• All models are economical
• PHEV is expensive but has good battery range
• Don’t forget the industry-leading warranty support

What are the running costs?

Even with some enthusiastic driving, it’s not too hard to get over 50mpg from the self-charging hybrids. Economy will be even better in town where the cars can run in electric mode more of the time. The PHEV’s efficiency will depend on how much you charge it, but even with a flat battery it’s an efficient machine.

The C-HR PHEV is not cheap compared with its rivals, but Toyota is adamant that it can make up for its higher purchase price in fuel savings. It always starts in EV mode and it’s 41 miles of electric range should be enough for the average UK commuter to get to and from work without burning a drop of petrol. Plus, the C-HR knows when it’s in an emissions-controlled area and will default to running in EV mode if it has enough charge in its battery pack.

We’re yet to test the electric range properly in the UK, but we spent an afternoon tooling around the centre of Marseille on the C-HR’s European launch and barely heard a peep from the petrol engine. That bodes well.

However, we doubt you’ll manage the C-HR’s official 300mpg-plus fuel economy figure in the real world, especially if you’re covering longer distances with an empty battery. Even with a flat battery, though, it should be economical.

Servicing and warranty

This where the C-HR shines. For starters, every model is eligible for Toyota’s industry-leading 10-year Relax warranty (providing you get it serviced at an official Toyota dealership). Toyota also claimed the title of the most reliable car brand in the 2023 FN50 survey, stealing the title from BMW. So, you know it’s not going to break.

Toyota also offers fixed-price service plans that can be paid ahead of time or in monthly instalments, so you can plan your costs.

Reliability

• Toyota has an excellent reliability record
• Hybrid engines proven to be generally trouble free
• Warranty support for up to 10 years

Historically, the Toyota C-HR has been among the most reliable family SUVs available, and going into the second generation, we don’t see any reason to change that view. The hybrid system is typically bulletproof and other mechanical parts have few issues reported, in line with previous-generation Toyota hatchback and hybrid models.