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Toyota C-HR Hybrid 2020 review: Koba

Toyota Toyota C-HR Toyota C-HR 2020 Family Family Cars Green Cars EV
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Likes

  • Interior design
  • Hybrid engine - fuel efficiency
  • Advanced Safety

Dislikes

  • Exterior design
  • Modest boot space
Nedahl Stelio
Family reviewer
18 Jan 2020
6 min read

A car that looks like it popped straight out of a Manga movie and is about to bounce adventurously across the country, but is actually a small SUV you can fit your family in?

That’s the Toyota C-HR, and this year Toyota has revamped the entire range and added a hybrid engine to one of the line-up, which is the one I test drove. 

It’s called the Toyota C-HR Koba Hybrid and is the top-of-the-range, costing $36,890, before on-road costs.

It competes with cars like the Honda HR-V, Hyundai Kona, and Kia Seltos. I took it over the summer holidays and spent a good two weeks in it for this week’s family review.

Toyota C-HR 2020: Koba (2WD) (hybrid)

Engine Type Inline 4, 1.8L
Fuel Type Premium Unleaded/Electric
Fuel Efficiency 4.3L/100km (combined)
Seating 5
Price From $27,720 - $33,440
Safety Rating

How does it look?

There is most certainly one thing about the C-HR: it stands out on the road. Very much a funky design, so it wouldn’t be considered classic or indeed, traditionally 'stylish.'

It doesn’t look like your typical mum car, which could be a good thing. There’s something very futuristic about it and the two-tone finish helps extend that. You can see why some people love it... and others don’t. 

There’s something very futuristic about the C-HR, and the two-tone finish helps extend that.
There’s something very futuristic about the C-HR, and the two-tone finish helps extend that.

Inside is not as funky as the exterior, but there are some features which do add to the style and make it anything but basic, like the metallic looking diamond-shaped trim on the doors.

It has very much a funky design, so it wouldn’t be considered classic or indeed, traditionally 'stylish', but it stands out on the road.
It has very much a funky design, so it wouldn’t be considered classic or indeed, traditionally 'stylish', but it stands out on the road.

There’s a fair amount of high gloss black which makes it feel premium and the leather accented seats are also heated. The steering wheel feels nice under the hands and the centre console is well designed, making it functional and good looking.

How does it drive?

The C-HR Koba is a lovely car to drive with a petrol/electric hybrid combination, which means it’s silent when you start it, and like other cars using an electric motor, super quick off the mark. The drive is smooth and it handles well. 

The petrol engine is a 1.8-litre, four cylinder and it kicks in once you speed up, so it does get louder, but is never too growly.

The petrol engine is a 1.8-litre, four cylinder and it kicks in once you speed up.
The petrol engine is a 1.8-litre, four cylinder and it kicks in once you speed up.

It gets up hills quickly and coasts along highways nicely. This hybrid version is claimed to use 4.3L/100km, which is definitely lower than a normal petrol engine-only model, and it returned exactly that number in my two weeks of testing. 

The steering wheel turns easily making it a cinch to do U-turns and squeeze into parking spots, and there's a good reversing camera with a 360-degree view as well as a forward camera, to help you out.

How spacious is it?

While it’s never going to be a huge car, it had adequate space for my family of four. The front has enough leg and headroom, even for the taller members of my family, and we weren’t rubbing shoulders in the front either. 

The front has enough leg and headroom, even for the taller members of my family.
The front has enough leg and headroom, even for the taller members of my family.

My two children, aged six and eight, had plenty of space in the back seat. At 161cm I can also fit back there easily, and there was enough space between my knees and the seat in front that taller teenagers and adults will fit, too. 

My two children, aged six and eight, had plenty of space in the back seat.
My two children, aged six and eight, had plenty of space in the back seat.

We could have done with a little more boot space, however. At 318L it fits the bulky CarsGuide pram - just - but we're well beyond pram stage, so for us the most important thing was fitting the requisite boogie boards, overstuffed beach bag and giant inflatables that we trek everywhere with in summer. There wasn’t much space to spare but it did all fit. Tick. 

How easy is it to use everyday?

There are a number of features on the C-HR which make your life easier for the day-to-day. For example, the park brake automatically switches on and off.

