The Toyota C-HR is the Japanese brand’s first foray into the compact crossover segment. Despite the brand having such a large global footprint, they’re late to the compact crossover market. Sure, the Rav-4 has been around for a while, but they haven’t had anything smaller than that… until now.
At first glance, the Toyota C-HR breaks the typical Toyota mould of late that has seen relatively bland vehicles emerging from the Japanese manufacturer.
Technical Highlights:
The Toyota C-HR is the second model to be built of Toyota’s New Global Architecture (TNGA) modular platform, the first being the latest generation Prius. It’s also the latest model to feature Toyota’s new turbocharged engines.
In the Toyota C-HR, that engine is of a 1.2-litre displacement. The turbocharged 4 cylinder boasts outputs of 85kW and 185Nm, the latter of which has a broad spread from 1500-4000rpm. The front-wheel driven crossover can be equipped with either a 6-speed manual, or Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).
Styling:
Instantly noticeable is the Toyota C-HR’s coupe-like body styling. In an attempt to shake up the segment, Toyota has gone bold with their styling, meshing elements of recent Toyota designs with the more angular design language seen on recent Lexus SUVs.
Full LED lighting and pulsing turn indicators are both functional and stylish elements of the Toyota C-HR’s design.
Technology:
Arriving late to the crossover party, the Toyota C-HR will be equipped with a range of technology to give it the competitive edge. Advanced safety equipment includes pre-collision assistance, Lane Departure Alert, Road Sign Assist, and Automatic Highbeam assist, as well as adaptive cruise control and pedestrian detection.
Local Launch:
The Toyota C-HR will arrive in South Africa in the first quarter of 2017, with local specifications to be confirmed closer to the time.
