IT'S rare to see cars on our roads these days that are proper head turners.

Obviously, if a supercar such as a Lamborghini or McLaren passes by, it will be met with a few jealous gasps of admiration, but a Toyota? Really?

Well, the model in question that gained heaps of attention was the Toyota C-HR (it stands for Coupe High-Rider) which boasts angled, sharp styling that makes it unique in the ever-growing crossover market.

It actually looks like a concept car that has just driven away from one of the prestigious motor shows around the world.

And when you factor in the Japanese company's expertise in hybrid technology, it's little wonder the C-HR is so appealing. The test model was powered by the hybrid powertrain used on the most recent Prius - a 1.8-litre 97bhp petrol engine combined with an electric motor to deliver an output of 121bhp/90kW.

Priced at £28,085 (£30,475 with options fitted), the C-HR can reach from 0-62mph in 11.0 seconds, maxes out at 105mph and can deliver combined fuel economy of 72.4mpg with carbon emissions of just 87g/km.

But it's first impressions that are so important and the C-HR certainly looks the business with its futuristic and somewhat quirky styling.

Features include 18-inch alloys, LED daytime running lights, front fog lights, rear privacy glass, follow-me-home headlights, a rear spoiler and a gritty, athletic stance.

This car came in a bright pearlescent white colour with contrasting black roof, side pillars, door mirrors and body mouldings.

Coupe-like styling is achieved thanks to the rising waistline, swooping roofline and hidden rear door handles.

There is also a strong emphasis on the gem that's supposedly a girl's best friend with diamond-shaped grooves in the lower grille.

Move inside and once again the C-HR resembles something from the future with neon blue trim running the length of the dashboard and into the doors.

There is full leather upholstery and bundles of on-board technology to be explored, including a JBL premium sound system, dual-zone air conditioning, front and rear parking sensors with park assist, automatic wipers and lights, plus Toyota's Touch 2 with Go set-up that introduces the likes of sat nav, on-line connectivity and Bluetooth via an 8-inch colour touchscreen.

And that diamond theme is just as apparent within the cabin too with gem-like shapes on the steering wheel, instrument clusters, air vents, door panels, speaker grille and the roof headlining.

Comfort levels within the car are good and there is enough space for a couple of passengers to travel in the back without being too cramped.

Storage options are also thorough with a boot capacity of 377 litres which can be increased to 1,160 litres when the 60:40 split-folding rear seats are dropped flat.

Elsewhere there are plenty of handy compartments scattered throughout the car to store away any knick-knacks.

The C-HR starts up in complete silence and pulls away very smoothly as it accelerates through the CVT automatic gearbox.

Thanks to its low centre of gravity - the lowest in the compact crossover segment - the C-HR can be driven enthusiastically with little feel of body roll.

There is a little engine noise when pushed hard and the CVT box will whine until you get used to driving it with a gentle right boot. But generally, the car performed well on any steep inclines and can easily keep pace on faster roads and motorways.

All C-HR models feature Toyota's impressive Safety Sense package as standard which includes a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert, automatic high beam and road sign assist. This package is complemented by a raft of other safety systems such as hill-start assist, traction control, blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert.