It has been four years since we last saw the Toyota CH-R. Back then, the CH-R was a funky-looking budget CUV that attempted to lure in buyers with bold looks, a cheap pricing ladder, and a fuel-efficient four-cylinder engine. However, it failed to make much of a splash in the sales wars.
Toyota was not deterred and chose to bring back the CH-R for 2026. But is the newly all-electric CH-R the perfect CUV for EV shoppers looking for a sporty alternative to rivals?
Exterior styling goes back to reform school
The CH-R is the latest product of a partnership between Toyota and Subaru. On the surface, the front end of the CH-R shares some visual resemblance to the bZ and the bZ Woodland, but the side profile is noticeably sportier than these two, despite the rear end being clearly lifted from the Subaru Uncharted.
The end result here is a look that’s more balanced and doesn’t feel like it’s trying too hard in its attempts to stand out. One lingering trait from the outgoing CH-R that carries over is the integrated rear door handles, which might please some returning buyers. It also works well in certain paint colors, including the vivid hue our XSE grade tester arrived with.
Snug CH-R interior hides plenty of tech
Slip inside, and you’ll find the CH-R has a cozy but tech-filled interior. Simplicity and modern lines dominate here, and the CH-R isn’t pulling any punches when it comes to overindulging in excess frills. The cabin has a lot in common with the bZ and bZ Woodland, but the front seats have more bolstering, and the cabin also has higher-quality materials to make it match its price tag.
The one complaint we have is that the smaller 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster from the Prius and bZ is carried over. The screen does a lot of the core things right, but we wish it were bigger and lower to help drivers read it more easily, with shorter drivers benefiting the most if they were to make that change. The second-row seats can be tight for taller occupants, and the rear cargo area is pretty tight, with the sloping roofline being partly responsible for this.
But while the small instrument cluster screen can be annoying at times, our XSE tester made up for it by including a 14.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard. The screen has fast software, and Toyota did a good job laying out the menu icons; the setup is very ergonomically sound, and you don’t have to dig through too many icons to get where you need to go.
Dual-motor performance
While the CH-R borrows plenty of things from the bZ family, the main thing that stands out here is the fact that the CH-R comes with dual electric motors in both trims. The motors here allow the CH-R to produce a combined system output of 338 hp, which allows the CH-R to make the sprint to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds.
Our tester felt very spirited and sprightly around town, but unlike other performance-themed EVs, the CH-R goes through the motions with little drama and tire squeal. The launches are smooth, and the CH-R feels like it can hold its own out on the track. This is due to its handling behavior, with the CH-R doing a commendable job of going through the corners. Toyota says the CH-R can go 273 miles on a single charge, which is very good for its segment. Predictably, that figure can noticeably go down when you task the CH-R wth perfomance driving.
Value Quotient
With two trim levels on hand, pricing here on the Toyota CH-R is actually pretty straightforward. The base SE starts at $38,675 before taxes and fees. Move into an XSE like our tester, and the price goes up to $39,080. Optional extras make the price go up; with the Tandoori paint on our tester (the black roof is a contrast element) adding $500 to the asking price.
The CH-R outshines the Chevrolet Equinox EV in charging, with the Toyota taking less time to add range during fast charging than the Chevy. Things get a bit complicated when you compare it to the ID.4, but the CH-R eliminates all doubt with its better driving dynamics.
Leave a Reply