screen has a pair of physical dials to adjust the temperature. Everything else is operated via the screen, which has large icons and sharp graphics. The menu system is logical, so finding your way around the various functions is straightforward.

All versions of the C-HR+ get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, which lets you mirror your mobile phone on the 14in screen.

The only area of disappointment is the quality of the display and graphics within the 7in digital driver’s display behind the steering wheel, which looks a generation or two behind the quality of the touchscreen.   

A 6-speaker audio system is standard on all trim levels, while Design models get the option of 9-speakers with an 800W amplifier and a 9-inch subwoofer.

Charging mobile devices is easy, with four USB sockets (two in the front, two in the back). You also get a pair of wireless charging pads in the centre console.

How practical is the Toyota C-HR+?

At 4,530mm long, the Toyota C-HR+ is bigger than the hybrid C-HR. It is also 60mm longer than the Renault Scenic; however, despite being 6mm wider (1,870mm), the C-HR+ isn’t as spacious or as practical as its rivals.

Admittedly, those in the front get plenty of legroom, along with a generous amount of head and shoulder space. But things are less impressive in the rear.

If you are over six foot in height, you’ll find that your head may touch the ceiling in the rear seats. Your knees will also brush the front seatbacks.

Those who draw the short straw and sit in the middle get very little legroom, due to the raised floor and air vents that protrude into the passenger space.

The Renault Scenic and Skoda Elroq are superior when it comes to passenger space. We also rate smaller rivals, such as the EV3, as being more comfortable for four adults over a long journey.

If you have young children, the Toyota C-HR+ will be fine. You get two Isofix anchor points on the outer rear seats. The wide door openings provide enough room to comfortably lift a child seat in/out.

Storage and boot space

The Toyota C-HR+ has 416 litres of boot space, which is sufficient for a couple of bulky suitcases or the weekly shop, but both the Skoda Elroq (470) and Renault Scenic (545) are more practical.

Even alongside smaller rivals, such as the Ford Puma Gen-E (523 litres) and Kia EV3 (460 litres), the C-HR+ feels lacking. Its boot opening is also quite narrow with a high loading lip that makes it awkward to load heavy items.

You do get underfloor storage, which is handy for storing the charging cable. The 60/40 split-fold rear seats provide the flexibility to carry people and bulky items at the same time, but it’s not as impressive as the 40/20/40 split you get in the Scenic.

Inside, there is no glovebox and the door pockets are very narrow, which means they can carry very little. But you do get a decent scattering of cup and bottle holders. There is also a tray under the centre console for keys, loose change and general family car detritus.  

Performance & drive: What is the Toyota C-HR+ like on the road?

If you are switching to an electric car for the first time, the Toyota C-HR+ will make the transition a painless process. It is easy to use, good to drive and surprisingly sprightly when it comes to road performance.

The entry-level Icon version of the C-HR+ has the lowest power output (167hp) and the smallest battery. We’d suggest that you skip this version unless you only plan to potter about town. All other versions get a bigger battery and 224hp.

A rotary dial on the centre console engages drive and the C-HR+ effortlessly wafts along with only a low-pitched hum from the electric motor breaking the silence. 

Performance is brisk, with the 224hp version of the C-HR+ covering 0-62mph in 7.3 seconds. Acceleration from 40-60mph is swift, too, which means overtaking slow moving traffic or joining a busy motorway is a smooth and safe process.

There are four levels of regenerative braking, activated easily using paddle shifts behind the steering wheel; the maximum setting reduces the need for the brake pedal and allows for one-pedal driving.

Power, 0-62mph times 

• Toyota C-HR+ Icon / 8.4 seconds
• Toyota C-HR+ Design / 7.3 seconds
• Toyota C-HR+ Excel / 7.3 seconds

Ride and handling

The Toyota C-HR+ is good to drive, with nicely weighted steering and a natural, progressive feel for the both the accelerator and brake pedals. For best comfort, choose the 18in wheels as we think the 20s add a firmer edge to the ride.

All versions of the C-HR+ use front-wheel drive, which is generally sufficient for the electric powertrain with lots of grip. However, if you choose 224hp model, you might notice a little wheel slip if you floor the throttle as you pull out of a junction.

Other than that, Toyota has got the ride and handling pretty much spot on. The C-HR+ is relaxing to drive in town, with the steering feeling light but responsive under 30mph. The weighting firms up nicely as you build speed, which means you can make a genuine connection with the road as you push the C-HR+ through a series of turns.

Noise and refinement

As with many electric cars, the Toyota C-HR+ is generally quiet. The only exception we found was on the motorway with the Excel model on 20in wheels, with the tyres emitting some noise at 70mph.

On 18in wheels road noise is well supressed and there is little wind noise from the exterior, thanks to the car’s streamlined drag coefficient of Cd 0.262.

Euro NCAP: is the Toyota C-HR+ a safe car?

The Toyota C-HR+ hasn’t been tested by Euro NCAP, but the bZ4X (on which this car is based) did score a maximum five-star Euro NCAP rating when it was tested in 2022.

All versions of the C-HR+ get Toyota’s Safety Sense package fitted as standard, which includes a range of tech to keep you safe on the road. This includes adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert and automatic high beam.

You also get a low-speed acceleration suppression system, which restricts sharp or accidental acceleration if another vehicle or a pedestrian is detected in front of the vehicle.

Charging, range and running costs

The Toyota C-HR+ can cover up to 377 miles on a full charge, which is competitive alongside the Renault Scenic (381 miles) and Skoda Elroq (360 miles).

The entry-level Icon trim has the smallest battery (57.7kWh) which has a maximum range of 284 miles, while Design and Excel spec get the larger 77kWh battery.

The headline 377-mile range only applies to the C-HR+ in Design spec, with the Excel on 20in wheels advertised with 347 miles.

This is because the 20in wheels look sportier but are heavier and create more rolling resistance, which means the vehicle needs more energy to move, reducing the range.

Battery preconditioning and an energy-saving heat pump are fitted as standard, with the latter improving efficiency in the winter months by using thermal energy from outside air to heat the cabin.

Range on a charge (WLTP figures)

• Toyota C-HR+ Icon: 284 miles
• Toyota C-HR+ Design: 377 miles
• Toyota C-HR+ Excel: 347 miles

All versions of the C-HR+ get a maximum charging rate of 150kWh, which is on par with the Renault Scenic and ahead of the Kia EV3 (135kWh) but behind the Skoda Elroq 85 which manages up to 175kWh.

An 11kW onboard AC charger is included as standard while the Excel trim gets a 22kW unit. That a handy feature that many rival EVs don’t offer, allowing you to make the most of AC destination chargers or three-phase power supplies.

Battery pre-conditioning (fitted as standard) allows the C-HR+ to charge from 10% to 80% in less than 30 minutes in temperatures as low as -10°C.

Charging speeds

• 11kW (10 to 80% charge): 4 hr 48 min
• 22kW (10 to 80% charge): 2hr 12 min
• 150kW DC (10 to 80% charge): 28 min

How much does the Toyota C-HR+ cost to insure?

Insurance for the entry-level Toyota C-HR+ in Icon spec starts in insurance group 33 and rises to 37 for the Design spec. The range-topping Excel version also sits in group 37.

In comparison, the Renault Scenic is in group 32 – 34 while the Skoda Elroq is cheaper to insure owing to its lower grouping, which ranges from 27 – 32.