Easter Escape from Prague: We took a hybrid Toyota C-HR to Austria for a wellness trip and found out why the journey can be better than the destination
My boyfriend and I planned Easter in advance this year, which is not usually the case here. This time, however, we both felt we really needed to get away for a few days. Not just a quick trip, but somewhere where we could slow down, turn our heads off and have time to notice things around us a little differently. We chose a wellness stay in Kollerschlag, Austria, a small town near the Czech border where not much happens at first glance. But that's exactly its charm. The plan was clear. Go away for a long weekend, take a day trip to Linz, and stop in the Bohemian Forest on the way back. Go off the main routes and come home without feeling that we had just "checked off" another destination.
We had a Toyota C-HR Plug-in Hybrid 220, a car that stands somewhere between two worlds, an electric car and a conventional hybrid. Even as we took delivery, we were struck by how much Toyota has kept its design signature. The coupe silhouette that was already typical of the C-HR in the previous generation is even more pronounced here. The car looks wider, more confident and, thanks to the large wheels, visually more stable. It's not your typical unassuming SUV. Quite the opposite. The design is bold and perhaps a little polarising, but it certainly doesn't feel generic.
Prague - Kollerschlag: a journey that went faster than expected
We set off from Prague in the morning, when the city is still relatively quiet and one doesn't have to weave through heavy traffic right from the start. The first thing you notice is not the power or the technology, but the way the car starts up. Everything is very smooth, with no jerks or unnatural reactions. The plug-in hybrid powertrain uses electricity to get things moving, even when the battery isn't fully charged. It saves fuel and makes the car feel lighter somehow.
As soon as you get on the motorway and keep a steady pace, the combustion engine naturally kicks in. It's all done quietly. If you're not watching it on the display, you often can't even tell when which drive is activating. This automatic switching between electricity and fuel without driver intervention is one of the system's greatest strengths.
On longer journeys, the main advantage of the plug-in hybrid becomes apparent. You don't have to worry about the range or plan stops for charging. At the same time, you know that you'll be running purely on electricity in the city or in slow driving. This dual nature of the car works much more naturally in practice than it might seem.
The adaptive cruise control also worked very well. It keeps its distance from other cars, responds smoothly and doesn't feel jittery. On a three-hour route, it's exactly the kind of assistant that significantly reduces fatigue and makes long drives a much more relaxed affair.
Interior and first impression: modern but not overdone
During the journey, we also started to take more notice of the interior. Here, Toyota has gone for a combination of modern technology and materials that don't feel self-conscious. The 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster is clear, can be adjusted to suit your preferences, and important information is always in sight without distraction.
The centre display with Toyota Smart Connect works intuitively, supports wireless phone connectivity and overall feels like a natural part of the car. You don't feel like you have to discover it in a complicated way. We also appreciated the voice assistant, which handles basic functions without having to touch the display.
An interesting detail is the ambient lighting, with dozens of shades to choose from, which adjusts throughout the day. In the morning, the light is brighter, in the evening it is dimmer. It's not a fancy accessory, but rather something that subconsciously improves the atmosphere in the car.
Toyota has also worked on the air quality in the cabin with nanoeX technology, which helps remove allergens and odours. It's not something you'd notice right away, but after a longer trip you'll notice that the environment in the car is more pleasant and lighter.
Kollerschlag and charging: the reality of a plug-in hybrid
After arriving in Kollerschlag, we left the car parked and recharged it during our stay. The Toyota C-HR Plug-in Hybrid offers a purely electric range of up to around 66 kilometres according to WLTP, a figure that will cover normal daily journeys.
The reality, however, is a little more sobering. Charging isn't extremely fast and the car doesn't support fast chargers, so even after a few hours, you'll get a rather shorter range. However, the car will always manage around 50 kilometres on electricity, which can still be enough for normal city moves.
On the other hand, it is in combination with hybrid mode that it makes sense. The car doesn't leave you high and dry, it always has a backup solution and the transition between modes is automatic. In practice, this means that the plug-in hybrid works best when you're not driving and just using it.
Linz: a city where technology makes sense
The trip to Linz was the perfect opportunity to test the car in city traffic. Shorter distances, frequent stops, slower pace. Exactly the environment where the plug-in hybrid feels best.
The car moves quietly, starts are smooth and the electric drive makes the ride feel much less jerky than with conventional combustion engines. It's also in the city that the fuel economy is most noticeable, as much of the driving is done on electricity.
It also shows how well the assistance systems are integrated into the car. Parking is made easier by a panoramic camera system, and there is also semi-autonomous parking, which can park without steering wheel intervention. The MyToyota app is also handy, allowing you, for example, to remotely switch on the air conditioning and prepare the car before you leave.
Šumava: where the driving character shows
On the way back, we decided to drive through Sumava, which meant a completely different type of driving. The roads are narrower, the turns more frequent and the traffic significantly less.
This is where it becomes clear that the Toyota C-HR is not just a comfortable city car. Thanks to its lower centre of gravity, with the battery pack stored under the floor, it feels more stable and confident in corners. The car tracks well, the throttle response is smooth and the steering feels natural.
Another interesting feature is the Regeneration Boost system, which allows you to partially control the car with one pedal and returns energy back to the battery when braking. In practice, this means you brake less and the ride is smoother, which is particularly useful on hilly terrain.
What could be better
We noticed a few weak spots over the weekend. The rear seats don't offer as much space as one might expect, which can be a limitation on longer journeys with more people.
Additionally, the automatic emergency braking system was overly cautious at times when parking. Twice in three days we had the car come to a stop when there was no obstacle nearby.
And then there's a minor detail that could easily be improved. The navigation could automatically offer the nearest charging stations directly in the car's system, without having to search for them in the mobile app.
Verdict: a car that fits into everyday life
Back in Prague, we realised that the Toyota C-HR Plug-in Hybrid's greatest strength isn't one particular thing, but the way it all works together - and more importantly, how it naturally connects two worlds that are often perceived as separate.
The car adapts to the situation. In the city, it can run purely on electricity, quietly and without local emissions, which is actually its biggest added value - if you charge it regularly, it can handle most everyday journeys without an internal combustion engine. But once you go out of town and the battery gradually runs down, it seamlessly transforms into a classic hybrid. Without any switching or needing to do anything, it starts combining the internal combustion engine with electricity as Toyota has long been able to do. So it remains comfortable and confident on the highway, stable on winding roads, and the transitions between modes are virtually imperceptible.
And maybe that's why it worked so well that weekend. Not because we were testing the car. But because we didn't really have to worry about it at all - whether we were driving purely on electricity around town, or on hybrid mode somewhere between hills.
