Used 2018 Toyota C-HR Limited for sale 

The 2018 Toyota C-HR carries a price tag of $23,495 for the base trim. It comes with a 2.0 Liter engine which is tuned for 144 bhp and 139 lb-ft. of torque. The Toyota C-HR`s intended audience tends to be confused. To address confusion in the intended audience, Toyota offers the C-HR in just two trims - XLE and the intuitively named XLE premium. These two trims are mechanically identical. The base XLE starts at 23,495 - substantially higher than the competition (the HR-V for example, starts at 19,570). 

However, the XLE trim is equipped as well as higher trims of competitors, and that levels the playing field. The XLE trim gets Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P). You also get an auto-dimming rearview mirror with integrated backup camera display, leather-trimmed tilt/telescopic steering wheel and shift lever with satin-plated shift knob, dual-zone automatic climate control system, and vortex-styled 18-in. Sport alloy wheels with P225/50R18 tires.

The powertrain is not very complicated in the Toyota C-HR since there is only one way to get the vehicle. Power is developed by a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine similar to what’s in the Corolla. It develops 144 horses of power and 139 pounds-feet of torque at 3900 rpm. Power is routed through a continuously variable transmission with seven simulated gears and then put to the ground by front wheels only. 

These numbers are not bad among competitors. However, in the real world, the C-HR feels a bit lethargic and the archaic CVT elevates the distressing situation further. To excite things a bit, Eco, Normal, and Sport mode are offered but these are a mere gimmick. Around the town, this engine works fine but you need to jab the pedal hard to get the C-HR moving on a highway. Likewise, it's challenging as well to overtake other vehicles. 

The Mazda CX-3 is the most powerful crossover SUV and also one of the most affordable in this segment. The Toyota C-HR offers decent power but is low on torque whereas the Chevrolet Trax is the only vehicle to offer a turbocharged engine. On the other hand, the Honda HR-V is the cheapest crossover SUV in the market with good power output.

How quick is the 2018 Toyota C-HR from 0-60 MPH?

We don't expect hot-rod performance from bread and butter cars either but for practicality, a car must be able to merge with freeway traffic effortlessly. In the C-HR, you have to plan your maneuvers pretty well before merging with fast traffic or during overtaking. This is evident through the acceleration figures of the C-HR. With 144 horsepower under the hood, a CVT, and a curb weight of 3,300 pounds, acceleration is on the longer side for the C-HR at 9.5 seconds.

The quarter-mile run is completed in 18.4 seconds with a top speed of 130 mph. 

Clearly, the Toyota C-HR is far slower than the closest rival. The outdated CVT may be the performance-sapping member of the powertrain. The Mazda CX-3 is the fastest contender in this segment followed by the Honda HR-V. Meanwhile, the Chevrolet Trax sits on the third spot peacefully.

How does the 2018 Toyota C-HR handle?

After the lackluster straight-line performance, the handling capability of this car comes as a pleasant surprise. The front end has a strut-type suspension while the rear end has a multi-link suspension. Although the car understeers - expected in this segment, the steering feels alive in your hand and you get exact information of what the front tires are up to.

The ride is compliant and the car gobbles up potholes at low speeds with ease. Also, at higher speeds, the crossover feels surefooted and body rolls are controlled well. However, hitting road imperfections at higher speeds will send quivers through the body associated with noise.

How are the brakes on the 2018 Toyota C-HR?

The Toyota C-HR comes with ventilated disc brakes on all four wheels. The braking performance is average among its peers. The pedal feels, although not the best, is linear. The car comes to a dead halt from 60 mph in 118 feet. That’s very impressive because this is only one foot longer than the Mazda CX-3 which is considerably lighter. 

The impressive performance of the Trax can be attributed to the large brake rotor size - 11.8-inch compared to the 11.5-inch or smaller rotors of the competitors. The Toyota C-HR has 11.8-inch brake rotors but its higher weight lengthens braking distance. The Chevrolet Trax finishes in third place while the Honda HR-V fills the last spot.

This is the area where the sacrifice in acceleration bears its fruit. The Toyota C-HR`s drivetrain - small 2.0-liter engine, CVT, and FWD configuration - are all geared towards extracting maximum range from every drop of fuel. The EPA rating implies a competitive fuel economy among rivals - 27 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway for a combined rating of 29 mpg. However, in our comparison, the C-HR produced fuel economy figures that were comfortably ahead of the rivals. This is a definite USP in this segment

The Mazda CX-3 surprised everyone with its incredible fuel economy. It returns 27 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway and a driving range of 400 miles. The Honda HR-V grabs the next spot after the CX-3 followed by the Toyota C-HR. Meanwhile, the Chevrolet Trax goes down in this segment.

The first thing that you will notice about the interior is that it's comparatively sedating as your senses still struggle to absorb all the snazzy design features that the exterior exhibits. However, that's relative. The interior has trapezoid details everywhere - Toyota calls them "diamond detailing" and they look kind of cool. The interior of compact crossovers is mostly driver-focused. The Toyota C-HR takes this even further - to the point of ignoring the rear passenger. This is not a car for you if you envision carrying four souls around in comfort.

The driving position feels like a cockpit as the car fits around the driver like a glove. All the controls are focused on the driver. Most of the materials used in the interior are of good quality - typical Toyota. The faux leather used on the dashboard with simulated stitching looks premium. However, there are huge blind spots - extending almost fully from the B pillar to the C pillar - a side effect of the rising shoulder line and high mounted rear door handle. The steeply raked rear window further reduces the rear visibility.

