Automotive

C-HR injects some much-needed funkiness into Toyota lineup

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Toyota has made its range a bit more interesting with the C-HR
The C-HR's design is largely unchanged from the concepts that preceded it
The large central screen is new for Toyota
The C-HR will go up against the growing number of crossovers on the market
The C-HR's display is new for Toyota
Toyota has angled the center console towards the driver
Designers say they've worked to make the touchpoints feel special
The C-HR's design is similar to the Nissan Kicks' design
Toyota has made its range a bit more interesting with the C-HR
The C-HR has four doors, but the rear door handles have been hidden
There's a 90 kW hybrid powertrain available 
The car's roofline is coupe-like, but it's not a coupe
The C-HR's petrol engine isn't particularly powerful, but it is economical
The C-HR will be offered with a hybrid or gasoline powerplant
Toyota's seat design is all-new
The C-HR has swollen wheelarches and edgy flanks
The C-HR's design marks a change of direction for Toyota
Toyota has worked hard to make the details on the C-HR feel and look special
The C-HR's cabin 
The Toyota C-HR's interior
View gallery - 19 images

Toyota has a range of reliable cars, but it's a range lacking in sparkle at the moment. Sure, the GT86 caters for driving enthusiasts, but most mainstream cars bearing the Toyota badge are blander than the average washing machine. The C-HR could see that change, with an edgy exterior and tech-focused interior design drawing heavily on the run of concepts preceding it.

From the outside, the production C-HR takes inspiration from the concept cars displayed at the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show and 2014 Paris Motor Show, and the production vehicle's 4,360 mm length, 1,795 mm width, 1,555 mm height (for the Hybrid) and 2,640 mm wheelbase don't stray much from the concept on display in Paris. With heavily creased flanks and swollen wheel arches the car is much more interesting than your average crossover, although is does bear more than a passing resemblance to the Nissan Kicks.

The funky design extends beyond the creased exterior to the interior. Central to its appeal is that eight-inch display sitting atop the center console, which takes advantage of a redesigned control interface. Here's hoping it's more intuitive than the system doing service in the Fortuner, which we found underwhelming when we tested it earlier this year. Coupled with the new screen is a redesigned center stack, which is angled gently towards the driver – something BMW has been doing for decades.

The large central screen is new for Toyota

As is becoming increasingly popular, Toyota's compact crossover will be offered with a new hybrid powertrain. With 90 kW (122 hp) on tap it's not going to win you over with face-melting acceleration, but the setup uses just 3.7 L/100 km (64 mpg) and emits 85 g/km of CO2 on the combined cycle.

If gasoline power is more your style, there's also a turbocharged 1.2-liter engine available. Drivers with lead feet won't be overly excited by this one either, unfortunately, because it produces just 85 kW (114 hp). As well as being less powerful than the hybrid, it's less efficient, using 5.7 L/100 km (41 mpg) and emitting 128 g/km of CO2 on the combined cycle.

Toyota will begin taking pre-sales throughout Europe in September, with the first deliveries to customers due before the end of the year. There's currently no word on pricing, but Toyota is positioning the C-HR between the Auris TS and RAV4, so we'd expect a price somewhere around the £20,000 (US$27,000) mark.

Source: Toyota

View gallery - 19 images
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5 comments
JweenyPwee
Sweet Juke....
DavidB
Ugh. This is as unappealing as most Nissans on the road, nowadays.
For example, the "heavily creased flanks and swollen wheel arches" are ridiculous when compared to the tiny wheels/tires they surround.
Just ugh.
Madlyb
@JweenyPwee
Exactly, the second I saw it, I said Toyota designed/copied a Juke.
greyfox1x
What’s with the headlight and taillights, and really the entire car design. The headlight design .... why so trendy, so exaggerated, so, distorted, so not Japanese. What happened to the idea of simplicity, simplicity, simplicity that the Japanese have been for hundreds of years known for. The goal of any design is to not add anymore than you have to, to get the assents of design and stop. The Idea is to not make the onlooker flinch in horror for just looking at the car. This car is simply ugly, the design needs to be new from front to rear, not a copy of what is trendy for the moment. What happened to Toyota, they once upon a time designed nice looking cars.
I’ll make repairs in the design for $100,000 after taxes. As an American artist using contemporary Japanese design in my sculptures for over fifty years I can’t help but see the mistakes in the design of this car.
EH
Better looking than an Aztek, more powerful than a Geo, more practical than the Wienermobile, better engineered than a classic Jaguar electrical system, less expensive than your favorite daughter's dream wedding .... I can honestly say it's a remarkable achievement, Nissan. A few more like it and you could soon be a multi-million dollar car company.