Toyota C-HR: common problems, best years and what to check
Striking hybrid crossover with strong reliability. Covers 2017–2024 cars: every popular engine, its known faults with typical UK repair costs, and how each year has held up on Britain's roads.
Updated November 2026 · By the Carnod team · How we build this guide
Is the Toyota C-HR a good used buy?
Best buy
2019+ 1.8 or 2.0 Hybrid
Avoid
cars without cat-theft protection in high-risk areas
Who it suits: Drivers wanting a reliable, economical and eye-catching crossover.
What's good
- Excellent reliability
- Frugal hybrid
- Distinctive design
- Good to drive
What's not
- Poor rear visibility
- Cramped rear seats
- Small boot
- Catalytic converter theft target
By the numbers
- #66 most common model on UK roads, with about 129k licensed (DfT).
- The biggest surviving year is 2018: 17.7k cars still licensed.
- 2022 cars survive 5% better than comparable cars of that year.
- The most expensive common fault: Catalytic converter theft (hybrid) (up to £2,500).
Toyota C-HR common problems by generation and engine
Toyota C-HR Mk1 (2016–2023) · crossover
How to spot it: 17 plate to 23 plate. Coupé-like crossover with high-mounted rear door handles.
1.8 Hybrid (2ZR-FXE, hybrid, 2016–2023)
Very reliable and frugal in town
- Inverter coolant pump / EGR cooler (older cars)£300–£900100k+
2.0 Hybrid (M20A-FXS, hybrid, 2019–2023)
Quicker hybrid; reliable
- Few reported faults£0–£300any
1.2 T (8NR, petrol, 2016–2019)
Turbo petrol
Faults on any Mk1 (2016–2023) engine
- Catalytic converter theft (hybrid)£1,000–£2,500any · Check: Ask about cat shield
Toyota C-HR Mk2 (2023–) · crossover; PHEV
How to spot it: 23 plate onwards. Hammerhead nose with slim lights.
1.8 Hybrid (2ZR-FXE, hybrid, 2023–)
Very reliable and frugal in town
- Inverter coolant pump / EGR cooler (older cars)£300–£900100k+
2.0 Hybrid (M20A-FXS, hybrid, 2023–)
Quicker hybrid; reliable
- Few reported faults£0–£300any
Costs are typical UK independent-garage prices including parts and labour. Main dealers usually charge more.
Best and worst Toyota C-HR years
How many Toyota C-HRs from each year are still licensed today (DfT), coloured by how well that year survives compared with similar cars of the same age.
No year clearly outlasts similar cars. No year falls off the road noticeably faster than similar cars.
Toyota C-HR MOT pass rate and common failures
First-time pass rate (2025)
Average UK car of the same age
MOT tests analysed (2017+ cars)
Toyota C-HRs pass their MOT first time 2 points more often than the average UK car of the same age (86% vs 84%). Older cars fail more, so we compare like with like.
| First registered | Pass rate | Average UK car that age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 83% | 78% | 59k miles |
| 2018 | 83% | 81% | 54k miles |
| 2019 | 84% | 84% | 45k miles |
| 2020 | 85% | 86% | 38k miles |
| 2021 | 88% | 87% | 31k miles |
| 2022 | 92% | 89% | 22k miles |
| 2023 | 94% | 92% | 20k miles |
Pass rate by fuel
Hybrid
Petrol
Fuels differ in age and mileage mix, so treat this as a pattern rather than a like-for-like comparison.
Most common MOT failures
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively4.87 per 100
- Headlamp: not working on dipped beam1.83 per 100
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.74 per 100
- Tyres: has a cut1.41 per 100
- Reversing lamps: inoperative1.39 per 100
- Headlamp: not working on main beam0.96 per 100
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick0.96 per 100
- Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid0.68 per 100
Most common advisories
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm18.15 per 100
- Tyres: has a tear16.86 per 100
- Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened8.23 per 100
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick5.77 per 100
- Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.63 per 100
- Tread depth: tread pattern not visible over the whole tread area when minimum depth required is 1.0mm2.84 per 100
- Non-component advisories: Nail in tyre2.45 per 100
- Non-component advisories: Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt2.16 per 100
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results for 2025 (normal car tests). First-time pass counts faults fixed during the test as fails. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Does the Toyota C-HR have a timing belt or chain?
| Engine | Type | When | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| All engines | chain | durable | £500–£900 |
Toyota C-HR running costs
Road tax (from April 2017)
Insurance groups
Real-world economy
Servicing (independent)
Tyres
Warranty when new
Is the Toyota C-HR ULEZ compliant?