Sounds like a simple thing, but some of the more expensive cars don’t have this feature and it’s actually so nice to just pop the car into gear and take-off without worrying about the park brake. 

It has two cupholders in the front but no extra spot to stash keys or a phone, so I ended up using one of the cupholders for that.

It has two cupholders in the front but no extra spot to stash keys or a phone.
It has two cupholders in the front but no extra spot to stash keys or a phone.

There’s a decent centre storage bin and bottle holders in the front doors, and another two cupholders in the back. 

Rear seaters miss out on directional air vents which can provide instant relief from the heat, and as I was testing the car over summer, my children did miss this.

They always do, and comment immediately if there are no air vents for the back seats. The car does cool down eventually because it’s not large, but quick trips can be hot for rear passengers.

What's the tech like?

Toyota has now introduced Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to this line-up which means it's joined the ranks of this convenient, great technology.

The C-HR has a 8.0-inch media screen.
The C-HR has a 8.0-inch media screen.

Plug your phone in to be instantly connected to the main apps on your phone like maps and Spotify.

Warranty & Safety Rating

Basic Warranty
5 years/unlimited km warranty

ANCAP Safety Rating

How safe is it?

The C-HR range comes with advanced safety features as standard, including things like auto emergency braking (with pedestrian detection), active cruise control, lane departure alert, forward collision warning, blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

It’s fitted with seven airbags and two ISOFIX points plus three top tether points to fix kids car seats in.

The Toyota C-HR scored a maximum five-star rating when it was assessed by ANCAP in 2017.

How much does it cost to own?

The Toyota C-HR Koba costs $36,890. Fuel consumption is a claimed 4.3L/100km on the combined cycle, and it averaged just that over our two weeks of test driving. 

It’s covered by Toyota’s five year/unlimited km warranty which also covers the battery in this hybrid version. 

Service is recommended every 12 months or 15,000km, and the first four services are capped at $195.

EV Specs for Toyota C-HR 2020

Drivetrain Hybrid
Battery capacity 1.31Kwh
Battery type Nickel-metal hydride
Electric motor output 53kW/163Nm
Combustion engine output 72kW/142Nm
Combined output 90kW
Petrol efficiency 4.3L/100km
Complete Guide to Toyota C-HR

Verdict

The Toyota C-HR Koba is a very cool looking car to be driving around in for the summer, and though it’s not by any means big, it still fit my family of four comfortably enough. A bigger boot space would be more convenient but it’s not a deal breaker, and I particularly loved the low fuel consumption and petrol/electric hybrid drive. Plus it has the latest in safety and technology. 

I gave it a family rating of 7.8 out of 10 and my kids gave it an eight. It’s not only blue but it’s got some funky rear door handles and they love anything different.

Pricing Guides

$33,217
Based on 205 cars listed for sale in the last 6 months.
LOWEST PRICE
$24,979
HIGHEST PRICE
$43,990
Nedahl Stelio
Family reviewer
Nedahl has been a journalist for two decades, spending five years as editor of Cleo magazine and has been an editor at Cosmopolitan, Good Food and the Fairfax ‘Health’ section. She’s written across various topics for a range of high-profile food, health, travel and fashion-focused titles. She’s also appeared on The Today Show, Sunrise, A Current Affair, various radio programs and has been a guest judge on Australia’s Next Top Model. Since having two children, you’ll more likely find her at the beach with the family than at a fashion show, doing a bunch of yoga classes, or cooking healthy food while drinking a glass of wine. And of course, the right family car is critical to keeping it all moving smoothly. A roomy cabin, plenty of boot space and stylish interiors rate high on her priority list. She also believes pink is the new black (except when it comes to cars) and that we should ditch single-use plastics.
About Author
Disclaimer: The pricing information shown in the editorial content (Review Prices) is to be used as a guide only and is based on information provided to Carsguide Autotrader Media Solutions Pty Ltd (Carsguide) both by third party sources and the car manufacturer at the time of publication. The Review Prices were correct at the time of publication. Carsguide does not warrant or represent that the information is accurate, reliable, complete, current or suitable for any particular purpose. You should not use or rely upon this information without conducting an independent assessment and valuation of the vehicle.
Pricing Guide
$24,979
Lowest price, based on third party pricing data.
For more information on
2020 Toyota C‑HR
See Pricing & Specs

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