The 2018 Toyota C-HR has been driven for the first time, and we are going to see what makes this car different than the others.
Exterior
First of all, it is rather special compared to the other Toyota vehicles regarding exterior design. Its sheet-metal has a lot of curves and angles because of which it reminds us of the concept car that had been presented. The C-HR has high proportions, and it sits on large wheels, while the roofline extends and blends into the good-looking rear spoiler. If you pick a slightly stronger color that goes perfectly with the contrasting white roof, you will make other people jealous, that is for sure.
2018 Toyota C-HR Price and Equipment
The great thing about the new Toyota C-HR is the starting price since the base XLE trim costs only $22,500. Some of the standard features in the entry-level are 18-inch alloy wheels, a seven-inch touchscreen display and Toyota Safety Sense P system that includes lane departure warning with steering assist and full-speed-range adaptive cruise control to name a few.
There is also the XLE Premium which can be purchased for $24,350, and this model adds fog lights, rear cross-traffic alert, heated front seats, auto folding mirrors with puddle lights and more.
Engine Details and Test Ride
Toyota offers only one engine and one transmission option, and that is a 2.0-liter I4 that delivers 144 hp and 139 lb-ft of torque. The unit is connected to a CVT, and this combination works flawlessly in the C-HR as the car switches between the gears smoothly, and it has no problem reaching highway speed. There is a sense of linear response, and this is what Toyota wanted to achieve. The C-HR is not a super exciting car that will win stoplight drag races for you, but that is not the point of this vehicle.
Outside the highway, in the hills northwest of Austin, the C-HR also proved its worth. With the manual mode, you can have the sense of control and better interaction with the vehicle and the lack of paddle shifters behind the steering wheel is not a problem at all. If you push the CVT to the highest revs, the shift is inevitable whether you want that or not.
You can also choose between three driving modes, which will select the appropriate transmission for you. Eco, Normal and Sport driving modes can be toggled on the digital display between the gauges with the menu buttons on the steering wheel. Even though this position for drive mode selection button is slightly unconventional, it is easy to access, since your hands continue to hold the wheel and your eyes are focused on what is going on in front of you. Sport is the most satisfying of all, while Eco is the best for a casual highway ride.
The transmission and throttle response are controlled by the driving modes, but the steering isn’t, and steering is precisely the disadvantage of the 2018 Toyota C-HR. It is electric, it almost provides no feedback, and there is no sense of weight with the increase of steering angle. It is rather artificial, and the tall stature of the car is felt during the drive, but it is easy to get used to it. Once you get familiar with the C-HR, you will realize that it is a solid car, while its brakes are satisfactory too.
The owners of the 2018 Toyota C-HR will undoubtedly be thrilled with the new car that sports a terrific suspension, and it doesn’t matter whether you drive it on rough terrain or smooth roads, the ride is always comfortable and calm.
Interior
Although the exterior has kind of futuristic design, the cabin design is more conservative that one would expect. There are good-quality materials and not so good, which is no wonder since the price barely exceeds $20k. Those parts and buttons that you would usually touch are soft and smooth, while the plastic on the door trim is a bit rough. The soft leather covers the upper part of the dashboard, and it doesn’t block driver’s view out of the windshield. The button controls on the steering wheel, which is nice to hold, by the way, are made of plastic, but they don’t feel cheap. The 7.0-inch touchscreen looks like it has not been planned at first, but it was added later in the production, but at least it is functional.
The diamond shape reappears in the door trim and headliner, and it is evident in the form of vents, speakers, HVAC controls and steering wheel buttons. It is even outside, on the fuel door and the creases in the sheet-metal. Back inside, there is a lot of space in the front row of the C-HR, and the passengers will feel that the raked windshield is miles away from their faces. However, Toyota engineers had to sacrifice rear room to make the front more comfortable, but even with this move, there is a fair amount of leg space behind. Accessing rear bench may be slightly difficult, but it is definitely cozy back there.
The big competition is a real enemy to the Toyota C-HR. Crossovers like the Mazda CX-3, Nissan Juke, and Honda HR-V are definitely worth checking out before you make down payment for the C-HR. If you opt for Toyota’s car, you will definitely have no regrets.
