2018 Toyota C-HR Test Drive Review
Car Tested: 2018 Toyota C-HR; Road Test No. 1034; Test Location: USA
Price OTR: $22,500 – $24,350 (Rs. 16.31 – 17.65 lakhs est.)
The Toyota C-HR is an aggressively styled crossover which isn’t fun to drive
The Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-3, Jeep Renegade and the Kia Soul have been enjoying good demand from the global audience and Toyota wanted a larger piece of the action. Their RAV4 is a slightly larger car and comes at a much higher price point. Hence, the Japanese carmaker decided to drive in the C-HR. Based on the RAV4, the C-HR boasts of an entirely new design language. It’s definitely got the looks but there’s more to it than meets the eye.
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The body of the C-HR gets aggressive styling
Exteriors – The Toyota C-HR is an instant attention magnet. The design is bold, unique and flamboyant with umpteen curves and lines running across the body. It tries to mimic the design of the RAV4 and eventually ends up looking like a mini RAV4 with an extravagant rear. At the front, the angular headlights are done in signature Toyota fashion and sport LED DRLs and projectors. The coupe-like sloping roofline and the 18-inch dual-tone alloy wheels look nothing but sexy while the beefy wheel arches and the black cladding add to the crossover/SUV appeal. The design highlight of the C-HR has to be its rear. The insanely raked windshield, C-shaped tail-lights and the roof spoiler add a lot of character and attitude and the large black inserts on the front and rear bumper help in cutting off the visual mass of the vehicle.
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The cabin of the vehicle takes inspiration from a diamond
Interiors – Like the exterior, the interior of the C-HR feels quirky. The cabin gets an all-black treatment and the high-set window line at the rear makes the occupants feel claustrophobic. However, the piano-black inserts on the 3-spoke multi-function steering wheel and the dashboard give the cabin a premium feel while the soft-touch plastics on the dashboard add to the feel-good factor. There is a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with a 6-speaker audio system for the audiophile in you but the unit, like in most Toyota cars, misses out on Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and even Navigation. While the graphics on the infotainment’s screen are crisp, honestly, this isn’t an intuitive system. Features include a dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, rear-view camera (display is on the IRVM and not on the infotainment), electrically adjustable and foldable ORVMs and electric parking brake with auto-hold function.
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Space at the rear is limited but the seats are comfy
The dashboard is driver-focussed and comes with some nifty elements
There is only one USB port available in the entire cabin which is kind of a bummer considering how tech-savvy people are today. In terms of seat comfort, the Toyota C-HR gets comfortable and well-cushioned wide front seats. Space at the rear is okayish for a crossover of this size. Legroom is average but headroom and under-thigh support are lacking. The relatively flat floor does make it comfortable for the third passenger but honestly, the seat isn’t wide which means seating three adults will be a squeeze. There is no reclining function available for the rear seat and neither is there an armrest provided. Boot space is at a generous 538-litres but again, the loading lip is high and transferring those big and heavy suitcases will need some effort.
