Toyota Brings The New Electric C-HR To The US And It’s Nothing Like The Old One
Image Credit: Toyota.
Toyota is giving the C-HR another go here in the States. But this time, oh yes, this time it's electric! What a surprise! Honestly, who saw that coming? It's like discovering water is wet, or that my attempts at baking generally end in something resembling charcoal…
You might remember the old C-HR. It was distinctive. Like a startled platypus on wheels. You either loved it or you were wrong. This new electric version, due to grace our driveways sometime in 2026, is ditching the startled platypus vibe for something a bit more sleek and coupe-like. They're calling it the 2026 Toyota C-HR BEV. The marketing folks probably had a fiercely exciting brainstorming session on that one…
Image Credit: Toyota.
The design of the new C-HR is described as having "flowing body lines" and a "wide stance," with a "compact coupe silhouette." They've even got something called a "hammerhead front end." Honestly, the names they come up with! Hammerhead front end. Is it aggressive? Is it just… shaped like a hammerhead shark? I'm slightly terrified and intrigued at the same time.
So, what are we getting with this electrified comeback kid? Toyota is promising a rather peppy little number with a combined power output of 338 horsepower. In a C-HR! My internal combustion engine-loving friends are probably clutching their pearls right now. Toyota estimates this zippy little crossover can hit 60 mph in around 5 seconds. That's quicker than my attempt to escape a telemarketer call. And it comes standard with all-wheel drive - no more awkwardly spinning just the front wheels like you've stepped on a banana peel.
Image Credit: Toyota.
Toyota built this new C-HR on its e-TNGA platform. It's a dedicated electric vehicle platform, and they've done some "chassis tuning" to make sure it handles all that electric grunt. Let's be honest - 338 horsepower in something this size could be exciting. Potentially too exciting if not properly managed.
The battery powering this electric endeavor is a 74.7-kWh unit. Toyota estimates an all-electric driving range of up to 290 miles on a full charge. We'll see how that holds up in the real world, especially when you're enjoying all 338 of those horses. They've wisely included a North American Charging System (NACS) port, which means you'll have access to a vast network of DC fast-charging stations. They claim you can get from 10% to 80% charge in around 30 minutes under ideal conditions - pretty good for a quick top-up. It can also charge on Level One and Level Two AC power sources, so you can plug it in at home if you have the right setup.
Inside, we get a premium interior with soft-touch materials and customizable ambient lighting. There's a rather large 14-inch touchscreen for the Toyota Audio Multimedia system, which sounds impressive, though I do worry about screen glare and how many fingerprints it will collect. My current car's screen looks like a crime scene after about three days. We also get dual wireless chargers in the center console, and for those in the back, there are rear cabin USB ports. There’s a dual Bluetooth phone connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility (thank goodness, because nobody likes wires), and even a Wi-Fi Connect trial. You can turn your car into a rolling hotspot! Just try not to use up all your data binge-watching cat videos.
They've even added steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters that control regenerative braking. This lets you adjust how much the car slows down and converts that kinetic energy back into battery juice when you lift off the accelerator. Four levels of regenerative braking, you say? I'm picturing myself dramatically flicking the paddles like a race car driver, except I'll probably just be trying to time it right for a red light.
The new C-HR still is a compact crossover, so don't expect to haul a grand piano, but it does have up to 25.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats. That's enough for a decent grocery run or maybe a small inflatable flamingo. The rear seats also fold flat in a 60/40 split, which is pretty standard but always appreciated for those slightly larger impulse buys.
Safety-wise, the C-HR comes with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, which is their suite of active safety and driver assistance features. It also includes Toyota's Star Safety System, which has all the usual suspects like Vehicle Stability Control and Anti-lock Brakes. Plus, some extra driver assistance features like Traffic Jam Assist, Lane Change Assist, and Front Cross-Traffic Alert. Honestly, with all this tech, the car might be a better driver than I am.
Image Credit: Toyota.
The 2026 C-HR BEV will be available in two grades: SE and XSE. The XSE gets some upgrades like bigger 20-inch wheels, fancier seating materials (SofTex and synthetic suede), a power passenger seat (because passengers deserve comfort too!), driver memory seat (so you don't have to spend five minutes readjusting everything after someone else drives your car), a Digital Rearview Mirror, Traffic Jam Assist, Lane Change Assist, and a Panoramic View Monitor (because who doesn't want to see everything?).
Pricing hasn't been announced yet, which is the classic cliffhanger in the automotive world. The C-HR will arrive at U.S. dealerships sometime in 2026. So, we've got a little while to wait and see how this electric platypus successor fares. But with 338 horsepower and a whole lot of tech, it's certainly got my attention.
