• New Cars
    • First Impressions
    • Road Tests
  • Classics
    • Classic Profiles
    • Classic Driving Impressions
    • Classics Information
    • Events and Days Out
  • Motoring For Fun
  • News & Views
  • Bookshelf
  • Technical
    • Grumpy Old Mechanic
    • Kim’s Tips
  • Features
    • Visits
    • Track Days
  • Contributors
    • About our contributors
    • Kim Henson
    • Chris Adamson
    • Kieron Fennelly
    • Ant Henson
    • Rachel Henson
    • David Miles
    • Gerald Morgan
    • Dave Moss
    • Dave Randle
    • Robin Roberts
    • Tom Scanlan
    • Glen Smale
    • Jeremy Walton
    • Keith Ward
    • John Price Williams
  • More…
    • About Wheels Alive
    • Tips for using this website
    • Useful Links

Wheels Alive

Old cars, new cars, borrowed cars & blue cars. If it steers it's here!

Old cars, new cars, borrowed cars & blue cars. If it steers it's here!

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.

To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Toyota C-HR Dynamic Hybrid 2.0 – Road Test

Author/Source: Robin Roberts

14th December 2020

HIGHER PERFORMANCE TOYOTA C-HR HYBRID COMPACT SUV TRIED AND TESTED

Continuous improvement is the philosophy of Toyota and few car makers have as much experience of EVs and Hybrids, launching its Hybrid Synergy Drive in 1997, and rolling out more models every few years, writes Robin Roberts (Miles Better News Agency).

The Toyota C-HR is a good example of continuous improvement, first introduced to the UK in 2018 with a 120 bhp 1.8 litre petrol engine which helped it notch up over 50,000 registrations. It was joined in Spring 2020 just as the Coronavirus hit by a 182 bhp 2.0 version giving enhanced performance and a revised suspension to exploit it, as well as more refinement to reduce extraneous noises.

Some facelift touches inside and out included the latest LED technology so the C-HR 2.0 will really stand out whichever of the four trim levels are chosen from the Icon, Design, Excel and new Dynamic.

This fourth generation hybrid powertrain from Toyota gives a 50% boost to the C-HR overall power compared to the 1.8 litre system, for easier driving and potentially better fuel economy.

Our test car with the all new, longer-stroke 2.0 petrol engine and a more compact, lightweight and efficient hybrid system drove really well, very smoothly and with an immediate response. There’s virtually no delay from low revs and it pulled strongly even with a full load.

The CVT changes were quick and clean, adding to the refinement of the experience.

A driver can select holding the EV-mode for low emission zones or urban driving to conserve petrol, or just let the system sort it out, which it does really well. In a manual mode you have six gears to utilise.

You can select a programme to view how the energy is being utilised and the battery being boosted by regenerative braking but the energy meter dial gives a constant display and sits in the driver’s eyeline to the left of the conventional speedometer.

The gauges are decent sized and very clear, split by a multi-purpose much smaller display screen covering a number of functions chosen by the driver.

There is another infotainment, navigation, communications screen on the top of the central console and that’s much bigger and very clear but we found the selection buttons for on-screen changes were fiddly and distracting. Thankfully, the car’s heating and ventilation was a more straightforward button arrangement beneath the screen.

The system worked very well and the output, temperature and directional controls were good, with the added benefit of heated seats. For our colder mornings and evenings I would have liked a heated steering wheel as well, but that is an extra.

The latest driver aids include a Pre-Collision System with pedestrian recognition, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert with steering control, Automatic High Beam and Road Sign Assist. All welcome and good safety aids, with the ability to disengage if preferred.

Excel and Dynamic models benefit from an Adaptive Front-light System, Intelligent Clearance Sonar and Rear Cross Traffic Alert with auto braking function. It really puts safety at the forefront and behind the latest C-HR.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Oddments space was good inside both infront and in rear and under the boot floor was a shallow compartment. With offset split seat backs, the total carrying volume triples in stages and it’s all easy to access through the fifth door or the rear side doors.

There’s not a lot of rear seat legroom and headroom is average but infront driver and passenger have more room as well as easy access or egress. A manual adjustment on the driver’s seat is slow to operate but the tilt and reach adjustable column and wheel and adjustable back cushion, are welcome and it will seat four in comfort, with a fifth squashed in as well.

