Toyota calls its new 2018 C-HR a crossover but is, in fact, a vehicle that borrows a lot of its design from the company's other successful coupes. The vehicle is aimed at millennials that are affordable but packed with just enough features.
The 2018 Toyota CHR. According to the Japanese car manufacturer, the name C-HR stands for Coupe High Rider despite it having only a ground clearance of 5.9 inches. The 2017 Camry has a lot more compared to the C-HR at 6.1 inches. Its over-all length is at 171.2 inches, just a few inches below the RAV4.
It has four doors, a raised beltline, and a raked roofline. It sports an incredibly polarizing maw for a front grille while the rear gets protruding taillights.
The 2018 C-HR is built on the company's New Global Architecture platform which is the same one found in the new Prius. It sports a 2.0-liter four-cylinder DOHC engine paired with the new CVTi-S continuously variable automatic transmission which has been updated to minimize interior noise and maximize fuel efficiency. The engine can produce 144 horsepower and 139 pound-feet of torque and has an EPA rating of 27 miles per gallon in city-driving, 31 miles per gallon on the highway, and 29 miles per gallon combined.
All 2018 Toyota CHR trims come with Saftey Sense P system which is comprised of active braking, pre-collision, lane departure alert with steering assist, and pedestrian detection. The vehicle also features a radar-based dynamic cruise control. It features a 7-inch multimedia screen, a 4.2-inch display in the center just between the gauges, one USB port, a storage cubby under the climate controls, and, cupholders in the center console and the doors.
As a small vehicle, the CHR is nimble. Cornering is smooth yet sharp and drives more like a hatchback than it does as a coupe-UV. The steering ratio is quick off-center but a tad bit head in the middle. Steering overall is quick and responsive. Unfortunately, there is a bit of a lag when one pushes the gas pedal all the way down which makes merging into traffic probably difficult.
The vehicle goes on sale in April of this year with the top level trim XLE Premium at US$22,500 with a US$960 delivery charge. The XLE Premium trim comes with heated seats, folding mirrors, and lane departure warning.
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