Toyota C-HR to Cause a Rumble in the Urban Jungle

With so many generic designs out there, it is rather refreshing to see an auto manufacturer tear a page out of the design book. Toyota has brought to life a car that defies explanation. You’re either going to love or hate the C-HR.

Styling

The C-HR pushes design boundaries and there’s barely a straight line on its body. Large flared arches hug the 17-inch wheels, giving the C-HR a low, menacing look from the back. Yet from the side, the lines invoke a sense of fun and adventure. It also has a decent ground clearance.

The colour palette also reflects the market that the C-HR is aimed at. While the standard white, grey, silver and red will still be available, Toyota have added Cosmic Blue and Aztec Green to the options, which really makes the C-HR come alive.

I have to admit that I am not a fan of the rear design elements, specifically the rear tail-lights and rear door panels that integrate the door handles - it creates a rather large blind spot in the peripheral. The rear doors and the blended styling lend themselves to a very strong coupé body-style, and even if they don’t prove to be practical, they still look cool.

Interior

Once you get past the quirky exterior design and bold colour choice, the interior welcomes you with modern design aesthetics that tie in beautifully with the entire concept.

If you failed to notice the diamond motif scattered around the exterior of the C-HR, it will assault your senses when you slip into the cabin. Diamond shapes are imbedded in the roof lining, and surround the controls on the contoured dashboard. The diamond shapes are also carried over onto the steering wheel controls.

The seats are really comfortable and finding just the right driving position is easy. The seats are manually adjustable and the steering column is height and reach adjustable, making it very quick and easy to get comfy.

By far my favorite design aspect, would have to be the textured door panels. It is difficult to describe how this looks, let alone, feels to the touch.

There is also a surprising amount of tech loaded into the C-HR, from auto-sensing wipers and an electro-chromatic rearview mirror, to the TFT screen in the gauge cluster that displays all the information.

Engine and Drivetrain

To call the engine advanced is an understatement. From intelligent VVTi-W and cylinder management to new construction techniques and materials, the available 1.2-litre turbocharged engine has more than enough power to get you into trouble quickly.
It’s mated to a six-speed manual or six-speed CVT-‘box, and is good for 85kW of power and 185Nm of torque. It should return fuel consumption figures of 6.4l/100km.



The Drive and Verdict

We were able to sample both manual and CVT-variants on the day. While the manual is fun to drive, and the swapping of cogs is barely noticeable, the CVT is going to be the variant to have in your driveway.

Without a doubt, Toyota has a winning car with the C-HR. It would seem that the gamble on a quirky design and off-the-wall character of this cross-hatch is going to pay off in spades. The vehicle never felt laboured, handling open road and city driving very well.

Toyota SA has confirmed that only 160 vehicles will be available per month, and demand is far outweighing the supply even before it has officially gone on sale.


Initial Model variants and Pricing

Toyota C-HR 1.2T 6MT	– R 318 500
Toyota C-HR 1.2T 6MT Plus	– R 345 000
Toyota C-HR 1.2T CVT Plus	– R 356 000

All C-HR models come standard with a comprehensive 5-year/90 000 km service plan, with service intervals set at 15 000 km. A 3-year/100 000 km warranty is provided.