- Amid what is expected to be a slower year for electric vehicles in America, Toyota will launch two new battery-powered models.
- Perhaps the most promising is the 2026 Toyota C-HR, a kind of shrunken Toyota bZ — complete for less.
- In Europe, at least, the C-HR can use affordable LFP batteries as well.
With tax credits for electric vehicles expiring, fuel economy regulations loosening, and auto companies feeling higher tariffs, 2026 is expected to be a slower year for EV adoption. But there are still some bright spots ahead, especially as the EV field moves in one direction A more affordable trend. One promising entry will come from a company that has historically been more reluctant to rely on electric vehicles than others.
It is scheduled to debut this year Toyota C-HR 2026: A new, smaller, more affordable member of the Toyota EV family that started with the original bZ4X.
That car was renamed the Toyota BZ 2026and benefits from a wide range of range, charging, performance and software improvements. But the biggest news is that she’ll be bringing this new friend to play, too.
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Source: Toyota
The C-HR – called the C-HR+ in other markets, to differentiate its all-electric version from the others – is on the same e-TNGA platform as the bZ. But in some ways, it’s actually better in terms of specs. It comes standard with dual-motor all-wheel drive, eschewing the front-wheel-drive version of the bZ. This means it has the same 74.7 kWh battery pack in a smaller overall package; It’s four inches shorter in wheelbase, two inches shorter and about six inches shorter in overall length.
Toyota said this smaller size means it should have a range of up to 290 miles. (Official EPA-graded estimates are coming soon.) That’s right in line with the current 300-mile hazard standard for modern electric vehicles, and in ideal conditions, the C-HR could offer even more. And with 338bhp delivering an estimated five-second 0-60mph time, it should be a good performer too.
Such as bZ and Other members of the updated Toyota EV familythe C-HR will also use the North American Charging Standard (NACS) port on the Tesla model. While Toyota’s electric vehicles can already use more than 20,000 Tesla Superchargers with an adapter, the NACS port will make that smoother than ever before.
On the downside, the C-HR will sacrifice interior space to the bZ. It offers about three cubic feet less cargo space behind the second row of seats and the dimensions are generally more compact.
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Source: Suvrat Kothari
While the US C-HR will be fairly well equipped, the electric car comes with more budget-conscious equipment in other markets. Our colleagues at InsideEVs Germany report That the European C-HR+ will have two front-wheel drive options and, more importantly, what it looks like Lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries.. This should be a 57.7 kWh LFP battery and a larger 77.0 kWh unit. Toyota has already stated that it is working on it Long-range LFP batteries for 2026 and beyondbut these appear to be different units.
Regardless, the American C-HR could be a great addition to the range in America for buyers who have been waiting for Toyota to get serious about electric vehicles. Pricing is expected to start well below $40,000, and perhaps even under $35,000, considering that this is now the initial MSRP for the larger bZ.
Toyota has confirmed that the C-HR It will arrive at US dealerships later this yearbesides the largest BZ Woodland And many more Subaru-badged counterparts. We are in InsideEVs We expect to get behind the wheel for a first test drive very soon.
Contact the author: patrick.george@insideevs.com
