Toyota’s Tesla beater: This is the affordable EV we have been waiting for
Toyota has revealed the C-HR+, the brand’s third EV and its most convincing effort yet.
In top-rung 255kW (342hp) form it is one of the most powerful cars it has ever made.
Described by the firm as the “core” model in its electric car line-up, it gives the brand a foothold in the popular but congested C-SUV segment.
The car was originally tipped to carry the bZ3X nameplate and is based on the bZ Compact SUV concept, unveiled in 2022.
It remains largely true to that concept, with a long raked roofline and extended bonnet. Like its hybrid-powered C-HR range-mate, it’s book-ended by a full-width rear light bar and Toyota’s new ‘hammerhead’ front-end design.
At 4520mm long, the C-HR+ will be positioned between the recently revealed Urban Cruiser crossover and the larger bZ4X in Toyota’s EV range.
Its size pits it against the likes of the Volvo EC40, Smart #3, Mini Countryman, BMW iX2 and Tesla Model Y. Toyota’s new EV is likely to undercut these rivals, though, with pricing predicted to start from around £38,000.
A 2750mm wheelbase results in cabin space that is a “class above” its rivals, according to Toyota. Although no exact measurements have been given, the firm claims the C-HR+ offers more than “typically expected of a C-SUV”. However, at 416 litres, boot space is at the lower end of the class.
Interior options include two wireless smartphone chargers, air-con controls for rear occupants and a panoramic roof.
The C-HR+ is 168mm longer than the hybrid C-HR and is positioned as its electric alternative despite being technically unrelated.
Toyota says the ‘+’ suffix signifies “added versatility and practicality” over its namesake as well as the “specific qualities and benefits of the BEV powertrain”.
Toyota Europe CEO Yoshihiro Nakata said: “We wanted to bring all the passion, emotion and success of the C-HR to the BEV segment, so in this space it shares the same DNA.”
Based on the e-TNGA platform also used by bZ4X, the C-HR+ is offered with either a 57.7kWh or 77kWh battery.
Its WLTP range of up to 600km (373 miles) makes it one of the longest-range cars in the segment. An 11kW on-board charger is standard and high-spec models get a 22kW unit. DC fast charging tops out at 150kW.
The C-HR+ can be had with front-wheel drive or, exclusively with the 77kWh pack, all-wheel drive. Power levels begin at 167hp, rise to 223hp and top out at 342hp in dual-motor, all-wheel-drive form.
This beats the standard 3.0-litre six-pot GR Supra by 2hp. For power output, the EV is beaten only by the 429bhp GR Supra Final Edition as the most powerful Toyota to date, although that sports coupé is sold in very limited numbers. Toyota claims the C-HR+ is “fun to drive”, thanks to the rigidity of the platform, bespoke-tuned suspension, stiffened anti-roll bars and responsive steering.
This, Toyota says, is what sets it apart from the bZ4X. Expect prices to start from roughly 40,000 euros (£35,000)
Toyota has reaffirmed its commitment to releasing a further three new EVs by the end of 2026 – and Lexus will launch another two in the next 12 months. A trio of silhouettes suggest that the new Toyota EVs will be an SUV, a pick-up and a fastback. The SUV could be a production version of 2023’s Land Cruiser Se concept, Toyota has hinted. Meanwhile, Lexus is likely to release its own variants of the C-HR+ and Urban Cruiser but details remain scarce. Toyota has also committed to introducing the next-generation EV tech that it previewed in 2023, such as advanced and low-cost lithium ion batteries and high-performance solid-state packs, before 2030 – while also developing new ICEs and continuing its push with hydrogen and alternative fuels.
