Buying guide Toyota C-HR: if you pay attention to this when buying a used car, you really can’t go wrong

Following the Nissan Juke, Toyota will release the equally striking C-HR in 2016. Anyone who thinks we have to get used to that silly crossover is wrong: the model is a bull’s-eye. There are now 21,000 of them driving around in our country. And while it is not a bargain. Most C-HRs have Toyota’s proven hybrid technology on board, good for low CO2 emissions and therefore the purchase price. However, you can also order the quirky crossover with a ‘normal’ drivetrain, in this case a 1.2-liter with turbo, which is linked to a six-speed gearbox or a CVT automatic transmission. After the facelift in 2019, Toyota will also release a 2.0 with 184 hp. In this Buying Guide we naturally choose the 1.8 Hybrid. At Toyota dealer Strikwerda in Dronryp, Friesland, a C-HR in luxurious Executive gear is ready for the test drive and a view of the lift bridge.

The Toyota C-HR, we are including a copy from before the facelift for this Buying Guide.

C-HR stands for Coupe High Rider

C-HR stands for Coupé High Rider. The cars destined for Europe come from Toyota’s factory in Adapazari, Turkey and are built to the same standard as those from Japan. However, these are intended for other parts of the world. The design is the result of the well-known statement by Toyota’s chairman Toyoda to no longer build boring cars, but rather high-profile ones. The disadvantage of such design objects is that they often age more quickly, but the C-HR does not suffer from that (yet). That says a lot about the intelligent design, which, however, promises little functionality. The crossover is surprisingly not affected by the latter, although the view to the rear is certainly affected by the sloping roofline in combination with the rising window line. The rear passengers face the C-pillar, although they have sufficient head- and legroom. The luggage space may also be there. Not a single reviewer complains about the comfort. However, owners of a post-facelift C-HR will notice the reduced noise level. That’s a matter of better insulation. The noise level is indeed high from 120 km/h and is mainly conducted from the luggage compartment to the cabin.

Few car manufacturers have built such a strong reputation when it comes to build quality and reliability as Toyota. The bar is therefore also high for the C-HR. Now that the model has been in operation for six years, sufficient experience has been gained. There are cars for sale with almost three tons on the odometer, so this Toyota is also able to withstand intensive use. Yet the C-HR also has its problems and issues. However, the list is short and clear, with two notable outliers.

In 2016, the Toyota C-HR came onto the market with this interior

Check the lip under the front spoiler for damage

There are quite a few C-HRs for sale, of which only a tiny (five percent) share have a manual gearbox. The rest have the CVT automatic transmission, which in most cases is linked to the 1.8-liter engine. Once you’ve found your dream C-HR, first walk around the car and inspect the bodywork for damage and any repairs. Be sure to check the lip under the front spoiler: it can sometimes be damaged after a speed bump or a curb that is too high.

Some spots at the bottom of the nose: many thresholds were taken too hard.

A look under the hood and under the luggage mat never hurts. Here you can recognize front and rear damage. Also look at the wheels during this round. Are they free of curb damage? Do the tires have sufficient profile? Also look through the wheels to check the thickness of the brake discs. You look in vain for rust on the bodywork. C-HRs are too young for this and are also well protected against the weather.

Think of the windshield on early examples

A striking number of reviewers (who have already been featured in this article) have had to have their windscreen replaced one or more times. The C-HR appears to be above average sensitive to this. According to Strikwerda, the C-HRs from the first two years were sensitive to this. After that, no more signals reach him. In any case, take out glass insurance if you decide to purchase a C-HR.

Slow navigation

You can recognize the hand of the previous owner by the condition of the interior. Has he or she used it sparingly? Toyotas may be well constructed, but many plastics are difficult to withstand rough use and are barely scratch resistant. Some reviewers also complain about this. However, they often report navigation as a source of irritation above average. It takes way too much time to start up. Updating helps solve the problem, but not in all cases. Some leave the system for what it is and use their phone navigation. If you have budget for a younger C-HR: it has an Android system.

Suspension noise is hardly a reason to replace it

The test drive with the C-HR should generally go smoothly. Anyone who has a car in mind with more than 200,000 kilometers should pay extra attention to noise from the suspension. In every car, including a Toyota, the pivot points of the wishbones wear out and the effectiveness of the shock absorbers decreases, although a lot depends on where the car has been driven. Did he drive in a residential area with dozens of speed bumps during the first period? Count the times the car has driven over it. However, Strikwerda hardly renews parts of the suspension.

Does the CVT hum?

If you want to buy a copy with a CVT, pay attention to buzzing noises from the forecastle. Although there are few or no complaints about the CVT automatic transmission, there are reports of automatic damage from abroad, even at low mileage. No reports of ailments have surfaced about the most common 1.8-liter engine. This engine is not familiar with distribution misery. The only occasional ailment is a leaking seal of the chain tensioner. The 1.2 Turbo, on the other hand, suffers from internal pollution due to carbon deposits, something that occurs in almost every direct injection engine. Driving short distances accelerates the build-up of carbon deposits. The brakes of the 1.8 Hybrid suffer little; they deteriorate more because of their lack of appeal than because of their potential. Stuck brake calipers are no exception. At this dealer, the smoothness of the brakes is a fixed inspection point. It is also recommended to test the air conditioning thoroughly. Try out some temperature settings. On some C-HRs, the indicated temperature does not match what you have set.

Rust on the subframe does no harm

We drove our C-HR onto the bridge of the Toyota dealer. This Toyota is six years old and has driven more than 140,000 km. The underside has held up well, although the subframes have been noticeably damaged by the rust devil. That can’t hurt, but Toyota should consider better treatment from the factory. Or should? The exhaust cools down quickly and barely reaches temperature due to the activation of the electric drive, which is why the pipes between the silencers are already considerably corroded. “They will last at least ten years,” is Strikwerda’s defense. There have been recalls for a bridge over the parking brake switch and on the wiring of the power controller.

Not one hundred percent flawless, but feel free to buy one

Can you go wrong with a C-HR? Not really. Every car has its merits, but although this Toyota is not one hundred percent flawless, you can safely buy one. There are about a thousand units for sale, with a mileage span of less than 1,000 to two and even three tons or more. Either way, there is a C-HR for your budget.