2022 Toyota C-HR

Even within the more rational proportion of the population, few would deny that purchasing a new vehicle is often an emotionally-charged decision, a reality that the Toyota C-HR wants to take advantage of. Walk up to this oddball concoction of hatchback/crossover/coupe, and it's hard not to warm to its quirky, bold styling. Paired with that trusty Toyota badge, first impressions are strong. Unfortunately, the C-HR is saddled with an asthmatic 144-horsepower engine that fails to complement the crossover's sporty handling. There are more issues, such as a noisy cabin and limited cargo space. These shortcomings are thrust into the spotlight when measured alongside more balanced rivals in the US like the Honda HR-V and Kia Soul. As a fashion accessory, the C-HR works well, but it needs more polish to compete with the top competitors in this segment.

In a corner of the market filled with younger shoppers, aesthetics matter. In this regard, the C-HR has plenty of appeal. Even though it looks unusual from some angles, such as the rear three-quarter view, elements like the elevated rear door handles, steeply angled rear window, and bulbous fenders give it a unique identity. All models ride on 18-inch alloy wheels although their color and design varies based on the trim. Multi-reflector LED headlights are standard on lower trims while the Limited gets LED projector headlights and high-performance LED fog lights. A black chin spoiler and various other black elements distinguish the Nightshade Edition.

The Toyota C-HR is small, but it's not quite as tiny as the Mazda CX-3. For instance, the C-HR is 4.3 inches longer and 1.1 inches broader than its fellow Japanese counterpart. Key dimensions for the Toyota include a height of 61.6 inches, a width of 70.7 inches, a length of 172.6 inches, and a 103.9-inch wheelbase. Off-roading isn't in the C-HR's repertoire, a point emphasized by its 5.9 inches of ground clearance. The Toyota's curb weight is pegged at 3,300 pounds, making it around 300 lbs heavier than the AWD version of the CX-3.

Toyota has made a few changes to the C-HR's color palette this year, such as replacing Blizzard Pearl with Wind Chill Pearl. Oxide Bronze also falls away, as does the option for a Knockout Metallic roof.

On the base XLE, customers can choose no-cost colors like Blue Eclipse Metallic, Black Sand Pearl, and Magnetic Gray Metallic. $425 is what you'll have to pay for either Wind Chill Pearl or Supersonic Red. The Limited introduces a range of two-tone colors with a contrast roof. These include Wind Chill Pearl with a Black roof ($925), Supersonic Red with a Black roof ($925), or Magnetic Gray Metallic with a Black roof ($500). The Nightshade Edition only offers a choice of four colors but can also be had with a different roof color, such as Supersonic Red with a Black roof.

Even within a segment where rapid acceleration is hard to come by, the Toyota C-HR disappoints. All versions are powered by a 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine with meager outputs of just 144 horsepower and 139 lb-ft of torque. The default continuously variable transmission (CVT) can't do much to alleviate the dearth of power, and the end result is that the C-HR strolls from 0 to 60 mph in around 11 seconds, based on independent tests. The front-wheel-drive Honda HR-V shaves over two seconds off that time, and even with all-wheel drive, the Honda is quicker. The Hyundai Kona is even quicker; when equipped with an available turbocharged engine, the Kona will hit 60 mph in under 6.5 seconds. Both of these competitors offer AWD, whereas the C-HR exclusively powers its front wheels. Like many rivals, though, the Toyota C-HR isn't rated for towing.

Every C-HR model comes with the same powertrain. A 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine almost reluctantly churns out 144 hp and 139 lb-ft of torque, and it comes paired with a CVT transmission. As is often the case with smaller vehicles, the powertrain's shortcomings are partially masked in city driving, where the C-HR scampers around reasonably well. Its compact size heightens the impression that you're making decent progress. But once on the highway, the lack of grunt is immediately noticeable and a firmly planted right foot is required to merge safely or overtake slower traffic, as we found on our test drive. The need to rev out the engine emphasizes that it isn't a particularly refined unit, either, while the CVT highlights the drone from the four-pot. A manual transmission and a turbocharged engine would do wonders to improve the driving appeal of the C-HR.

The C-HR's powertrain is even more disappointing when you get to the first corner and realize that this is a properly sporty crossover with excellent handling characteristics that would've been a great deal more fun had there been a turbocharged engine available. The steering responds quickly, isn't completely muted in terms of feel, and when combined with minimal body roll, the C-HR finally puts in an effort that matches its striking appearance. Grip levels are not that high, but because you will rarely be going that quickly anyway, this isn't a massive concern. Adding to the crossover's spread of talents are confidence-inspiring brakes that are easy to modulate.

