Does More Power Make The New Toyota C-HR EV More Premium? Toyota Thinks So

The gas-powered Toyota C-HR hasn’t been sold in North America since it was significantly updated for the 2023 model year, but that’s mostly due to diminishing sales over the previous generation’s lifetime, and a quasi-replacement with the new Toyota Corolla Cross model that was introduced a couple of years ago. Despite looking rather sporty for a subcompact SUV (far sportier than the Corolla Cross), the old C-HR was pretty slow. But now, it’s returning to the US as a hotted-up electric vehicle, and Toyota thinks that will be a game-changer for the model. But it might be coming at the worst possible time.

Base Trim Engine

Electric

Base Trim Transmission

Single-speed Automatic

Base Trim Drivetrain

All-Wheel Drive

We’ve Come Pretty Far From The Original C-HR

The original 2018 Toyota C-HR featured a 2.0-liter inline-four unit good for about 144 horsepower, linked to a CVT, and it was exclusively offered in the US with front-wheel drive at the time. It did come with a Sport mode and a manual shift mode, though. Toyota bragged about its low center of gravity and low seating position, and the automaker also claimed the C-HR’s suspension was tuned on the famous German Nürburgring, so, they tried.

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What Makes The New Toyota C-HR EV So Hot?

The new so-called 2026 Toyota C-HR + EV takes that sporting nature even further, and backs it up with more power, finally, at least in the US. The new C-HR will be offered exclusively in the US as an all-wheel drive EV model good for 338 horsepower and a 74.7-kWh lithium-ion battery pack delivering an estimated driving range of 290 miles on a full charge. That makes it comparable in power and performance with the larger Toyota bZ electric SUV’s AWD powertrain, though that model comes with more affordable and less powerful front-wheel drive options, as well. The new C-HR should still enjoy a low center of gravity thanks to the battery in the floor, and Toyota claims it has a sport-tuned suspension.

“This vehicle is much more premium inside and outside, not just with the BEV powertrain and the acceleration. The old C-HR, the gas version, was a little slow,” said Chad Moore, marketing manager for the new EV; “If you look at C-HR, we’re only bringing in the all-wheel-drive power to the U.S. market, so we are positioning it as more sporty and fun to drive,” he said.

Power As A Premium?

Both available SE and XSE trims come with front bucket seating in partial SofTex faux leather, but you’ll notice there’s no “luxury” LXE trim for this Toyota. That’s because the automaker’s execs believe its power is what mostly elevates the C-HR against its rivals, which may offer more gizmos or nicer materials, but maybe not a full 338 hp on tap. Speaking to Road & Track, Toyota’s Daisuke Ido, chief engineer of the C-HR, said: “During benchmarking, we brought some of the competitors into two groups: the normal, let’s say daily use cars, and the premium cars. Now, we are in the premium group. The new numbers are more powerful. More power is more appealing.”

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The Toyota C-HR’s Competitive Analysis And Possible Demand Issues

With more than 300 hp and nearly 300 miles of range, the new C-HR is positioned, power-wise, as a budget-friendly alternative to electric competitors like the Acura ZDX, Cadillac Optiq, and Hyundai Ioniq 5. Sales of the new C-HR EV should be interesting, considering the previous generation never quite caught on as much as Toyota likely hoped. It will largely depend on price, which may be up in the air at the moment due to fluctuating tariff policies in the US and a pending trade deal between the US and Japan that’s expected to result in something by June.

The US is also moving to potentially lift the current incentive deals for EV purchases, which could further factor into potentially diminished demand for Toyota’s hot little subcompact electric SUV right out of the gate.

Source: Road & Track