Toyota CH-R 2024
By Tim Saunders
Environmental credentials, reliability, looks, comfort and performance. Car manufacturers have a lot of boxes to tick these days. Toyota certainly succeeds with its second generation CH-R. This slick looking coupe styled sports utility vehicle is striking for its two-tone paint job; black and bronze. Black at the front and back and on the roof. It’s a different take on two-tone because traditionally the roof would be a different colour to the rest of the body. Toyota’s daring certainly pays off. It’s a futuristic looking vehicle both inside and out.
This is a hybrid petrol electric and it does what it’s meant to do. I drive it after trying an all electric vehicle the week before, which stopped working - while it still had 40 per cent charge - without any warning and needed recovering. So my time with this reliable hybrid is very much appreciated. The only challenge I have with it is that of patience. It is necessary to wait for the system to boot up in the same way as a computer. Wait and you will be able to drive it. Be impatient and you’re left with egg on your face. I know because when I push the power button to get on the ferry to Southampton from the Isle of Wight, I forget about waiting and as a result the gearbox does not engage. I’m tired and switch the car off. This has happened before in a Lexus. I wait and it works. You see when I’m not testing new cars I’m driving an old Corsa with a five-speed manual gearbox and there’s no waiting required. You need a bit of a different mindset with these new vehicles. The CH-R does not have a five speed manual gearbox but, in common with most cars these days, an automatic box.
When I look over my right shoulder to pull out I do find my vision restricted by the design of the rear windows. There’s quite a chunky pillar in my line of vision, which is unhelpful for safety in my opinion. There’s a park assist function but I prefer to rely on my own ability rather than playing second fiddle to technology. We seem to be blindly watching technology take over every aspect of our lives. I don’t like it.
Inside, the driver’s seat hugs me, which is always a good sign. The driving position is one of the better ones and the black leather seats are both hardwearing and practical. There’s a large panoramic glass roof which really does help to make the cabin light especially on those dull days. A tractor slows up the traffic near Newport and the CH-R willingly overtakes swiftly up a hill to get past, leaving a Porsche behind.
It comes with cruise control and a useful head up display which projects your speed onto the windscreen.
The boot is large enough for son Henry’s scooter and other paraphernalia for a day out on the island. It’s encouraging that the alarm doesn’t go off while travelling on the ferry unlike the Audi parked next to us.
“I do like the CH-R,” says oldest daughter Harriett (13), who sits in the back with Heidi (11) and Henry (8). “There’s enough room for us all and it looks very cool.”
The flush door handles pop out of the bodywork on unlocking, which sets it apart from many.