In most situations, the little Toyota rides comfortably and smoothes out everyday bumps and ruts. Together with comfortable seats, it puts in a good showing. However, road noise is prevalent and together with the strained four-pot, this disrupts the calm inside the cabin and doesn't encourage the driver to hit the top legal speed. Overall, the C-HR's road manners are acceptable rather than great.

Sometimes, an uninspiring engine will redeem itself with stellar fuel efficiency. However, the Toyota C-HR is merely average for the class in this respect. The C-HR returns EPA-rated figures of 27/31/29 mpg across the city/highway/combined cycles. When the 13.2-gallon gas tank is full, you can expect a range of approximately 383 miles in a combination of city and highway driving. By comparison, the Kia Soul can attain up to 29/35/31 mpg.

On the plus side, Toyota has created a youthful cabin that has just as much personality as the bold exterior. The center section is gently angled towards the driver and, for the most part, it's all easy enough to fathom. Although the various fixtures and fittings don't feel as premium as they do in some rivals, the cabin should prove to be durable in the long run. All models come with remote keyless entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, and the Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 suite with technologies such as dynamic radar cruise control and a pre-collision system. An eight-inch touchscreen interface is common to the lineup, while leather-trimmed seats with a power-adjustable driver's seat are offered.

Although technically labeled as a five-seater, our review of the Toyota C-HR revealed that it's much better to think of this as a four-seater. The crossover has a good amount of leg- and headroom for the driver and front-seat passenger, but at the back, occupants over six-feet tall will find their heads making contact with the roof. You can blame the sloping roofline for that. Rear-seat legroom is acceptable rather than great, but three adults at the back will struggle with the shoulder room as the body simply isn't that wide. More positively, the seats themselves are comfortable on all models, with six-way manually-adjustable front seats making way for a power-adjustable driver's seat higher up in the range. Ingress and egress pose no issues and outward visibility is good, besides the rear headrests which partially block the view out.

All models come with a leather wrapping for the steering wheel and shift knob. The entry-level model makes do with black fabric seats with blue trim slightly jazzing up the atmosphere. The Limited has leather upholstery but is restricted to a black cabin, whereas the Nightshade Edition switches to black fabric. We expect the interior to last a long time but it's not the most premium-feeling cabin in this segment.

As far as SUVs go, the Toyota C-HR can only do so much with its compact dimensions and emphasis on style. Behind the rear seats, it offers 19.1 cubic feet of volume, which is sufficient for everyday needs, but the available space won't earn any rave reviews and falls short of the competition. For instance, the Honda HR-V offers a more generous 24.3 cubes with the rear seats in their usual position. With the C-HR's 60/40-split-folding seats lying flat, a more useful 37 cubes of space is freed up, but this still can't come close to rivals like the Honda HR-V which offers over 20 cubes more with its rear seats folded.

Interior storage space for smaller items is pretty good, with a deep center console, door compartments in front, a well-sized glove box, two cupholders in front, and two bottle holders at the back. All trims also have seatback map pockets.

Toyota has been quite generous with the C-HR's spread of convenience and safety items. The base XLE includes features like dual-zone automatic climate control, a 4.2-inch TFT multi-information display, six-way adjustable front seats, remote keyless entry, and heated outside mirrors. The Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 suite incorporates pre-collision warning with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert with steering assist, lane tracing assist, automatic high beams, full-speed dynamic radar cruise control, and road sign assist. Of course, a rearview camera is included as required by law. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert is also standard across the lineup. Further up in the range, the C-HR offers an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat.

Toyota's default infotainment setup is easy to use and employs an eight-inch touchscreen interface which is prominently positioned high up and in the center of the dashboard for improved visibility. It is linked to features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, a USB media port, Bluetooth wireless connectivity, and SiriusXM with a three-month all-access trial subscription. Wi-Fi Connect is offered with two GB of data within a three-month trial period. The sound system employs six speakers. HD Radio is available as an option as part of the Audio Plus upgrade.

Although the 2022 Toyota C-HR has not been recalled for any problems so far, the 2021 model was recalled once for a pre-collision system that may be inoperative. The 2020 version was recalled for an issue where the rear seat belt may not properly restrain occupants in the event of an accident. The same recall applied to 2019 versions, along with two additional recalls for these models due to a non-permanent text on the load capacity label, and rear axle bearing bolts that weren't sufficiently tightened. According to J.D. Power, the 2021 Toyota C-HR has a strong rating of 81 out of 100, indicating a generally positive ownership experience and a solid reliability record.

The C-HR's warranty is nothing to write home about. A three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty pales in comparison to what Kia offers for the Soul. Toyota includes a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty and corrosion perforation coverage for five years regardless of mileage.

Over at the NHTSA, the 2022 Toyota C-HR SUV managed a four-star overall rating for safety. However, the 2021 model attained a full five-star safety rating. At the IIHS, the 2022 C-HR attained a Top Safety Pick award and racked up a maximum Good rating in all crashworthiness tests, although the headlights on some trims were, disappointingly, rated as Poor.

