2026 Toyota C-HR Battery Electric Vehicle First Look

Toyota brings the battery-electric version of its popular crossover to the U.S.

Austin Lott | 

May 19, 2025 | 2 min read

Toyota

Toyota is expanding its battery-electric lineup with the introduction of the new 2026 C-HR battery electric vehicle (BEV). Missing from the U.S. market since 2022, the small crossover will return with electric power and its signature sporty four-door coupe profile sometime next year.

Toyota

The 2026 Toyota C-HR Prioritizes Electric Performance

Toyota's earlier version of the C-HR was a fun, stylish, youth-oriented entry in the automaker's lineup. For 2026, Toyota keeps this formula but adds a twist: full electrification. Powered by a 74.7-kilowatt-hour battery and designed on the same platform as the larger Toyota bZ, the subcompact crossover has a manufacturer-estimated 290 miles of range.

Performance appears to have been a priority for Toyota: The C-HR coaxes 338 horsepower out of the standard all-wheel-drive system, sending the little crossover to 60 mph in about 5 seconds. The EV system is packaged in a sleek coupe-inspired shape with a dramatic roofline and short, almost hidden rear doors.

The new EV will come standard with a North American Charging Standard (NACS) plug, giving it access to thousands of Level 3 fast chargers, including Tesla's Supercharger network. Toyota claims a 10% to 80% charging time of just 30 minutes under optimal conditions. The C-HR comes with Toyota's new pre-conditioning technology that allows drivers to get the battery to ideal temperatures before arriving at a charger for faster cold-weather top-ups.

Toyota

The C-HR Is Packed With Practical Features

Practicality is baked into C-HR despite its unusual and eye-catching design, with 25.4 cubic-feet of storage available beneath the SUV's swooping roof. Standard features are heavy on technology, including the 14.0-inch infotainment screen, two wireless phone chargers in the front, and three USB-C charging ports (one up front and two for the back seat).

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration are included, as is Toyota's Safety Sense 3.0 system, which bundles several active safety and driver-assistance features. Additional practical features found on all trims include a power liftgate, a heated steering wheel, and heated front seats.

Toyota

Two Options, One Complete Package

The new Toyota C-HR will be available in SE and XSE trims, with the latter adding larger wheels, two-tone paint options, and a power-adjustable front-passenger seat. Otherwise, both trims are very similar, with the same battery and drivetrain and plenty of standard features.

The 2026 Toyota C-HR is expected to arrive at dealer lots in 2026, with pricing to be announced closer to release.

Austin Lott

Austin has been in the automotive industry since 2014. Before joining Capital One, he got his start at Motor Trend magazine in his native Southern California. Since then, he's written for publications such as Edmunds, The Drive, Super Street, Automobile, Hagerty, and Diesel Power. In his free time, Austin works on older cars and enjoys interesting experiences — once he even got to operate a 1948 GE diesel-electric locomotive.