Toyota C-HR

UMW Toyota Motor Malaysia introduced the Toyota C-HR back in March 2018, and it has undergone minor styling and feature update in 2019.

Fully imported from Thailand, the sole 1.8L AT variant is priced at RM 150,000, which puts it against the Mazda CX-30 and Subaru XV.

2020 Mazda CX-30 vs. Toyota C-HR comparison, why not a Honda CR-V?

In Brief: Toyota C-HR, where style is king

Design

Designed around the theme of ‘ Distinctive Diamond’, the C-HR design is unique and polarizing, decorated with various geometric shapes presence in both the exterior and interior. Combining a coupe-like design with a crossover, the C-HR aims at individual looking for something different and bold in the market.

Dimensions

Lighting

The front features projector headlights with LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), which comes with a follow-me-home function, with LED tail and stoplight for the rear.

Wheels

The sole 1.8L variant wears 17-inch wheels shod in 215/60/17 rubber.

Dashboard

The dashboard features a multi-layer wraparound design, angled towards the driver, which incorporates soft padding materials and finished in silver ornament with a touch of piano black for added suave.

Material quality is high, with a mixture of soft-touch and hard plastic which feels premium.

Space and Practicality

The space inside is ample, with a wide range of seat adjustments for both the driver and passenger. The panoramic windscreen and wraparound dashboard creates a feeling of airiness in the interior.

Even rear-seat passengers have a decent amount of legroom and headroom, although the view out is limited due to the wide roof pillar design.

Boot

Boot space is at 377-litres, which is bigger than Subaru XV’s 310-litre but loses out to Mazda CX-30 with a massive 430-litre boot space.

2018 Toyota C-HR Specs and Features

Safety Features

There are seven airbags (including one for the driver’s knee), ABS with EBD and brake assist, Blind Spot Monitor (BSM), Hill-Start Assist Control (HAC), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRC) and ISOFIX rear child seat anchors and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA).

Comfort Features

The C-HR gets dual-zone automatic climate control and black combination leather seats. Standard features include auto-dimming rearview mirror alongside tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment.

Infotainment

The C-HR’s infotainment touchscreen measures 6.75 inches, and the system features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, while the sound is channeled through 6-speakers as standard. However, the design of the headunit looks cheap and does not look too dissimilar to the one in the lower grade Toyota model.

Engine

The Toyota C-HR only comes with a 1.8-litre naturally-aspirated 4-cylinder Dual VVT-i engine. It produces 140 PS and 171 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm.

Transmission

7-speed CVT with ‘Sequential Shiftmatic’ manual mode comes standard.

Drivetrain

Power is sent exclusively to the front wheels.

Acceleration

Based on our test, the C-HR completed the 0-100km/h in a slow 12.3 second. Certainly not impressive.

Engine Performance

It is not the most powerful engine yet it delivers smooth performance for both highway and urban, although the C-HR feels better suited in urban as the engine is tuned for low to mid-end torque.

Transmission Performance

Gear shifts from the CVT feels sporty and smooth, which makes driving the C-HR enjoyable. Kick-down is done in a soft yet responsive manner.

Steering and Handling

Steering is nicely weighted, feels natural and confidence-inspiring. The C-HR’s MacPherson front suspension has angled strut bearings and a large-diameter stabilizer bar to help the front end respond quickly.

Build using Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform and rear double wishbone suspension, the C-HR is comfortable, fun and agile at corners.

Sound Proofing

Sound proofing of Toyota C-HR is excellent. At 110 km/h, the sound level meter recorded an average of 68 dB.

Passenger Comfort

The ride comfort certainly matches the asking price. The Toyota C-HR soaks bump effortlessly, gliding through the road in grace. The rear seats are comfortable, although the wide rear pillar might make your passenger feel a little claustrophobic as it can be a little hard to see.

Fuel Consumption

As tested, the Toyota C-HR returned 7.7-litre/100 km over mixed driving conditions. 

If you enjoy driving, standing out from the crowd and don’t mind the steep asking price, then the Toyota C-HR is for you. The C-HR needs to be looked at a different perspective, as it offers something nor Subaru XV or Mazda CX-30 can offer: individuality.