We Drive Toyota’s Cute 2020 C-HR Koba Hybrid

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2020 Toyota C-HR Koba Hybrid Video Review

C-HR is Toyota’s smallest, some might say, prettiest SUV, said no-one ever about Toyota SUVs, until now.

C-HR is youthful and exuberant, and full of fun and joy. Toyota threw caution to the wind, yet avoided the errors of the Nissan’s first Juke, an SUV just a touch smaller than C-HR. Nissan’s first attempt to be young and hip, was more nerdy and awkward, and frankly, just awful. The new Juke fixed all that. Meanwhile C-HR steamed ahead. Last month, Nissan sold 157 jukes, and Toyota shifted 1199 C-HRs  for the same period.

So, now let’s compare oranges with oranges. In the same segment as C-HR, the aging mitsubishi ASX (1475 units) and Hyundai Kona (1385 units) lead. Subaru’s XV is nipping at the C-HR’s heels with 1124 sales. The remaining brands sell under 1,000, with some as low as 5.

What does this tell us?

There is no predicting what canny buyers really fancy, and much of it is the cool-factor whipped up by brand PR. Toyota is nothing if not a clever marketer.

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ABOVE: 2020 Toyota C-HR Koba Hybrid Review

OUTSIDE:

C-HR was an early adopter of Toyota’s new, slightly manic, design direction. Toyota don’t mind if you hate it, as long as you feel something. Previous Toyotas bored you rigid, whereas new models are sharp.

C-HR is deeply sculptured, with slashes, scrapes, and swerves, all over the place. LED lights up the front end like a Christmas tree. Rear indicators sweep across the array in the director of the turn. A two tone roof is an option on KOBA, and sweeps gracefully down to an enormous rear splitter. An integrated air dam on the lip of the hatch completes the sporty illusion, because, it is just an illusion. A sports car this is not.

18” wheels on the top model look great, especially as C-HR starts to move off.

Smart key access to the cabin, and push-button start means the key stays on your purse at all times. There is a decent boot for shopping bags, considering hybrids are notorious for sacrificing economy for a spare tyre. It is just a space saver, but you’ll be grateful on a dark night when you don’t have to faff about with a repair kit. You still have to scuff up your loafers, but at least you won’t be waiting for NRMA in the rain.

The Cabin:

The interior design uses a modern asymmetric language. Angular motifs adorn doors, the roof lining, and most of the other surfaces. I could do without the tacky diamond plakky door inserts though. That is a push too far.

Seating uses a similar complex set of angles set into the stitching. Take a look around the headrest in the video and you’ll see what I mean. Toyota designers went mad, letting their pens run wherever their little hearts desired.

The dash continues the theme, with a range of curves and angles, and a set of asymmetric buttons for the climate controls, which include seat heating. Oddly, both heating buttons are on the driver’s side. Despite this in-your-face layout, everything is within easy reach. More importantly, it is exactly where you expect it to be.

A floating tablet infotainment system is easy to use, and includes Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. Thankfully, Toyota is now firmly in the 3^rd decade of the 21^st century. Sound is decent, but could use the upgraded JBL speakers found elsewhere in Toyota.

Finally, the central LCD driver’s screen sits between the dials. Apart from other data, it will display a digital speedo. Hoorah!

The Drive:

On the road, C-HR is a pleasurable experience.

There are 2 drivetrains, a 1.2L petrol, and 1.8L petrol/electric hybrid with front, or All-Wheel-Drive. The hybrid’s 1.8L petrol engine recharges the batteries as you drive. Hybrid is available only as a front wheel drive Koba. The electric motor kicks in for extra power, but will also run alone. At low speeds, you creep along in silence. Sopoky.

The motors swap, or work together, with the driver oblivious to the alchemy going on under the bonnet. Acceleration is brisk, with the extra torque of the electric motor making C-HR feel more powerful than the numbers would have you believe. Interestingly Toyota never publishes the Torque figures.

Suspension is MacPherson Struts up front, and Trailing Arm Double Wishbone around bac. That makes the ride supple and smooth. It is both smooth and quiet on all but the most rubbish of Australians roads. Meeting bumps in corners makes her jump just a little, but C-HR is always under your control.

You can definitely feel the weight of batteries, but if anything, it makes the handling feel just a touch more luxurious. Cornering is similarly limo-like. She can’t be rushed. Steering has almost no feeling. It is light and breezy, but when you point the plucky little SUV, there is no hesitation.

C-HR has the full suite of safety gear.

• Active Cruise control
• Active Blind Spot Monitor
• Active Lane Control
• AEB (autonomous emergency braking)
• Reversing camera
• All-round view cameras
• 7 airbags

For more detail, visit Toyota’s website HERE

Conclusion:

I wasn’t in love with C-HR when I first saw it. Perhaps my tastes have matured with time. As often happens, a second taste of a drink gets a different reaction.

C-HR  good to drive, looks fab, and is extremely economical. It is a great city car, but can be used for the odd roadtrip as long as there is just the two of you.

Details:

Price: $37,190

Engine: 1.8L petrol Electric Hybrid

Power: 90kw

Economy: 4.3L/100k

Fuel: 91ron petrol

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