Toyota C-HR: Standout from the crowd

What is it?

Toyota has a storied modern history of innovation: remember the World Rally-based Celica GT-Four, the quirky Tarago ‘egg’ people mover and the revolutionary Prius petrol-electric hybrid?

Now, the Japanese auto giant has continued carrying the stylish high-tech torch with the C-HR GR Sport.

This edgy looking cross-over is the flagship of the all-new second generation premium compact, which brings stylish European design and economic performance together in the small SUV segment.

The three-version Coupe-High Rider, says the maker, presents an elevation in luxury and performance compared with the outgoing C-HR, with the pick of two new hybrid powertrains and the introduction of the latest technology in safety, comfort and convenience, appealing especially to younger buyers.

What’s it cost?

Sitting in the middle ground between the Corolla and RAV4 and updated in late 2019 with a petrol-electric hybrid top-spec Koba model, the GXL gets the ball rolling from $42,990, plus on-road costs.

Mid-stream is Koba, from $49,990, with the hero GR Sport, from $54,990, plus ORCs.

From the base GXL up, the C-HR adopts Toyota’s new ‘Hammer Head’ exterior design language, with the GR Sport topping off the range with unique gloss black 19-inch alloy wheels, GR Sport grille, with liquid black finish, and GR Sport badging.

GR Sport joins Koba with auto-levelling bi-LED headlights, LED ‘foggies’, power tailgate, premium gloss black accents and rear and rear-side window privacy glass.

Adaptive high-beam headlights dim selectively to prevent on-coming road users from being dazzled.

With six exterior colours on offer for GXL, upper grades add visual flair with a two-tone combination of a black roof with Frosted White pearl, metallic Graphite, Stunning Silver, Feverish Red and Sunglow (the test vehicle) or metallic mica Emeraldine.

A Two-Tone Plus finish is also available for the pair, adding the roof’s black finish to the rear and can be optioned with panoramic roof. Buyers can also opt for the all-black Ink mica metallic finish.

All C-HR variants feature an up-to-date high-resolution 12.3-inch touchscreen multimedia system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, cloud-based satellite navigation, DAB+ digital radio and voice recognition.

Koba and GR Sport are singled out for additional tech including a colour head-up display, nine speaker JBL premium audio, wireless smartphone charger, rear USB accessory port and a digital 12.3-inch instrument panel.

All C-HRs come with high-grade safety tech through Toyota’s Safety Sense suite, which includes the pre-collision system, active cruise control, lane trace assist, parking support brake, speed-sign assist and safe exit assist, as well as panoramic view monitor and 10 airbags.,

It is covered by Toyota’s five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty, as well as capped price servicing for the first five years or 75,000km, whichever comes first, with each 12-month / 15,000km service costing $250.

Added is a 12-month complimentary subscription to Toyota Connected Services, providing security and convenience through the myToyota Connect smartphone app.

What’s it go like?

The stylish cabin boasts a range of recycled materials and no animal derived products.

For example, GR Sport front seats have a combination of synthetic leather-accented and suede-like upholstery,

While the front seats are comfortable and laterally well supportive, rear leg room is tight.

There are GR-branded aluminium scuff plates and floor mats and a perforated GR Sport steering wheel, which can be heated.

Boot space is constricted by the steeply sloping back and underfloor mechanical workings. In the absence of a spare wheel only a tyre puncture kit is carried.

More than a show pony, the C-HR GR Sport has plenty to play with from the powertrain with its 2.0-litre hybrid system mated with a dual-motor e-Four all-wheel drive system.

Pumping out 146kW combined output, the flagship squeezes the low combined fuel consumption to 4.1L/100km, the maker claims.

The 2.0-litre hybrid powertrain uses a lithium-ion battery in place of the nickel-metal hydride battery in the previous generation hybrid system.

From the get-go the C-HR GR Sport has a striking presence, but from then on things fade to a far-from- punchy but, some would say, passable performance; try zero to 100km/h in 8.0 seconds.

Three drive modes – Normal, Eco and Sport – are on hand, tuning the powertrain, steering and air-conditioning systems, along with a Custom mode which allows drivers to do things their way.

Eco is highly forgettable; Sport stiffens ride and handling in taking on the freed-up powertrain.

Normal turns the vehicle into a townie with milder manners.

Cabin noise is mostly restricted to the tyres unless the petrol motor is pushed into a low note.

The test car came up with 5.5L/100km in an urban environment and 3.8L on a motorway run.

Stopping power is enhanced by larger twin-piston caliper front brakes.

What we like?

• Sharp looking
• Stylish cabin
• Range of recycled materials and no animal derived products

What we don’t like?

• Passable performance
• Rear leg room is tight
• Boot space is constricted

The bottom line?

There’s no denying the sharp looking C-HR GR Sport tester attracted more than its fair share of attention from the sub-thirty-year-old cohort but whether this would translate to sales is another matter. Price could be a problem.

 

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