I liked the big wipers front and back and the intense headlights with their curve-following beams and anti-dazzle feature but I disliked the poor visibility to the rear and over the shoulder when pulling out into traffic, so I became much more reliant on the electronic sensors and camera.

There has been a lot of work put into reducing noise levels in the latest 2.0 litre model and it is better than in the 1.8 we tested a couple of years ago, but it still sounds busy at higher revs and the 18-inch wheels and tyres do manage to find the bumps and potholes and tell you they have. On a good road at a steady speed it is much better composed than before.

VERDICT

There’s no doubt the Toyota C-HR Dynamic 2.0 is a head-turner and a sophisticated SUV which builds on the original strengths and the manufacturer’s expertise and delivers an easy and enjoyable experience nearly all the time. The hybrid system means you don’t have the range anxiety of a pure battery car.

For: Petrol/electric self charging powertrain, respectable performance, good seats and ride, lower ownership and running costs, well equipped, good warranty.

Against: Limited rear and over the shoulder visibility, restricted rear legroom, fiddly infotainment system, some engine and road noise and not all-wheel-drive.

Mini Milestones and Wheels-Alive Tech. Spec. in Brief:

Toyota C-HR Dynamic Hybrid 2.0 CVT compact SUV.

Price: £32,510.          

Mechanical: 2.0 litre, four cylinder 180 bhp normally aspirated petrol with electric motor, CVT auto gearbox, front wheel drive.

Performance: 112 mph, 0 – 62 mph 8.2 sec, Fuel consumption mpg: 47 on test.

Emissions and tax costs: CO2 119 g/km, BiK company car tax 15%, VED £165 first year £140 standard rate.

Insurance group: 22E.        

Warranty: 5 years/100,000 miles

Dimensions/capacities: L 4.40 m (14.44 ft), W 1.80 m (5.91 ft), H 1.56 m (5.12 ft) boot space 377 – 1,160 litres (13.31 – 40.96 cu.ft), 5-doors/5-seats.

Save Post as PDF

Categories: Road Tests, Robin Roberts Tags: Hybrid, Hybrid SUV

Tip: For improved search accuracy, enclose search terms for multiple words in quotation marks. For example:
"Land Rover".

Advertise with us

Recent Posts

Government’s Road Safety Strategy soon to arrive… meanwhile here’s a close look at Cambridgeshire’s most dangerous roads

Introduction to the Wheels-Alive analysis of results from the DVLA/DfT ‘call for evidence’ on classic, kit built and radically altered vehicles, and those converted to electric power.

British Motor Museum shortlised for a Green Spark Award

Enjoy sounds, science and sustainability at The British Motor Museum this half-term, October 2025

Motor Ombudsman study finds that AI would steer nearly one in five drivers when choosing their next car

Toyota’s fascinating history – notably concentrating on the enduringly popular Corona model, which arrived in Britain exactly 60 years ago, on 1st October 1965

Kia Sportage MY26 – First Impressions

‘Never Stop Charging’ – ‘Charge Your Car Day’ 5th October 2025

Contributors

contributors

Our well-respected contributors live and breathe motor cars; aren’t we lucky?

Contributors to the site include talented, highly-respected people (so they tell me) on the hallowed membership list of the Guild of Motoring Writers, and from the similarly well thought-of Western Group of Motoring Writers. In addition there are valued contributions from other knowledgeable and capable motoring writers who have something useful to say about all aspects of driving and running vehicles in the 21st Century. All of our team are passionate about motor cars!


Read about our contributors  ››

Tags

Suzuki SUV Electric Tyres saloon large SUV Seven seater SUV plug-in hybrid City car 4x4 MPV Beaulieu Hybrid luxury SUV PHEV road test Coupé estate National Motor Museum five door hatchback First Impressions hatchback crossover Compact SUV British Motor Museum Estate car Kia EV The Motor Ombudsman all-electric

All Tags ››

Like us on Facebook

Like us on Facebook

Wheels Alive Social

  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Please share our website

Contact us

We welcome your questions, comments and feedback. Please click here to contact us.

Advertising Opportunities

Please contact us if you would like to discuss advertising opportunities on Wheels Alive.

Copyright © 2025 Kim Henson, Wheels Alive