Coming soon: Toyota’s new C-HR and Compact bZ Concept

Toyota’s impressive – if oddly named – bZ4X crossover is just the start of a new wave of fully electrified models previewed at a special event over in Brussels. Billed as the Kenshiki forum, it’s a chance for Toyota to both talk about its new products and also the broader themes of making electrification work for the widest range of drivers, maximising the available battery stock across its range and also the shift from traditional ownership and into what it calls ‘usership’ through its Kinto finance and subscription service. A lot to take in. So, let’s look at the new cars first of all.

As a brand Toyota traditionally had a reputation for making reliable if slightly dull looking cars. A stereotype turned on its head by models like the C-HR, which launched concept car looks into the mainstream mid-size crossover market. This bold approach has clearly paid off and the C-HR has been a huge sales success, placing a heavy burden of responsibility on the European design team in charge of coming up with its replacement.
The car we saw was officially a styling model called the C-HR Prologue and not the final production one. But, given how close the current model was to its concept, it’s safe to assume it’s there or thereabouts in terms of the way it looks, which is to say like a C-HR but more so. Toyota calls the new front end design its ‘hammerhead’ look, the double-layered lights and radically sculpted lower grille dramatically combined with equally distinctive contouring on the sides. Kinked rear quarters in contrasting black – as seen on the Aygo X – have been further enhanced with a third colourway on the roof trims. In keeping with Toyota’s plan to offer various levels of electrification to suit different needs the new C-HR will, like the current one, use a conventional hybrid system for short distances on electric power alone, while a new plug-in version will have a bigger battery so you can drive further without having to fire up the petrol engine. In the way of things this will cost more than the standard hybrid but, for owners who can do most of their driving on electric power alone, there are potential savings on fuel. But what if you’re ready to go full electric with your next crossover? Toyota has you covered there too…

Toyota’s success with hybrids meant it took its time before launching its first fully electric model – or BEV (battery electric vehicle) in the jargon. The name might have been a bit of a mouthful and there was an embarrassing early recall but the bZ4X is an otherwise impressive piece of kit, with sharp looks, comfortable ride and decent range.
This is just the start as well, Toyota telling us the bZ range (it stands for Beyond Zero, in case you were wondering) will expand to include six new models in the coming years. In the way of things these will share common parts underneath but be adapted to different body styles and market sectors. Next in line is what Toyota is – for now – calling the Compact bZ Concept. Going by what we saw it’s not really that compact, but it takes a clear design influence from the bZ4X and turns it into a sleeker, sportier looking package. Think Volkswagen ID.5 to the ID.4 or Skoda Enyaq Coupe to regular Enyaq and you get the idea. More details to come but if it can build on the strong start of the bZ4X Toyota could be onto a good thing.

One car at the Kenshiki forum we won’t be getting is the all-new, fifth-generation Prius, launching with a slick new shape and long-range, plug-in hybrid system promising greater than ever electric only range. Given the original Prius effectively switched the world on to hybrids 25 years ago and has been at the centre of Toyota’s dominance of the technology it seems odd this new one won’t be coming to the UK. Seemingly it’s a victim of the C-HR’s success, though, and style-conscious buyers prefer the crossover’s eye-catching looks while commercial users like fleets and Ubers are arguably better served by the (also hybrid) Corolla.
While nobody doubts the original Prius’s gamechanger credentials with the best will in the world this is the first one anyone would describe as cool looking, making it all the more sad we won’t get the option to buy one here.