The C-HR is well-stocked with passive and active safety systems. The base price will get you a comprehensive suite of ten airbags, including a driver's knee airbag and curtain airbags for all outboard seating positions. Other inclusions are vehicle stability control, brake assist, traction control, a rearview camera, and hill-start assist. The Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 suite comprises a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert with steering assist, automatic high beams, full-speed range dynamic radar cruise control, road sign assist, and lane tracing assist. All derivatives are equipped with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

"Toyota" and "sensible" are usually two words that sit comfortably alongside each other, but it's doubtful whether this is the case with the C-HR. While it is far from a terrible crossover, competitors like the Honda HR-V and Kia Soul come across as more well-rounded products. Holding the C-HR back is its comparatively small trunk, limited rear-seat space, and an engine that simply doesn't have the go to match the show. The C-HR is not without its merits, though. It's one of the most flamboyantly styled small crossovers around and it handles well, both attributes that will find favor with a younger audience. It's also crammed with modern safety features. If you don't need lots of space and spend most of your time covering short distances in the city, the C-HR will serve your needs adequately, but others in this segment simply tick more boxes.

In the USA, the 2022 Toyota C-HR has a starting MSRP of $24,130 for the entry-level XLE, increasing to $24,895 for the Nightshade Edition and $27,150 for the Limited. The priciest Limited Toyota C-HR will cost over $30,000 when equipped with all the available accessories. These prices are exclusive of tax, licensing, and registration costs, along with a destination charge of $1,215. By comparison, the Honda HR-V begins at $21,870, over $2,200 less than the Toyota C-HR's price point.

This year, the Toyota C-HR is offered in a choice of three trim levels: XLE, Nightshade Edition, and Limited. All configurations are powered by the same 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with outputs of 144 horsepower and 139 lb-ft of torque, and power is routed to the front wheels via a CVT transmission.

The base model XLE comes with multi-reflector LED headlights, 18-inch alloy wheels, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, push-button ignition, dual-zone climate control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. It has the same eight-inch touchscreen interface as upper trims that provides access to both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Introduced last year, the Nightshade Edition sports a black chin spoiler and darkened exterior trim, along with black badging. Its 18-inch wheels are also coated in a black finish.

Finally, there is the Limited with the best specs available in the lineup. It boasts LED projector headlights, LED fog lights, and turbine-styled 18-inch alloy wheels. Inside, this version has leather-upholstered seats with an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat.

The base XLE offers very little scope for customization, with the most significant upgrade being the Audio Plus Package for $465 which adds HD Radio. Other than this, there are several accessories like TRD lowering springs for $265 and removable cross bars for $299. Besides a dual-tone exterior, the Nightshade Edition and Limited are similarly restricted in terms of customization.

The Toyota C-HR isn't a luxury vehicle and value for money remains an important aspect within this segment, so for this reason we'd rule out the Limited. The XLE and Nightshade Edition are separated by just $765, so you'd need to decide if the latter's slightly sportier styling is worth it. Both are otherwise similarly equipped with all the essentials including many safety features and a decent infotainment system.

The Toyota RAV4 is one of the best-selling crossovers in North America and for good reason. It's spacious, comes with many standard features, and has a solid reputation. Although not nearly as funkily styled as the C-HR, the RAV4 is significantly larger. Over eight inches of added body length means that the RAV4 has much more space for rear-seat passengers and a trunk that is close to double the size of the C-HR's. The RAV4 is no ball of fire but its bigger 2.5-liter engine means it can tow over 3,500 lbs, as well as being quicker than the lazy C-HR. Plus, the RAV4 has better ground clearance and available AWD. Although the C-HR is more fun to drive, the RAV4 is far more refined. Starting at $26,975, the RAV4 is obviously more expensive, but if you can stretch to it, it's the better SUV by a wide margin.

Although the Toyota C-HR makes more of a statement with its outlandish design, the Honda HR-V is an attractive subcompact crossover that has a lot more to offer than initially meets the eye. For starters, it's a much more practical proposition than the C-HR as the Honda offers more rear legroom and far more space for luggage, whether the back seats are upright or folded. Both vehicles pair rather noisy four-cylinder engines with a CVT transmission, but although the HR-V has inferior outputs of 141 hp and 127 lb-ft of torque (144 hp/139 lb-ft for the C-HR), it's the Honda that accelerates with more urgency. Much of this comes down to the fact that the HR-V is the lighter crossover, even in available AWD guise, whereas the Toyota only powers the front wheels. Dynamically, it's the Toyota that has the edge with its more composed handling, but despite this, the more demure and cheaper Honda comes out on top in this battle.