Shortly after its introduction, the Toyota C-HR turned out to be a bull’s eye and the dealers wrote their fingers licking-beard blue on sales orders. That compact crossover was then facelifted and the question then arises whether it is just such a hit in its adapted form.
Toyota may not always excel with its sparkling designs, but the C-HR certainly sparkles. Already
shortly after its introduction, C-HRs are teeming with roads, which is partly due to the fact that crossovers have been booming in recent years, whether it be the compact segment or the absolute top. Renault knows how to change the world a little bit with the Captur, Lamborghini achieves sales records thanks to the Urus and in between … well, everything actually. It is not without reason that many manufacturers take their first electrical steps in a crossover. Purely technically not a smart choice, given the higher consumption and therefore smaller range, but you definitely sell more of it and that is badly needed to recoup the huge investments. And of course to get your average emissions below the 95 g / km limit. The C-HR has a fully hybrid drivetrain. In the evolution from MPV and / or SUV to crossover, the coaches became increasingly slender and graceful, but the interior space often did not improve. Anyone who wants to be beautiful has to suffer, including cars. How practical is such a car then?
Face
The new face of the Toyota C-HR is mainly determined by things such as the bumpers, headlights that now have standard LED city lights, LED rear light units with dynamic turn signals and a narrow spoiler that connects both light blocks. At the bottom of the rear bumper are two chrome-colored frames that show that this is the most powerful motorization of the new C-HR. Apart from that, the appearance of the C-HR has been left alone. That’s fine, because the model when it was unveiled three years ago was progressive enough to last a long time. Sharp, unexpected lines, a high waist and windows that point backwards at a point at the top of the C-pillar, result in a model that feels scarily close to a coupe. As far as risk is concerned, Toyota is second to none.
Inside
Inside, too, everything has largely remained with the old, except for a few materials and shades. It is worth mentioning the (for the C-HR) new infotainment system. The main advancement of this is the presence of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Furthermore, we are very happy with the addition of physical buttons, especially those for the volume. That’s nice, but the speed and clarity of the system are not quite what you expect from it. The same applies to the connection options. In the front there are two USB ports and a normal 12V power supply, in the back nothing at all.
The dashboard looks chic and inviting, with surprising shapes, such as the asymmetrical screen that seems to withdraw from the panel, as it were, upwards. The forward view is partly due to the
generous extra side windows neat, but backwards you pay the price for the stocky windows there. The occupants in the back also suffer from this; it is not very spacious, but the small windows make it even more tight. With 358 liters, the C-HR has the smallest trunk.
Practical
No, the Toyota C-HR is certainly not very practical, but it makes up for that when driving. The C-HR steers surprisingly sharp and lively, but is also very quiet in the middle position. The base is quite sturdy
sprung and cushioned, but still comfortable enough. The C-HR also scores very well with the drivetrain. With his 180 hp he plays in the midfield, but in terms of performance he is well above the mid-range. In acceleration from 80 to 120 it is even very fast and that is exactly what you benefit from overtaking on provincial and highways.
The C-HR we drove is a First Edition. This version is based on the Dynamic, which is already equipped with height adjustment for the front passenger seat, parking sensors at the front and rear, blue mood lighting, self-dimming interior mirror, rain sensor, smart entry with start button, 18-inch wheels and navigation. The First Edition also has LED headlights, fog and rear lights, dynamic rear turn signals, heated front seats, blind spot sensors, rear cross trafic alert, a JBL sound system, electrically adjustable lumbar support for the driver, dark glass in the rear and two-tone paint.