Our Thoughts Exactly: 2026 Toyota C-HR

The Toyota C-HR is back!

Wait a minute! That doesn’t look like one. It looks larger than the original one. What gives?

For those of us with a long memory may point to the original C-HR as the one that could’ve saved Scion from cancellation. It’s true! They designed the subcompact crossover with the very funky design as part of Toyota’s youthful brand. 

With the Scion name and logo retired from dealerships and regional sales offices, Toyota applied their own logo onto the vehicles formerly sold as ones that were earmarked for younger consumers. The C-HR just showed up at dealerships with a subcompact size sporting a high style with just a naturally aspired engine and front-wheel drive. The Turkish-assembled funky-looking small crossover ended sales in the USA by 2020. 

More mundane smaller crossovers have filled the gap. For example, the Corolla Cross. Although larger than the original C-HR, it filled the space as needed. 

In the meantime, Toyota was rolling out a series of battery-electric vehicles to pique the interest of those who want new energy transportation. The Beyond Zero project was kicked off with the bZ4X. It was not bad, but it was a start. Last year, Toyota went back to the drawing board and rolled off a series of vehicles on their e-TNGA platform, including a revised bZ. This was part of a collaboration with Subaru which the bZ also spawned the Solterra. 

After the larger bZ Woodland/Trailseeker, a smaller coupe SUV/crossover debuted. Subaru named it the Uncharted. Toyota resurrected the C-HR name for the North American market for their version of this sporty model. 

For those of you reading outside of North America, this is called the C-HR+ in your market – if it is sold where you’re at. This also should not be confused with the C-HR in those same markets with internal combustion engines and hybrid drivelines. Toyota didn’t think that given the sales track record of the last generation model that it would not make sense to sell it stateside. 

With all of that out of the way, the North American 2026 C-HR could be one of the coolest looking vehicles in the marketplace. Spending time with one, you get to observed what Toyota has done to achieve this level of coolness. 

I basically said “Toyota,” because I doubt this design would originate from their partners at Subaru. There is a lot of Toyota in its design language. The front and rear clips are interchangeable between the two brands, however. 

For the 2026 C-HR, that means adopting the “Hammerhead” design language up front. The LED headlamp units are found lower on the front fascia. The rear design focuses on a horizontal strip across the middle of the liftgate. 

The roofline is simply too cool for anyone. The fastback slope starts before the C-pillar and drops down from there. It is also given the contrasting roof treatment, thanks to a Midnight Black Metallic paint job above the Tandoori (sort of an orange-y) primary color. The rear doors are opened in the C-pillar – similar to the previous C-HR. Our XSE test vehicle adds a set of 20-inch graphite finished alloy wheels to finish up the exterior look. 

The interior design is clearly penned at Toyota. It is a familiar design that has been adopted inside the latest Prius, as well as in the bZ, bZ Woodland and their Subaru counterparts. The digital instrument cluster is from the Beyond Zero design language. It is set back towards the windshield to draw your attention towards the road. Buttons and controls are clearly from Toyota with its signature tactile feel and operation. The transmission is controlled by a knob, which you have to push down the outer part to get into Drive and Reverse. The Park button is on top of the piano black finished transmission selector trim. 

Dominating the center if the dashboard is the 14-inch touchscreen display. While it’s main focus is on the infotainment system’s functions, most of the climate controls are soft touch with the glass. You do have temperature and a volume knob below. It is worth noting that the steering wheel is small, round, and full of accessible controls for the cruise, audio, and the instrument cluster. 

The seats surprised us. Normally, a top trim model would wear either full leather or a SofTex material. Instead, most of the seats are trimmed in this comfortable and soft feeling sueded material. The front positions offers both comfort and support through excellent bolstering. Rear seat room is more suitable for smaller adults or children, but you can for up to about four adults around five-foot-ten-inch tall four outboard positions. 

A large liftgate opens up to a 25.3 cubic feet space before folding dowh the rear seats. Once you fold them down, it expands to 59.5 cubic feet of space. 

All 2026 C-HR models are powered by two electric motors – one mounted at each axle. Combined, they put down a total of 338 system horsepower. Therefore, you get all four wheels available for traction. 

These motors are “fueled” by a 74.7-kilowatt-hour battery, which is recharged through a NACS port. The Environmental Protection Agency rates the 2026 C-HR XSE to return a 273-mile range on a full battery. We were able to muster up to 267 miles. That range drops when you turn on the climate control by about five miles. We have also been witnessing miles-per-kilowatt-hour ratings beyond the 3.0 threshold. Anything above that number indicates high levels of efficient with the battery-motor combination.

The power delivery is very quick. You don’t need to push the accelerator to get up to speed. That instant torque is controllable, but the rush is undeniable. That made for quick lane changes and on0ramp entries. he 2026 C-HR also does well while cruising on the highway.

A lot of EVs we work with have a certain ride quality that is what we call “thud solid.” The 2026 C-HR fits that description perfectly. The battery pack’s weight inducing a center of gravity that kept it under control. We found no rough spots or soft points in the 2026 C-HR’s suspension. Handling is very controlled, especially through the turns. Keep it balanced, and it will pt a smile on your face. 

The brakes were exceptional. Everything from the pedal feel to the response at the wheels yielded excellent control overall. We found normal and panic stops to be spot on. As for the steering system, we have to give Toyota credit for the round, smaller wheel on the 2026 C-HR. That made for tighter turns and precise maneuvers. On-center feel was quite good. 

There are only two trim levels available on the 2026 C-HR, both powered by the dual-motor driveline. Pricing starts from $37,000. Our XSE test vehicle came with a sticker price of $43,429.

If you had one fo the older C-HRs, this one will make you forget all about it. This is what that vehicle should’ve been – funky, but reasonable and realistic. An energy saver that can induce smiles over every mile. 

It also demonstrates how much Toyota has learned from its initial EV products. You can create a drive system that is very efficient and worked extremely well. Maybe we can see improved range and a larger battery pack that can provide more confidence with their owners? 

To some, the 2026 Toyota C-HR may be the unsung hero in the EV marketplace. It certainly caught our attention. Foibles aside, you could think this could be “it.”

DISCLAIMER: Vehicle was provided by Toyota Motor North America. – our opinions are of our own.

Photos by Randy Stern