Toyota C-HR Returning to Canada for 2026 as Electric Crossover
Discontinued at the end of the 2022 model year, the Toyota C-HR subcompact crossover will return to the Canadian market next year. And this time, forget the unremarkable gasoline engine: it will be all-electric and much more exciting.
Unveiled in a global premiere several weeks ago, the new 2026 C-HR will serve as a more affordable companion to the upgraded 2026 bZ (replacing the 2025 bZ4X) and a formidable competitor to the Chevrolet Equinox EV, Hyundai Kona Electric and the like.
- Also: All-New Toyota C-HR+ is a Stylish Little EV We Sure Would Like to Have
- Also: Next-Gen Toyota C-HR for Europe Only is Even Funkier, Sportier
The exterior carries over the athletic stance, coupe-like roofline and rear door handles concealed in the door frame that the old C-HR had, while the aggressive-looking headlights are inspired by Toyota’s latest cars. What’s more, 18- and 20-inch wheels are available along with two-tone body options.
Spacious and Connected
While relatively short at 4,520 mm, this new C-HR has a long wheelbase of 2,750 mm, making for a spacious cabin with up to 900 mm between the front and rear seatbacks. Trunk space amounts to 720 litres, accessible via a power liftgate.
The interior layout is almost a carbon copy of the aforementioned bZ and features 64-colour customizable ambient lighting, dual wireless phone chargers on the centre console, a standard 14-inch infotainment touchscreen and a fully digital instrument cluster. The steering wheel comes with paddle shifters to activate and adjust regenerative braking on demand.
The seats can be appointed in a mix of cloth and synthetic leather or a combination of synthetic suede and synthetic leather. A Technology package in top-line trim will add a panoramic moonroof, heated rear seats and a nine-speaker JBL audio system.
Spirited and Ready for Long Trips
Built on the e-TNGA platform, the 2026 Toyota C-HR will offer Canadians a choice of two models including SE (FWD) with 221 horsepower and XSE AWD with 338 horsepower, the latter matching the 2026 bZ and enabling 0-100 km/h sprints in just 5.2 seconds. Both use a 77kWh battery providing a manufacturer-estimated range of 500 km and 465 km, respectively, so right on par with the Equinox EV.
DC fast-charging capacity is rated at 150 kW, allowing the C-HR to charge from 10-80 percent in about 30 minutes under ideal conditions, Toyota claims. A battery preconditioning system and energy-saving heat pump are expected to speed up charging sessions in cold weather. And thanks to the built-in NACS port, owners will have direct access to Tesla’s Superchargers and other compatible public chargers. What's more, an 11kW on-board AC charger is included.
What else? Well, the suspension components have been specially tuned for this new model, in particular the performance of the springs and dampers, as well as the rigidity of the anti-roll bars. The electric power steering is calibrated for greater responsiveness. As for driver assistance, the Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 suite will have you covered.
Pricing for the 2026 Toyota C-HR will be announced closer to launch next year, and we expect it to be competitive in the segment. If that’s really the case, the C-HR could become a star.
