Australian New Car Buyer – June 2019

150 |AUSTRALIAN NEW CAR & SUV BUYER’S GUIDE

T

oyota came late to the
compact SUV party, a growing
and eclectic class where many
contenders are basically just
high-riding hatchbacks. You could
say that about the C-HR, an all-
new design from Toyota which is
designed to get the brand noticed
by style-conscious millennials.
It’s a bold-looking machine
by Toyota’s usual conservative
standards, and C-HR breaks new
ground under the bonnet, too,
introducing a new 1.2-litre four-
cylinder turbopetrol engine to a
class where naturally aspirated
1.6-2.0-litre engines dominate.
The range kicks off at $26,990
for the front-wheel drive,
six-speed manual C-HR. A
continuously variable automatic
(CVT) transmission adds $2000,
while all-wheel drive adds
another $2000.
Equipment levels are
exceptionally generous by
Toyota’s usual tight standards.
Navigation, 17-inch alloys and
dual-zone air are included, but it’s
in the area of high-tech, driver-
assist safety features where you
get outstanding value in the C-HR.

Radar cruise, automatic

emergency braking, lane

departure alert with steering

assist, blind spot monitoring,

rear cross traffi c alert, parking

sensors at both ends and a

camera are all standard. Some

$50,000 SUVs still don’t offer this

level of safety specifi cation.

Koba variants, available with

the CVT only, are $33,290 with

front-wheel drive and $35,290

with all-wheel drive. Koba

adds keyless entry and start,

LED headlights, 18-inch alloys,

heated, leather-faced seats and

extra bling.

There’s plenty of room up

front in a twin cockpit layout,

with the driver’s half of the

asymmetric dash a wraparound

shape that puts all of the

controls within easy reach.

It’s a stylish layout, with

plenty of storage, a beautiful

leather-wrapped steering wheel,

comfortable, supportive seat,

made-in-Japan quality and

responsive voice control for the

infotainment system — which is

just as well because the small

touch screen icons are diffi cult to

hit on the move.

Rear-seat legroom is fi ne for

adults, but the C-HR’s coupe

shape, with small windows and

high sills in the back, creates a

cave-like space, so kids won’t be

able to see out. It also restricts

boot volume and rear vision,

though the blind spot monitor

compensates for this.

The naturally aspirated

engines that dominate this class

lack responsiveness and pulling

power at low and midrange

revs. Toyota’s refi ned, tractable

1.2-litre turbo has plenty of both,

and it’s an excellent engine for

day-to-day driving, with ample

zip around town and easy, quiet

cruising on the highway. It works

nicely with the CVT transmission,

which responds quickly and

accurately to the accelerator.

Outright acceleration, though,

is pretty sedate because the 1.2

runs out of puff at the top end.

Eco, Normal and Sport

drivetrain modes can be selected,

while the CVT can also imitate a

seven-speed automatic if you use

the lever to change gears.

It’s a turbo, which means

premium unleaded, but you

won’t use very much of it. Most of

C-HR’s rivals use regular.

A tight body, low centre of

gravity, sophisticated independent

suspension at both ends and

quality tyres gives the C-HR

sporty-ish, well-controlled

dynamics, particularly the

all-wheel-drive versions. The

suspension tune is suited to

European tastes, which means

a fi rm ride overall, but with good

bump absorption capability, and

C-HR is a comfortable, quiet,

long-distance drive.

As a practical kid carrier, C-HR

doesn’t work, but it’s still a class

front runner, along with the

Honda HRV, Suzuki Vitara, Mazda

CX3 and Subaru XV.

TOYOTA C-HR FROM $26,990 S

THINGS WE LIKE

 Great quality and sharp design

 Responsive, tractable 1.2/CVT

 Agile, enjoyable handling

 Comfortable seats

 Best in class safety specifi cation

 Cheap servicing: $975 over fi ve years

THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE

Runs on premium unleaded and it

ain’t quick

Kids probably won’t be happy in the

back seat

Small boot

Touch screen diffi cult to operate

Restricted rear vision

SPEX (AWD)

Made in Japan

1.2-litre four-cylinder turbopetrol/

CVT/all-wheel drive

85kW of power at 5200rpm/185Nm

of torque from 1500-4000rpm

0-100km/h N/A

5.6L/100km highway; 8.0L/100km

city; premium unleaded; CO²

emissions are 148gkm

Warranty: Five years/unlimited km.

Standard: Seven airbags, stability

control, radar cruise (on CVT

models), automatic emergency

braking, lane departure alert

with steering assist, blind spot

monitoring, parking sensors,

camera, 6.1-inch touch screen

infotainment, Bluetooth, Toyota

Link, voice control navigation,

dual-zone air, 17-inch alloys, rain-

sensing wipers

Redbook future values: 3yr: 53%;

5yr: 41%

Safety

ANCAP

Performance

Handling

Quality and reliability

Comfort and refi nement

Value for money

Overall

STARS

compare with ...

Honda HRV, Hyundai Kona, Mazda

CX3, Subaru XV, Suzuki Vitara