I finally got my hands on the wheel of
Toyota’s ‘Sexy Diamond’ – which is how Chief Engineer Hiroyuki Koba describes the
new C-HR. The styling is certainly attention-grabbing – I’ve had women aged
from 20 to 70 stop to ask me “What is that? It’s gorgeous!”
Okay credentials achieved; but what is it?
Well it may have an AWD badge; jacked up
suspension and big wheels and tyres, but this ain’t no off-roader.
Over my rutted, hilly off-road track the C-HR struggled for grip on the more vertical inclines;
and was not confidence-boosting when heading back downhill.
It’s no sportscar either; much to chagrin of the Chief Engineer; with a minimal
85kW coming from it’s turbocharged 1.2L engine, and the CVT transmission, it won't lay rubber.
However, it accommodates four comfortably,
providing the rear seat passengers don’t need to see out the side windows.
A 10-year-old passenger said: “This car
isn’t very kid-friendly, is it?”
First, she was unable to see anything when
strapped in, and second, when outside, although she could reach the door
handle, she was too short to summon enough leverage to open the door.
So, this means it’s a car for the
‘Metro-Millenials’ – and just who are they, I hear you say?
These are an urban breed – young, hip and
stimulated by style and design. In that department, the C-HR has it all.
Interior trim that’s sculptured, textured, boasting a subtle monochromatic
palette plus more grooves, swishes and style-lines than you can count on two
hands.
The exterior is all swoopy curves; stylized
and oversize tail lamps; shark-mouth front visage and sexy LED ‘tracer’ lights
when you lock and unlock the car.
Yep, the C-HR is a city car, and herin lies
some truth about model spread and pricing. The car in the photos is a top of
the line Koba AWD version, costing AUD$35,000+. The Koba package gives you AWD,
a smart key, heated and cooled front seats and some other unnecessary
flim-flam.
Go for the 2WD version with CVT at $28,000+
and you have all you will want from this Batmobile look-alike. All models have
the same powertrain, and similar performance, and I’m certain the people who
buy this little jigger won’t have any need for 4WD.
On the road however, is another story.
Devoid of critiscm.
The C-HR is built on a new Toyota Global Platform (which we
will see underpinning the next, all-new Camry), and it is very, very good. The
ride, handling and general road manners are excellent. I can’t remember when I
instantly enjoyed a sub-$40K car as much, within minutes of being behind the
wheel.
The work that Koba-san and his team have
invested in the C-HR has paid off. The ride compliance has to be experienced, and
despite the 85kW output on the spec sheet, the C-HR goes well, accelerating
from the lights, touring, cruising or anything you can throw at it.
The CVT, similar to the one used by Suzuki,
comes from JATCO and is an excellent unit. Well sorted, in terms of response
and performance, it is a real pleasure to use. It certainly helps you make the
most of the modest engine output.
The C-HR sits alongside two proficient competitors in the market here in Australia. The Honda CR-V, which feels dated by comparison - and the current big seller, the Mazda CX-3.
I'm not sure Toyota's new car has the chops to best the CX-3, but it's a formidable competitor, late to the party, but carrying a lot of attitude.
Any criticisms? Well, only two. The rear
seat visibility is one; but my main beef with Toyota is that it refuses to
embrace Apple Car Play and Android Auto. The company offers a very lame excuse
when questioned.
“We are working with Ford, to engineer a
system like Apple and Android, but we get to keep the data.” Apparently, this
is the big sticking point, with Ford and Toyota. They won’t use the branded apps,
because they can’t keep and access the user data generated by owners.
My opinion is that Toyota and Ford have
dealt themselves a dud hand. Get with the program. The existing head unit in
all Toyotas, supplied by Fujitsu Ten is dreadful. It’s difficult to use, it’s
not user-friendly at all, and the screen is tiny. Just suck it up and go with
Apple and Android.
There’s no doubt the C-HR is a design
departure from Toyota’s normal trajectory across the sphere of boring.
Mr. Toyoda
gave the design team their heads. And, they kept them! In an unguarded moment
even the boss has been heard to say he thinks it’s the best-looking Toyota he’s
seen for years.
Fancy discovering ‘sexy styling’
after all these years.
I think C-HR is definitely a car Donald Trump would like
to pat on the bum.
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