New-gen Toyota C-HR goes all hybrid for 2024

TOYOTA Australia has confirmed the second-generation C-HR small SUV will be offered exclusively with a hybrid powertrain when the model goes on sale locally in the first half of 2024.

Becoming Toyota’s first hybrid-only model in Australia since its pioneering Prius was axed from this market almost a year ago, the new-generation compact crossover will not carry over the 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine offered in current Australian-market C-HR variants.

The Japanese importer says the decision reflects its commitment to lowering the carbon footprint of its vehicles while also reacting to an ever-increasing level of customer demand for hybrid-powered models.

In 2022, Australian customers purchased a record 72,815 electrified Toyota vehicles, representing 31.5 per cent of the brand’s overall sales. That proportion is expected to hit 50 per cent by 2025, Toyota says.

However, it is not as though Toyota’s Australian outpost has a choice; globally, the C-HR will be offered exclusively with petrol-electric hybrid power, with a plug-in hybrid electric variant also available in markets outside of Australia. Toyota has said it will not offer the PHEV variant locally.

Toyota’s daringly styled C-HR is understood to closely mimic the design cues of the recently outed Prologue concept (pictured). Toyota said previously that its new small-segment SUV will be more spacious than before, the longer wheelbase and shorter overhangs maximising cabin space to help address criticism of the outgoing version’s claustrophobic cabin.

Production of the C-HR is again tipped to take place in China, Japan, Thailand and Turkey.

Speaking on the concept model’s recent debut, Toyota Australia vice president of sales, marketing and franchise operations, Sean Hanley, said Toyota remains committed to selling the new C-HR alongside the recently launched and more conservatively styled Corolla Cross.

“The current C-HR was embraced by customers for its bold styling and unique small SUV packaging, and the concept vision for the next generation C-HR takes that to an even higher level,” he said.

“We are looking forward to the reveal of the final production version and introducing it to the Australian market in the coming years.”

The current C-HR – priced from $30,915 plus on-road costs – has been one of the more popular entrants in the 22-strong sub-$40K small SUV segment.

Year-to-date figures published by the FCAI show Toyota has sold 733 examples of the C-HR to the end of February (for a 3.8 per cent segment share), seeing it place outside the all-important top 10.

The category in which the C-HR competes is currently topped by the Chinese-made MG ZS with 3889 unit sales and a 20.4 per cent segment share.

MG’s ZS sits atop the Mitsubishi ASX (1738 units), GWM Haval Jolion (1688 units), Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross (1394 units), Hyundai Kona (1280 units), Nissan Qashqai (1253 units), Subaru XV (1160 units), Mazda CX-30 (1142 units), Kia Seltos (1079 units) and Toyota Corolla Cross (1039 units).

Toyota says more details about the new-generation C-HR will be revealed closer to its local introduction in the first half of 2024.