OJAI, Calif.—You’re at all times going to have somebody who will poo-poo an EV with lower than 300 miles, saying it doesn’t have sufficient vary. My take a look at is at all times whether or not I feel I can get to my mother’s home 200 miles away with out stopping. However now that extra charging stations are popping up, that is much less of a giant deal. And, frankly, most individuals won’t ever want as a lot vary as they assume they do. So, after I drove the 2026 Toyota C-HR, I didn’t contemplate the vary to be a ding.
2026 Toyota C-HR
In actual fact, there wasn’t a lot I didn’t like about this new compact electrical SUV from Toyota.
The authentic C-HR in Toyota’s lineup was a compact, entry-level gas-powered SUV. It was launched in 2018 however disappeared after 2022 as a result of it simply didn’t promote properly within the U.S. It had an affordable inside, lackluster energy, and it was too costly for what it was. Plus, no all-wheel-drive (AWD) possibility.
Enter the 2026 C-HR, and it’s a very totally different story. It’s an EV with loads of energy, customary AWD, and the inside is enticing with a whole lot of customary up-level options. It’s about 5 inches longer than the defunct gasoline mannequin, nevertheless it shares the identical coupe-like styling and a rear door deal with that’s hidden within the C-Pillar.
So, what’s the vary on the 2026 Toyota C-HR?
As beforehand alluded to, the vary of the C-HR is lower than 300 miles, however not by a lot. Within the base SE trim, you’re taking a look at 287 miles of vary. This drops to 273 miles of vary if you improve to the XSE trim. The distinction is probably going as a result of bigger wheels on the XSE—20 versus 18 inches—and a few further content material on the XSE that in all probability provides some weight.
However right here’s the factor, the 2026 Toyota C-HR comes with a North American Charging Commonplace (NACS) port, which suggests it could cost up on the fashionable Tesla Superchargers. Moreover, it comes customary with a NACS-to-CCS charging adapter, which opens up charging functionality to just about each quick cost station on the market. So, you’ve a whole lot of choices if it’s essential to make a pitstop on a highway journey. For at-home charging, in the event you don’t need to set up a house charger, it comes with a dual-voltage 120V/240V AC charging cable.
Toyota estimates which you can go from 10% to 80% of a cost in about half-hour through a DC quick charger.
It’s a spicy, sporty SUV
As an AWD automobile, the 2026 Toyota C-HR has twin motors, delivering a web mixed 338 horsepower. And, as a result of it’s an EV, it has a whole lot of enjoyable, instantaneous acceleration. The 0-to-60-mph time is 4.9 seconds, nevertheless it undoubtedly felt quite a bit sooner!
With an general size of 177.9 inches, it was extremely maneuverable in tight areas, and it felt strong on light curves and whereas rounding corners. We had been on floor streets throughout our drive as an alternative of highways, however in some ways in which’s a greater take a look at as a result of floor streets have a whole lot of imperfections. The C-HR smoothed out the worst of the bumps and had a really comfy trip. It was additionally actually, actually quiet contained in the cabin.
In our e book this has a pleasant twin character with sedate EV quietude however some spicy dealing with strikes when wanted.
A couple of of our favourite issues
There’s quite a bit to love on the 2026 Toyota C-HR. Gone are a budget supplies and loud engine from the unique mannequin. As a substitute, you’ve a whole lot of premium customary facilities like an influence carry gate, heated entrance seats and steering wheel, giant infotainment display screen, twin wi-fi chargers, wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, entrance and rear computerized braking, and blind spot monitoring.
I’m additionally an enormous fan of the general seat consolation—each with the bottom fabric and up-level leatherette upholstery. Plus, within the again seat, although this can be a compact SUV, you do have legroom for a median sized grownup in addition to air vents and USB-C cost ports.
The C-HR is general a well-put-together electrical SUV.
What we might change
As at all times, nevertheless, there are some things that might have been accomplished higher. First up, and it will shock nobody, the wi-fi telephone chargers are lower than excellent. They’re sluggish to cost, and so they do warmth up your telephone over time. So, they’re OK for brief errand-running drives, however not nice for a protracted highway journey.
Filed below the class of “brief individual downside,” the facet buttons to open the armrest are in a clumsy location for somebody who has their seat in a far-forward place. The button on the motive force’s facet was primarily unreachable for me as a result of it was blocked by the bolster of the motive force’s seat.
Lastly, as an SUV, the cargo space is open to the passenger area, which permits for some inventive cargo stowage. Nevertheless, Toyota didn’t put a launch mechanism for the rear seats within the cargo space, so if you wish to fold the seats flat you must do the run round to every outboard rear seat to launch the latch to place the seats down. The bZ Woodland, which is constructed on the identical platform in the identical plant, has these rear launch latches. It doesn’t seem to be it might be that costly or tough so as to add them to the C-HR as properly.
Pricing and trim ranges
The 2026 CH-R comes customary with AWD, and it has simply two well-equipped trims ranges.
SE ($38,450): It comes customary with 18-inch wheels, energy carry gate, rain-sensing wipers, low-profile roof rails, premium fabric seats, eight-way energy adjustable driver’s seat, six-way handbook adjusting passenger seat, heated entrance seats and steering wheel, 14-inch infotainment display screen, twin wi-fi telephone chargers, three USB-C cost ports, Toyota Security Sense 3.0, entrance and rear parking sensors, computerized ahead and reverse braking, and blind spot monitoring.
XSE ($40,450): This trim provides 20-inch wheels, leatherette seats with sueded inserts, an eight-way energy adjustable passenger seat, driver reminiscence seat, hands-free low-speed Visitors Jam Help, lane change help, and a 360-degree digicam. Choices on this trim embrace a panoramic roof, JBL audio, and the cold-weather bundle with a headlight cleaner and heated rear seats.
Our take:
Whereas the 2026 Toyota C-HR isn’t the $25,000 “inexpensive” EV we had been hoping for, we expect there’s a whole lot of worth right here with the usual facilities, NACS cost port, customary CCS adapter, and AWD. It’s comfy, quiet, and peppy, and it’ll make an excellent get-around, year-round EV for the proper individual.
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2026 Toyota C-HR Footage
