- The 2026 Toyota C-HR resurrects the nameplate in the United States and adopts a 338-hp all-wheel-drive electric powertrain.
- The C-HR shares a platform with the refreshed Toyota bZ, except the C-HR has a single 67-kWh battery with an estimated range of 290 miles.
- Toyota says the C-HR EV will go on sale sometime in 2026, and while the automaker hasn’t yet released pricing, we think the subcompact EV SUV will start at around $35K.
For those who don’t remember the original Toyota C-HR, let’s take a quick trip down memory lane. It was a front-wheel-drive-only subcompact SUV with funky styling and a price that started at just over $25,000 before it was unceremoniously discontinued in North America. For 2026, Toyota is bringing back the nameplate, but this time it’s an EV with a 338-hp all-wheel-drive powertrain. For comparison, the OG C-HR had a measly 144 hp. The C-HR Is BackEarlier this year, Toyota revealed the European version of the electric C-HR, but the one that we’re getting doesn’t have the “+” in its name. Otherwise, the two are virtually identical, including the “hammerhead” front-end styling and sharply creased bodywork. The C-HR EV has a coupe-like rear roofline, and underneath the hatch is 25 cubic feet of space. That’s slightly less than the refreshed Toyota bZ (formerly known as the bZ4X). The bZ and C-HR also share Toyota’s e-TNGA platform, but the latter has fewer powertrain options. Unlike the bZ, the electric C-HR only offers dual electric motors and a single battery size. With an estimated 67-kWh usable capacity, the C-HR should be able to go 290 miles on a full charge, according to Toyota. The automaker also claims the subcompact EV SUV can hit 60 mph in 5.0 seconds. To refill its battery, every C-HR has an 11-kW onboard charger. It also features a NACS charge port, meaning it’s compatible with Tesla’s vast Supercharger network. With a peak charging speed of 150 kW, Toyota claims, you can charge the C-HR from 10 to 80 percent in about 30 minutes (same as the bZ).C-HR vs. bZComparing their specs, the C-HR is a little smaller than the BZ. The former measures 177.7 inches long and stands 63.8 inches tall. It has a stubbier wheelbase too, with the C-HR’s 108.3 inches about four inches less than the bZ. Those dimensions also align more closely with the Hyundai Kona Electric and Kia Niro EV.Inside, it’s clear that the Toyota designers who worked on the bZ pulled double duty with the C-HR, as their interiors look almost the same. That includes a digital gauge cluster mounted high on the dash, a 14.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and dual wireless charging pads on the center console. The C-HR also comes in two trims: SE and XSE. Every model has heated front seats, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, parking sensors, and a power liftgate. Stepping up to the fancier version adds 20-inch wheels (18s are standard), a 360-degree camera system, a power-adjustable passenger seat, nicer upholstery, and more driver assists.How much will the 2026 Toyota C-HR cost? That we don’t yet know. Toyota says its second EV will reach dealerships sometime next year. Before that happens, we should get details about pricing. As it stands, we think the SE trim will start at around $35K, while the XSE will likely start at around $38K.Related StoriesEric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si.
Source: caranddriver.com
