This new generation of C-HR has dropped the petrol option entirely. Every grade from GX up to GR Sport runs a hybrid system now. GX, GXL and Limited share a 1.8-litre hybrid making 103 kW combined. Step up to the GR Sport and you get a 2.0-litre hybrid instead, 145 kW, plus Toyota’s E-Four all-wheel drive bolted on.
Here’s the surprising bit. Fuel use for the front-wheel-drive grades sits around 4.4 L/100km. The GR Sport, despite the bigger engine and AWD, barely moves off that at 4.5 L/100km. Why? E-Four doesn’t run a mechanical driveline to the rear wheels. It’s just a second electric motor back there, so Toyota gets grip without the usual fuel penalty that comes with AWD.
Four grades. GX, GXL and Limited climb steadily in comfort and kit, while GR Sport sits apart with the bigger engine and AWD. The GX covers what most people actually need day to day. GXL and Limited are about how much extra polish you want to pay for. GR Sport is really a different proposition: buy that one for the drive, not just the badge.
| Grade | Price (NZ$)* |
|---|---|
| C-HR GX Hybrid 1.8L hybrid, FWD. 17-inch alloys, full Toyota Safety Sense as standard. |
$46,990 |
| C-HR GXL Hybrid 1.8L hybrid, FWD. 18-inch alloys, power tailgate, heated front seats. |
$50,990 |
| C-HR Limited Hybrid 1.8L hybrid, FWD. 19-inch alloys, head-up display, heated steering wheel, JBL audio, leather seats, panoramic roof. |
$54,990 |
| C-HR GR Sport Hybrid 2.0L hybrid, E-Four AWD, 145 kW. 19-inch alloys and the sportiest tune Toyota offers on this shape. |
$58,990 |
*Driveaway pricing, correct as of August 2026. This includes on-road costs such as pre-delivery, 12 months registration, fuel, floormats and 1,000km of Road User Charges where applicable. This nameplate’s pricing shifts more than most, so check the current figure with our team before quoting a customer.
You sit higher than the roofline promises. It’s a snug, almost cockpit-like driving position, and plenty of buyers actually prefer that over a taller, boxier SUV feel. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard on the touchscreen. Cabin materials punch a bit above the price tag too, which people notice the first time they sit in one.
Out on the road, it’s settled rather than sharp. Quiet. Composed. Not a car that wants to be thrown around, and it doesn’t pretend to be one either, aside from the GR Sport. Where it gives ground is the back seat: fine for adults over a short trip, tighter if you’re regularly running three across. Boot space handles the weekly shop and a decent pram without drama, but if cargo space actually matters to you, we’d steer you toward a Corolla Cross or RAV4 instead.
5-star ANCAP, tested against the newer and considerably stricter 2023 to 2025 criteria, and the C-HR cleared the five-star line comfortably in every category. That rating covers GX, GXL and Limited. The GR Sport sits outside it, since Toyota doesn’t submit its GR-badged models for ANCAP testing. Toyota Safety Sense is still standard across the whole range, GR Sport included: autonomous emergency braking, lane trace assist, road sign recognition, adaptive cruise, driver monitoring. Ten airbags come standard too, including a centre airbag between the front seats.
Moving up the grades buys you comfort, not extra safety. Limited adds a head-up display and JBL audio. GR Sport gets its own trim and styling on top of the AWD hardware.
Think of the C-HR as the style pick. If you want a genuinely bigger back seat and boot for a similar hybrid setup, that’s the Corolla Cross. The Yaris Cross sits below both on price, but not as roomy as the C-HR. Want real family space? That’s the RAV4. The C-HR earns its spot by chasing looks and driving feel ahead of raw practicality, and there’s no shortage of buyers shopping for exactly that trade-off.
Mazda CX-30. Hyundai Kona. Kia Seltos. These are the cars people usually cross-shop against a C-HR, and no, it’s not the roomiest of the bunch. We’re not going to pretend otherwise. What it brings instead: styling that’s still turning heads years after launch, a hybrid system with real runs on the board rather than a first attempt, and the resale strength Toyota generally holds over its rivals. If looks and drive feel matter to you as much as boot volume, that combination tends to tip the decision.
Is there a petrol-only C-HR available?
Not anymore. This generation is hybrid, full stop, from GX right through to GR Sport.
Can I get the C-HR with all-wheel drive?
Only on the GR Sport. It runs Toyota’s E-Four system, an extra electric motor on the rear axle rather than a mechanical AWD setup, so you’re not really paying a fuel penalty for the extra grip.
How much can a Toyota C-HR tow?
725 kg braked, and that’s across the whole range. It’s not a tow vehicle. If that’s a priority, we’d point you at the RAV4 or Hilux.
What warranty comes with a new C-HR?
3 years as standard through Toyota New Zealand, and you can push that out to 5 years or 150,000km, whichever comes first, just by keeping to the scheduled services at an authorised dealer.
The C-HR was never trying to be everything to everyone. That’s kind of the whole point of it. If the styling and the hybrid economy line up with what you actually need, it’s one of the most distinctive small SUVs you can buy right now. Come have a look and a drive at any of our dealerships and we’ll help you land on the right grade.
