I like the look of the Toyota C-HR+
The C-HR+ carries a familiar name and as ever trades on a stylish exterior. The hybrid-powered Toyota C-HR has been a hugely popular car with Irish buyers across two generations, but the C-HR+ is quite different despite sharing its name.
Unlike the other C-HR models, there’s no combustion engine in the C-HR+ at all, just batteries and an electric motor. Prices start at €37,744 for the standard-battery version, or €41,690 for the one with a bigger battery.
And what range does the C-HR+ get?
The 57.7kWh battery gives the C-HR+ an official range of up to 548km, while the 72kWh model can go for as much as 606km on WLTP test conditions. Electric energy consumption — the EV equivalent of fuel economy — is as good as 13.4kWh/100km.
Is the Toyota C-HR+ powerful?
Both versions of the C-HR+ have a single electric motor, which is mounted at the front and drives the front wheels. The entry-level model has a 168hp power output, while the bigger-battery C-HR+ peaks at 224hp.
How about charging the C-HR+?
As standard, the C-HR+ can charge at up to 11kW on three-phase AC power, which is when using kerbside public chargers. At that 11kW you’ll need just over five hours for a full charge of the standard battery, or just over six-and-a-half hours for the big battery.
On a home charger, with a 7.4kW output, you’re looking at more like eight hours and ten hours, respectively. On fast chargers, using DC power, the C-HR+’s batteries are rated to charge at up to 150kW, which means you can do a 10-80 per cent charge up of the big battery in around 28 minutes.
How big is the Toyota C-HR+’s boot?
Similar to the hybrid-powered C-HR, the C-HR+ is a relatively compact car, but it has a roomy cabin and a boot with up to 416 litres of luggage space.
What if I need more space than that in my Toyota?
Then it might be worth upgrading to the Toyota bZ. Although the C-HR+ and the bZ are related in some ways — they share some components under the skin and inside the cabin — they’re actually quite different, and the bZ, which starts from €42,204, is a bigger, roomier car.
What’s the Toyota bZ's range?
The Toyota bZ comes as standard with a 73kWh battery. When fully charged, it has a WLTP range of up to 567km, with energy consumption of 13.9kWh per 100km, so it’s almost as efficient as the C-HR+.
Does it charge up like the C-HR+?
Yes, the bZ’s battery is quite similar to that of the C-HR+, so it has the same 11kW AC charging capacity, and the same 150kW charging on faster DC outlets.
That means between seven- and ten-hours’ charging time depending on whether you’re on a home charger, or a more powerful kerbside public charger, and around 30 minutes to go from 10-80 per cent charge on a fast DC public charger.
Power comes from the same 224hp electric motor as the C-HR+, incidentally.
Is the Toyota bZ bigger inside than the C-HR+?
Yes, it has roomier back seats, and a boot that stretches to 452 litres, which is useful if you’re carrying around growing kids and all of their chattels.
OK, but what if I need more boot space again?
Ah, then you need to look at the Toyota bZ Touring. As you’ll have sussed from the name, this is very closely related to the bZ, but it is a bit taller and longer at the back for even more practicality.
In fact, the bZ Touring’s boot holds a whopping 669 litres. That’s even more space than you get in a Toyota RAV4.
How much does the Toyota bZ Touring cost?
Prices for the bZ Touring in Ireland start from €48,445.
Clearly the bZ Touring shares a lot with the bZ, but there are some differences. For instance, the bZ Touring has a slightly larger battery than the bZ, at 74.1kWh, which gives it a range on the official WLTP test of 590km.
It has more or less the same charging speeds and times, however and it uses the same 224hp electric motor driving the front wheels.
On the styling front, while the bZ Touring has the same ‘face’ as the bZ, it looks (and is) a bit taller and chunkier overall, giving it more of a rugged design.
So, which is the right electric Toyota for me?
It depends on your needs. If you’re something of an urban driver, then the handier size of the C-HR+ is probably a good match, and yet with the big-battery version you can still take on longer journeys without having to worry too much about charging.
The bZ is roomier, which is useful for growing families, and it’s also more of an all-rounder, while the bZ Touring is the ultimate electric Toyota for those who need lots and lots of space, and are looking for a more rugged image.
Last one: what if I’m worried about how long the battery will last?
That’s OK, in this case Toyota has you covered two ways. First off, there’s a standard eight-year, 160,000km warranty for the battery which guarantees that it will retain at least 70 per cent of its original charging capacity within that time and mileage limit.
On top of that, there’s an additional warranty which covers the battery against faults for up to ten years or 1,000,000km. Yes, that’s a million kilometres - and it doesn’t even cost any extra.
Every time you get your Toyota electric car serviced at a main Toyota dealer, you’re automatically given a fresh one-year, 15,000km battery warranty extension, up to the ten-year, 1,000,000km limit. It’s called the Battery Extended Care Program.
I’d like to know a little more…
That’s ok, we’re available to answer any specific questions you have. Just pop along to the Ask Us Anything page and drop us a message.