COMPETITION

C-HR rises above its crossover

Last year, after a week in the 2018 Toyota C-HR, I wrote the vehicle is a good option for families who don’t want a hatchback but are looking for a vehicle with a bit of style.

That opinion didn’t change after a recent week in the 2019 version and, in fact, my liking for the C-HR grew, as I have been able to compare it to a number of smaller CUVs I recently had the chance to drive. In the past few months I have driven the Chevrolet Trax, Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-3 and the Toyota C-HR.

Until recently, the Mazda CX-3 was my favourite of the small CUVs I have driven for the style and performance.

But after a week in the C-HR that opinion is swaying as Toyota has shown it can compete in the very competitive small CUV market.

When the C-HR first hit the road, Toyota offered only two trim versions, the XLE and Premium. For 2019, two new trims have been added, the LE and the Limited.

The LE offers a lot of standard features such as dual climate control, too many airbags to count, automatic high beam and lane departure assist, pedestrian and bicycle detection, dynamic radar cruise control, front windshield de-icer, and an Entune audio system with an eightinch screen that connects to Apple Car Play.

My tester for the week was the Limited edition, which adds $5,100 to the price, and featured 18-inch wheels instead of the standard 17inch; stolen vehicle locator; power folding mirrors; rain sensing wipers (which were used continuously); leather seats and a leather wrapped steering wheel.

All C-HRs are powered by a four-cylinder, 2.0-litre engine matched to a continuously variable transmission.

The engine produces 144 hp and 139 lb/ft of torque. That is second only to the Mazda CX-3 in power of the small CUVs I have recently driven.

It won’t throw you back in your seat when you put your foot on the gas, but the output is more than enough to get onto the highway and keep up with traffic once you get there.

The main thing that differentiates the C-HR from its competitors is its styling. It really stands out in a crowd. The look of the vehicle, especially at the rear, reminded me of the Tumbler from Christian Bale’s Batman movies. There isn’t a straight line anyplace to be found. It looks like the lines start near the front then by the time your eye gets to the back of the C-HR, they have gone in three or four different directions.

I’m a big fan of the look of the C-HR and it’s time more car manufacturers started moving away from the same, old boring straight, glossy lines.

Inside, the C-HR has a lot going for it with the exception of one issue which still remains from last year.

In order to move the car into sport driving mode, you have to use the steering wheel controls and look at the screen on our dash.

It takes two or three moves before the change is made. Most of Toyota’s competitors have the driving mode buttons sitting close to the gear selector which is easier to use.

On a trip to the Muskokas for an off-site work event, I needed to switch to sport mode a few times to get around slow moving tractor-trailers.

It was cumbersome to do each time and even when I did get into sport mode, the difference in engine output wasn’t that noticeable to me so I stopped changing.

The C-HR interior is getting close to the Mazda CX-3 which for me, is still the best in the business.

The audio system is easy to use and all the controls are within easy reach.

I have read some reviews of the C-HR that complain about the lack of room for passengers in the back seat, but I didn’t hear that complaint at anytime from anyone sitting in the back seat during my week with the vehicle.

I also continue to be a huge fan of the little added touch Toyota offers when you unlock the doors at night and a projection of the words C-HR appear on the ground by the front doors. I smiled every time I saw it.

Up until this year, The Mazda CX-3 was the king of all small CUVs for me but there is a change on the throne.

The Toyota C-HR offers just as many features with a more up-to-date style at a very competitive price.

What’s Best: The Toyota C-HR’s exterior styling is the best in the business.

What’s Worst: Switching driving modes shouldn’t be this complicated. Toyota should move the selector switch to a position near the shifter.

What’s Interesting: Seeing the name of the vehicle on the ground whenever I opened the doors at night made me smile every time.