Design 223 VVT-i PiH 13.6kWh Auto Start/Stop 5dr

Utterly Brilliant- unless you drive at night

A flawed diamond.
Looks brilliant and drives remarkably well.
Unless you do mega mile journeys the plug-in technology makes the C-HR an incredibly efficient choice. 40 to 50 miles of super smooth all electric motoring, but without any range anxiety. You are barely aware when the engine kicks in.
On longer journeys the full hybrid mode still returns mega mpg. In 6k miles never had a trip that has returned less than 70mpg.
Mega smooth refined drive. More than quick enough.
Its natural tendency is to drive smooth and steady, but put it into Sport mode and you can hustle it down the road rather effectively. Steering is a bit numb but more than adequate. It isn’t an MX-5.
The car stops well but the pedal feel is inconsistent due to the regen, but you get used to it.
I was unsure about all the safety tech at first, but have to say, once you get used to it, it is brilliant.
Tons of mode adjustment. B drive mode using max regen gets quite addictive.
Space.
Loads of room in front, the seats provide adequate support, the seats in the higher specs look much better.
The seats are adequate in the back, but is a gloomy place to be with small windows.
The boot is on the wall side. If you want a load lugger, look elsewhere.
In my opinion the car is on the whole brilliant, feels proper modern without the range anxiety of all electric. Toyota have nailed it.
But, and it is a big but if you drive rural unlit roads at night. The headlights in this trim are woefully inadequate. Dipped and main beam are utterly r******.
If you are every stuck behind a painfully slow C-HR at night, spare a thought for the driver, because he can’t drive any quicker because he can’t see far enough up the road.
Would I recommend? Yes, unless you drive at night.

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