The C-HR has an adequate amount of cubby holes for the driver and front passenger. The door pockets are reasonable in size and the console box is spacious too. Again, Toyota has neglected the rear passengers as they just get miserly door pockets to stow their belongings in. Everything in the C-HR is oriented towards the driver - often at a cost of comfort for rear passengers. The front seat legroom is one of the best in class. Rear passengers, after experiencing the horror of not being able to see those passing vineyards will be treated to subpar legroom too.

Toyota has literally followed the word "compact" for its compact SUV, the C-HR, and kept the dimensions as compact as possible without compromising on the interior space. The Toyota does feel a bit cramped in the rear row as compared to the competition but it's decently spaced for the front passenger. The other competitors have similar amounts of interior rooms like the C-HR. Some of the interior features include:

• Six-way manually-adjustable front seats
• Eight-way manually-adjustable driver’s seat with power lumbar support
• Leather steering wheel
• Heated front seats
• Leather-trimmed shift knob

How intuitive is the 2018 Toyota C-HR’s infotainment system?

Everything in the 2018 Toyota C-HR is geared towards the millennials. Ironically, the infotainment system - a top priority for millennials - has been ignored. To begin with, you don't get Android Auto and Apple Carplay or even an onboard Wi-Fi Hotspot. What you get is a 7-inch touchscreen system with Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, a single USB port, and an auxiliary input jack as standard. 

However, when it comes to touch responsiveness and GUI, C-HR is far better than the otherwise well accomplished Honda HR-V. The infotainment screen rising from the dashboard looks cool too and is better positioned as the driver does not have to remove his eyes from the road too much for viewing the screen. Some of the additional infotainment features include:

• Voice recognition
• HD radio
• Bluetooth streaming
• HD radio
• A six-speaker stereo system

How much cargo capacity does the 2018 Toyota C-HR offer?

The side effects of the bonkers styling keep on coming and this time the victim is cargo volume. With 19 cubic feet of cargo space, the C-HR will hold more bags than you’ll find in some of the small crossovers. By folding the rear seats, space expands to 36.4 cubic feet. The wide opening of the trunk helps to load things easily into the C-HR. Also, you will find some additional storage underneath the cargo floor too. 

Although not the least among competitors at 19 cubic feet, it's far less than segment leader HR-V that offers an impressive 58.8 cubic feet. The C-HR only betters the CX-3 in cargo volume with all the seats upright. The Chevrolet Trax and the Mazda CX-3also offer better cargo capacity than the C-HR.

The exterior is where the 2018 Toyota C-HR distinguishes itself from the others - a good thing as Toyota is late to the party. It seems like a samurai approached a fairly large piece of stone with a sword and got down with his business. There are wild cuts and creases where you least expect them and the protruding tail lights look almost like a protruding crystal - obvious as Toyota calls it "precision-cut style". Some will find it attractive, some will call it tasteless. However, it's sure to attract attention.

The C-HR is also among the longest and widest in its class. The low height and wild looks give it a compact look.

The 18-inch "vortex" wheels are equally distinctive and the large cantilevered spoilers add to the drama. The steeply raked rear glass almost gives it a coupe silhouette and the high, almost hidden rear door handle adds to the 2 door coupe feel. Those who find this all a bit too dull can get the R-Code paint scheme for a white roof and rear-view mirror. Some of the standout exterior features include:

• Color-matched door handles
• Integrated fog lamps
• Puddle lights
• Projector-beam halogen lights
• Touch sensor door locks

The new Toyota C-HR was well-received by the safety agencies. NHTSA rated the C-HR and gave five out of five stars which is good while it earned ‘Good’ ratings on every possible crash test conducted by IIHS. The C-HR also comes with six airbags to reduce the possibility of an injury. However, the C-HR gets the following active safety features: 

• Automatic Emergency Braking
• Automatic High Beams
• Lane Departure Warning
• Lane Keep Assist
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Forward Collision Warning w/ Pedestrian Detection

Toyota C-HR vs Honda HR-V

The Honda HR-V is definitely the most well-rounded contender. The largest boot, spacious rear seat, and immense practicality of the Honda Magic Seat make it far more practical than the C-HR. The HR-V has a peppy engine too. However, the C-HR has a more responsive and intuitive infotainment system.

More importantly, some may find the C-HR far more stylish and exciting than the HR-V and that's a good enough reason for many.

Toyota C-HR vs Chevrolet Trax

The Chevrolet Trax is far more conservatively styled than the Toyota C-HR. The Trax also handles well, like the C-HR, and has a lackluster engine - like the C-HR. However, the availability of the Android Auto and Apple Carplay decidedly tips the scale in favor of the Trax.

Toyota C-HR vs Mazda CX-3

The Mazda CX-3 is sharply styled and more importantly, is the go-to car for anyone looking for driving pleasure in their compact crossover. The CX-3 also affords more room for the rear passengers than the Toyota C-HR and has a livelier engine. The boot volume is compromised though.

The US-bound 2018 Toyota C-HR - with its wild styling, engaging handling, and fuel-efficient engine - is sure to impress the young crowd. It also offers a host of features as standard a tough trait to find in the segment. The interior is driver-focused and of good quality. However, the Toyota C-HR is far from accomplished. Its rear seats are claustrophobic, outside visibility is compromised, engines lack punch and the infotainment system is outdated. Many will find the styling a bit too busy. 

All in all, the 2018 C-HR is distinctive but it lacks the everyday practicality that's expected from a compact crossover and there is a lot to be desired. However, if that "look at me" styling impresses you and you can live with its shortcomings, the 2018 edition of Toyota C-HR makes a decent daily driver for the city-backed by the trust of the Toyota brand. However, if lack of practicality haunts you, get a Honda HR-V, and feel safe.