I know, I know – last month I was bemoaning that hybrid technology wasn’t a viable interim step to zero emission vehicles, but I may have changed my mind. 

On test this month, the all-new Toyota C-HR. And this second-generation C-HR possibly delivers where I thought the original lacked. I think it delivers on style, technology, practicality and… performance. There, I said it. I like a hybrid. 

Striking, sleek and notably different

From the get-go, this car delivers in looks. It’s striking, sleek and notably different. To my mind, this is what the C-HR should have been from the start; a statement, and that’s what this is. It’s a mark of intent from Toyota to rethink and deliver something closer to the concepts that generate the initial green light for development. 

So, first off: the powertrain. It’s a 2.0 litre petrol, backed up by the battery, which means it can hold its own as a petrol- powered car, but backed by the ability to drive in EV (on demand if needed), or for the battery to support the internal combustion engine. And in doing so, it delivers almost 50mpg from a 2.0 litre petrol, which in my mind is a winning combo. Good to drive, economical and (relatively) green. 

The sat nav was easy to use

On the comfort side, I found it very nice, but that was by no means a universal opinion. The switchgear and infotainment was to a very high standard and the sat nav was easy to use and clear on the directions. Although for some reason it did use two different voices at times, which seemed unusual.

Back on the outside, flush door handles that appear with a pivot-type arrangement look good and are more reminiscent of a full EV, although the plastic feel suggests durability could be an issue. Merging the inside and outside, the road noise in the cabin was more notable than I would have hoped, possibly from the oversized 20 inch wheels, but perhaps that could be remedied with a different option of rubber and alloy. 

A degree of personalisation

Moving back inside again, the heads-up display on the windscreen was clear – something I’m particularly fond of – and plenty of alcantara leather to improve the overall experience was a big tick from me. Adjustable LED lighting inside for night driving was also nice, giving a degree of personalisation for the driving experience. 

To conclude, this is a hybrid I would genuinely consider with different wheels and one I could happily drive for many miles. I might need to find a way to silence the recurring bong-noise when you creep even 1 mph over the speed limit though. That was quite annoying.