Toyota Revives the C-HR as a Little EV Pocket Rocket
The Toyota C-HR was not long for this world, or was it? The rather unique front-wheel drive only four-door coupe/crossover debuted in 2018 and lasted a mere four years on the market. We couldn't seem to figure out who it was aimed at, but we certainly didn't miss it when Toyota killed it off. Weird outside, small inside, and not especially fun to drive, the C-HR went away without so much as a whisper. Oddly, it has resurfaced for 2026 as a dedicated EV, with a recent Motor1 report showing what the new model looks like.
There was nothing special about the original C-HR's 144-horsepower 2.0-liter gas engine and paired CVT. All that has changed with the 2026 C-HR's 74.7-kilowatt-hour battery pack and dual electric motors that make 338 horsepower. With more than twice as much power on tap, it sprints from 0 to 60 mph in just 5 seconds-quicker than the GR86 and nearly matching the performance of a performance-focused Toyota GR Corolla.
Despite all that power, the new C-HR still manages a respectable 290 miles of range on a full charge, just under the 314-mile max range of Toyota's bZ4X (or just bZ for 2026). DC fast charging takes the battery from 10% to 80% in about 30 minutes, and thanks to the adoption of the North American Charging Standard (NACS), the C-HR is compatible with Tesla's Supercharger network.
We were never big fans of the C-HR's weird body, but Toyota managed to keep the shape while glamming up the new EV. It still has the signature coupe-like silhouette, but it's now enhanced with sleeker styling, slimmer exterior lighting elements, and a much-improved cabin. Built on Toyota's e-TNGA electric platform, the C-HR measures 177.9 inches long, making it a bit smaller than a RAV4 or Honda CR-V, but it still offers generous space thanks to a tall 63.8-inch height and smart packaging.
Up front, the new C-HR adopts Toyota's latest design language, with boomerang-shaped LED headlights and a slim upper grille that echoes the Camry, Prius, and Crown. In back, a striking full-width LED light bar adds to the vehicle's bold, futuristic profile. Base SE models roll on 18-inch wheels, while the sportier XSE trim upgrades to 20-inch alloys.
Toyota redesigned the cabin to be less funky, and the asymmetry of the touchscreen and center stack is, thankfully, gone. Most of it, including the steering wheel, bears a similarity to the newly refreshed 2026 Toyota bZ. Inside, the cabin is clean, functional, and packed with features. A massive 14.0-inch central touchscreen is standard, running Toyota's latest Audio Multimedia interface with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a built-in 4G Wi-Fi hotspot. A digital instrument cluster sits ahead of the driver, just like in the current Prius and the bZ.
Safety is always a priority, so every C-HR comes standard with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0. This includes adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, and more driver assistance features designed to enhance peace of mind. While Toyota hasn't announced official pricing, expect the 2026 C-HR to start around $30,000. That's a bump over the previous gas-powered version's $25,000 starting price, but competitive for a tech-rich electric crossover.
The new 2026 C-HR is the return of a car we didn't miss, but the more powerful, more attractive EV version has our attention. The design weirdness is no more, replaced by a truly handsome coupe-like body, and the cabin thumbs its nose at the old one. We love the total powertrain swap, and it makes the C-HR almost like an EV hot hatch now.
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