The Toyota C-HR is now available in three derivatives namely Standard, Plus and Luxury. You can feel absolutely safe now that Toyota's safety sense has been added to the C-HR line up, which is very expressive in that it is a stand out vehicle.
What's under the bonnet?
There is a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine that is the mainstay of the range – delivering effortless mid-range oompah and cruising ability paired to either a CVT or 6-speed manual transmission. The turbocharged engine produces 85kW and 185Nm across a broad rpm range, whilst using a miserly 6.3 litres per 100 km of fuel.
Cabin noise is greatly reduced, all thanks to the NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness) pack that cuts out the outside clutter. All variants are fitted with the NVH pack. 17-inch wheels are standard but the Plus and Luxury grades are fitted with turbine-shaped 18-inch alloys.
Handsome appearance
A very noticeable feature are the headlights on the Standard and Plus models that have been upgraded to premium LED technology (bringing it in-line with the Luxury model), with the daytime running lights and indicators combined into one frontal projector emitting a single smooth line above the main beam. Detailed attention has also been paid to the front and rear, adding to the expressiveness of the vehicle. The lower lip adds to the aggressive yet elevated stance.
Fog Lamps have been repositioned and the front bumper has also been rehashed to produce a more a wider and larger lower air dam and more vertically positioned side air intakes.
As part of the multimedia upgrade, the screen size has been ‘enlarged’ from 6.1 to 8-inches (20cm). The Multi-Information Display (MID) screen has also been upgraded from 3.7 to 4.2” (10cm) on the Plus grade.
Toyota’s connectivity system now allows full smartphone integration and supports even the latest versions of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This feature allows occupants to mirror their cellphone on the vehicle screen - opening up a world of connectivity options, including music streaming and navigation solutions.
Safety first
Added safety is always welcome. The Standard and Plus grades receive side, curtain and driver knee airbags - in addition to the front driver and passenger units – while rear seatbelt force limiters and pre-tensioners have been added to the standard grade derivative.
The flagship ‘Luxury’ grade model inherits a complete suite of electronic driver safety aids in the form of the Toyota Safety Sense system. These are made up of Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM), Lane Change Assist (LCA), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Pre-crash system, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Lane Keeping Assist.
My thoughts
I see this vehicle appealing to the outgoing and nature loving consumer. Plenty of boot space and even more when you fold down the back seats. Inferno Orange and Passion Red are the new colours added for more choice.
Fuel consumption of just 6.3 litres per 100 km is welcomed indeed. Add to this all round safety enhancements and you have yourself a vehicle ready for action. Included with Toyota Connect is a complimentary 15Gb in car Wi-Fi.
Don’t be too surprised when you reach for the back door exterior handle and find that it’s not in its usual place. It’s now placed slight higher than normal.
What does it cost?
All C-HR models are sold with a 6-services/90 000 km service plan (intervals set at 15,000 km) and 3-year/100,000km warranty. Customers can also purchase a variety of service and/or warranty add-ons at their local dealership.
