Next-gen Toyota C-HR previewed by sleek Prologue concept, full reveal expected next year

Toyota has teased the next-generation C-HR small SUV with the Prologue concept, a design that previews how the model will look upon its reveal.

Announced with little detail aside from styling, the C-HR’s conceptual predecessor comes a couple of months after Japanese media reported the new Toyota C-HR will go hybrid only and is set to be revealed next year.

Read More About Toyota C-HR

Think the Corolla Cross is cool? Wait until you meet the all-new 2023 Toyota C-HR Hybrid! Toyota GR Sport range likely to expand to other SUVs in addition to HiLux ute! Toyota bZ4X EV falls far short of claimed electric range in European testing

The Prologue takes a slightly more rugged design approach to the current C-HR, though it utilises clear design language elements from new Toyotas, including the 'C-shaped' headlights.

Of course, as a design concept, it features some rather more exaggerated elements like the crease angles down the door and the high diffusers that will likely be toned down for the production version.

Now more than six years on from its introduction, the current C-HR is available with a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine, or a 1.8-litre hybrid-assisted drivetrain, with pricing starting at $30,915 before on-road costs, up to $37,165 at its top spec.

Though there are no official details of the Prologue concept or how it will influence the next C-HR aside from its design, reports from Best Car in Japan have slated a mid-2023 reveal for the next-gen C-HR, expecting to see it on the TNGA platform and to essentially follow the new Toyota Prius in terms of drivetrains - a hybrid version and a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version, though a 2.0-litre petrol engine for entry-level models is also on the cards.

Best Car also produced a render of how it expects the production version to look, below, prior to the reveal of the Prologue concept.

(Image: Best Car)

It’s also expected there will be a GR Sport version available from launch, rather than being introduced years down the track.

It occupies an important place in Toyota’s line-up, sharing the small SUV segment with the Toyota Corolla Cross and selling well even more than half a decade on from its current generation’s introduction.

Toyota Australia vice president for sales and marketing Sean Hanley has already confirmed the expected, the new C-HR will definitely come to Australia. 

"The current C-HR was embraced by customers for its bold styling and unique small SUV packaging and the concept vision for the next generation C-HR takes that to an even higher level," Mr Hanley said.

"We are looking forward to the reveal of the final production version and introducing it to the Australian market in the coming years.”