[Toyota C-HR News]

Toyota’s new crossover has been doing better than expected since its debut in Europe, with sales numbers exceeding the automaker’s expectation and leading the charge is the model’s hybrid drivetrain.

According to Automotive News Europe, Toyota was expecting to sell 100,000 C-HRs this year in Europe alone and so far, that’s a healthy 25,000 units every quarter and the automaker has managed to surpass that number by selling 31,888 units in the first quarter of this year.

In fact, the Sakarya plant in Turkey is straining to catch up to market demands. “We have more than two months’ worth of order bank, in terms of consumers waiting. We are having to reallocate supply in order to avoid customer dissatisfaction or unnecessary waiting times”, said Matthew Harrison, vice president of sales and marketing at Toyota Motors Europe.

Of those crossovers sold, 80% of them were sporting the hybrid drivetrain. Perhaps the percentage would be lower if the C-HR was offered with a diesel option, but the hybrid powertrain is impressive in its own right with a total output of 120hp thanks to a 1.8-litre petrol engine paired with an electric motor. Of course, fuel economy is important when it comes to hybrids and the C-HR offers buyers an impressive combined rating of 74.3mpg UK (3.8lt/100km) and CO2 emissions of 86g/km.

Harrison thinks Toyota is on track to comfortably hit their 100,000 C-HR target this year and maybe even move on toward 110,000 units.

 

[iRobot]

If they've hit this many by this point in time, I really think they'll be able to hit their goal no problem.

The only thing I'm noticing is the more reports of the C-HR not handling well and being under-powered so I'm not too sure if the sales will starts slowing down because of that?

 

[SiR]

Maybe this will mean Toyota will launch an EV sooner than we think, its the next step after having success with a hybrid segment like this.

And from what I noticed Toyota hasn't had any EV involvement, meanwhile all the other brands are jumping on the EV craze.

 

[iRobot]

I think the Prius would end up getting a full EV setup before the C-HR will. Once they un-ugly it, they should be alright with the right battery range comparable to the likes of the Bolt.

 

[SiR]

I think the Prius would end up getting a full EV setup before the C-HR will. Once they un-ugly it, they should be alright with the right battery range comparable to the likes of the Bolt.

That would be the easy way out but at the same time Toyota has shown they still don't mind having one model for one purpose. The Mirai was a great example.

I personally want to see that unique route happen with an EV.