- Petrol and hybrid: compliant if Euro 4 — nearly all petrol cars from 2006, many from 2001.
- Same standards apply in Birmingham and Bristol Clean Air Zones (which charge private cars) and Scotland's LEZs in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee (which fine them). Check the exact car on TfL's vehicle checker.
Safety and practicality
Euro NCAP
Boot
Seats
Toyota C-HR vs rivals
| Model | On UK roads | Insurance | Boot | Best buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota C-HR | 129k | 14–25 | 377 l | 2019+ 1.8 or 2.0 Hybrid |
| Nissan Juke | 379k | 11–20 | 422 l | 2019+ F16 1.0 DIG-T manual |
| Kia Niro | 121k | 13–33 | 451 l | 2019–2022 e-Niro 64kWh or HEV |
| Hyundai Kona | 93k | 11–29 | 361 l | Kona Electric 64kWh (recall done) or 1.6 Hybrid |
| Volkswagen T-Roc | 138k | 10–30 | 445 l | 2018+ 1.5 TSI manual |
| Mazda CX-30 | — | — | — | Guide coming soon |
What to check when buying a used Toyota C-HR
- Fit a cat-converter shield
Toyota C-HR FAQ
›Is the Toyota C-HR reliable?
Generally, if you pick the right version. Best buy: 2019+ 1.8 or 2.0 Hybrid. Avoid: cars without cat-theft protection in high-risk areas.
›What is the Toyota C-HR MOT pass rate?
86% of Toyota C-HRs passed their MOT first time in 2025 (91,343 tests), better than the 84% average for cars of the same age. The most common failure: wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively.
›What are the most common Toyota C-HR problems?
The costliest known faults are Inverter coolant pump / EGR cooler; Few reported faults. Each one is listed by engine with typical UK repair costs above.
›Does the Toyota C-HR have a timing belt or chain?
All engines: chain.
›What is the best year Toyota C-HR to buy?
By DfT survival data, 2017, 2018, 2022 cars have outlasted comparable cars best. Condition and history still matter more than the year.
›How much does a Toyota C-HR cost to run?
Real-world economy: 1.8 Hybrid 50–58 mpg; 2.0 Hybrid 45–52 mpg. Insurance groups 14–25. A minor service is about £160–£230 at an independent garage.
›How much is road tax on a Toyota C-HR?
Cars registered from April 2017 pay £200 a year (more if the list price was over £40k). Older cars pay by CO2 band, from £20 to £790.
›Is the Toyota C-HR ULEZ compliant?
Petrol and hybrid: compliant if Euro 4 — nearly all petrol cars from 2006, many from 2001.
How we build this guide
We combine official UK data with what independent garages see most often on this model.
- How many are still on the road: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, by year first used. The survival comparison is against cars of the same age.
- MOT pass rates, failures and mileage: DVSA anonymised MOT results — every normal car MOT in Great Britain for the year, compared with all cars of the same age.
- Road tax: GOV.UK rates from April 2026. ULEZ: TfL and Clean Air Zone emission standards.
- Faults and repair costs: known problems by engine code, priced at typical UK independent-garage rates including parts and labour.
- Insurance groups, mpg, servicing and tyres: typical ranges, not quotes. Your car's exact figures depend on the version and where you live.
This is a buying guide, not a mechanical inspection. A specific car's MOT history tells you far more than any model average — run a free check on it before you go and see it.
Sources: licensed counts and survival from DfT vehicle licensing statistics; road tax from GOV.UK (April 2026 rates). Faults, costs, mpg and insurance groups are typical ranges, not quotes. A guide, not a mechanical inspection.