Stand Out in a 2018 Toyota C-HR
Is this Toyota finally coming out of its shell? Having previously worked at a Toyota dealership many moons ago, I often heard people describe Toyota’s as boring but reliable. Well, how about now you can have not-boring-at-all and reliable. The C-HR is such a funky fun car. Yes, Toyota might be late on the arrival of a quirky fun car but nevertheless, it’s here, and look at it. It’s far from a bland Corolla that maybe your grandma had back in the day. This crossover looks right at home in the mountains with angles all over the place.
Here are some quick facts:
- Front wheel drive crossover.
- CVT (continuously variable transmission).
- 2.0 liter DOHC.
- 144 hp.
- 139 lb-ft torque.
- Recommended fuel is 87 octane unleaded or higher.
- EPA estimated fuel economy is 27 mpg city, 31 mpg highway and 29 mpg combined.
First impressions: bling
Diamond shape styling and bold two-tone colors make this 2018 Toyota C-HR stand out, (available in single colors too). It smells just like a new Toyota (is that weird that I remember the smell from over 10 years ago?) but the next part I noticed was the glittery dash. Yes, glittery. Never thought I’d see the day I’m saying Toyota and bling in the same sentence. I like it, it made me smile. It’s not quite Christmas bauble glittery, it’s so subtle you might mistake it for dust, but it’s there and it’s cool, it’s playful and it’s funky. Controls were easy to find and functionality is good. Hopefully, Toyota is working on including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for future models, however, in the meantime, music is still accessible through a USB port or Bluetooth connection.
Driving the C-HR
For its class, I couldn’t fault the 2018 Toyota C-HR. The transmission is smoother than some other CVT crossovers I’ve driven. It is pleasant to drive, like a bigger, smoother Yaris with less engine noise. The suspension is a MacPherson strut set-up on the front and double wishbones on the rear. SACHS dampers and shock absorbers make for a pleasant, comfortable ride that’ll respond quickly when you need it to. There is also a ‘sport mode’ for faster acceleration. Fuel consumption is good in the upper 20s. I wouldn’t expect anything less from Toyota. The U.S gets the bigger 2.0-liter engine, whilst other parts of the world get a 1.2-liter turbo (gas) and a 1.8 liter (gas) hybrid. Overseas, there is also an AWD drive option. Living in Wyoming, this seems like it would be a no-brainer to have the C-HR in AWD, so I decided to call Toyota and find out what they had to say. The spokesperson told me that if they hear it enough from dealers that they need an AWD/4WD version, then they’d take it on board. Apparently, I was not the first person to ask Toyota this question, so if you’re thinking the same as me… get on it! Give our Toyota dealers (Sheridan) (Lander) a call. In the interim, you can enjoy the great gas mileage from the FWD.
2018 Toyota C-HR Trim levels
There are currently two trim levels available. The base model is the XLE and top of the line is the XLE Premium.
Here are some key features that come as standard equipment;
XLE
- Remote keyless entry.
- 4.2 inch ‘Multi Information Display’ screen for fuel economy figures, cruising range, and safety feature settings; drivers assist, lane departure alert, pre-collision system, and it even has a G-force monitor.
- Front bucket seats in cloth (Sport fabric-trimmed as Toyota call it).
- Seats for 3 in the back with 60/40 split and fold flat.
- Power windows.
- Cargo area cover.
XLE Premium
- Heated front bucket seats in cloth with sport bolsters
- 4-way adjustable driver’s seat with power lumbar support
- Smart Key System
- Push-button start
Warranty is 3 years/36,000 miles comprehensive and 5 years/60,000 miles for the powertrain. Toyota also offers a complimentary service plan for 2 years/25,000 miles. Prices start at around $22,500 MSRP and the cars are available from now. Got any questions, let us know? Want to test drive it for yourself?
Great review