Why the Toyota C-HR won New Car of the Year at the 2024 AM Awards

AM's dealer readers voted for the Toyota C-HR to win New Car of the Year in the 2024 AM Awards.

The award category was sponsored by Supagard.

With its eye-catching looks and fuel efficient hybrid engine the original C-HR broke the mould in the small C-SUV sector when it launched in 2017. It went on to be a huge success for Toyota, selling more than 840,000 models across Europe. It remains the manufacturer’s fourth best-seller across the continent.

The second-generation Toyota C-HR is a significant improvement in all areas, with higher quality, improved comfort and better driving dynamics. While it retains a distinctive coupé silhouette and futuristic design, pioneered by its predecessor, the new car has a wider and more confident stance.

The application of new technologies and a comprehensive upgrade of vehicle dynamics have helped deliver improved driving excitement and a confident, quiet ride.

There are three powertrain choices for the new C-HR, all more efficient and more powerful than before. The 1.8 HEV has 140PS, while the 2.0 HEV packs 197PS.

For the first time, the C-HR can also be had with a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) engine. It’s the most powerful of the bunch, with 223PS on tap.

Compared with its predecessor, the new C-HR uses double the quantity of recycled plastic, featured in more than 100 parts. This is also the first Toyota to use a new synthetic seat-covering material made from recycled PET plastic bottles.

Changes to the car’s production methods have enabled Toyota to carbon emissions during production by 10%, making the C-HR more environmentally friendly. It’s a safer car too, with a stronger frame and a suite of standard-fit driver assistance systems.

Stuart Sanders of Toyota (centre) collects the New Car of the Year Award

SHORTLISTED

Aston Martin DB12
BMW 5 Series
Hyundai Ioniq 6
Lotus Eletre
Toyota CH-R
Volvo EX30

Sponsor's comment

Supagard are proud to congratulate our long-term partner Toyota UK, with whom we have had the pleasure of supplying our Paint and Fabric protection products for 20+ years, on winning our sponsored ‘New Car of the Year’ AM Award for their ‘Toyota C-HR’.

With Toyota’s strong focus on sustainability, and use of recycled, animal-free materials this award was very well deserved! Toyota has managed to reduce carbon emissions compared with past models using a range of new production processes.

2023 marked Supagard’s 35th anniversary with the introduction of our sustainability journey, extending an invitation to both existing and new customers to join us in our commitment to a more environmentally friendly world. We are on track to achieve our goal of repurposing just under two million recycled plastic bottles per year.

Supagard look forward to continuing pushing these technical and sustainability visions within the industry. We are also delighted to continue our support for the AM Awards.