SUBCOMPACT SUV Archives — Auto Trends Magazine

Toyota’s C-HR delivers the goods to the subcompact crossover segment.

2018 Toyota C-HR — Diamonds influence the design of the all-new Toyota C-HR.

Take a coupe and blend it with a crossover and out comes the Toyota C-HR. Well, not exactly. Toyota’s newest model is definitely a crossover, but with coupe-like elements. It is a styling direction advanced previously by Nissan in the Juke, so we know that there is interest there.

Indeed, customer interest is quite strong as this model averaged more than 3,000 units sold per month beginning last June and topped 5,200 units in March. This 2018 model went on sale in April last year and will have about 18 months of sales before the 2019 model arrives late this summer.

2018 Toyota C-HR Overview

Toyota offers the 2018 C-HR in two trims: XLE ($22,500) and XLE Premium ($24,350). Originally planned as a Scion model before Toyota deep-sixed the brand, the C-HR offers a nod to the mono-spec pricing of Scion, while delivering some content differentiation. Prices here do not include the $995 destination charge.

Exterior Overview

Say it with diamonds. Or at least design it that way. From the shape of the headlamps to the various side body panels, the purposeful diamond inspiration is present. Further, it continues to the rear fascia with its protruding tail lamps and diffuser trim.

Up front, the 2018 C-HR has a distinctive and contemporary Toyota face, but with even wider headlamps. Below that a narrow lip splits the upper and lower grille with deep sculpting at the corners. The flared wheel wells give this model a muscular appearance.

Cast your eyes along the sides and you may think you are looking at a coupe, but Toyota locates the rear door handles at the rear roof pillar where it meets the body. You are forgiven if you miss this — my younger son attempted to enter the rear compartment by means of the front door, thinking the passenger seat slides forward. It does not.

The roofline flows downward to the rear, itself marked by a haunch-like layout. Some may find the design busy, likewise others may consider it wholly attractive. And if that is not enough, the optional contrasting white roof delivers its own set of style élan matched by white side mirror caps.

Standard features include projector-beam halogen headlights, LED daytime running lights, 18-inch sport alloy wheels and body trim — rear lower diffuser with back rear and lip spoiler, vortex generators, underbody panels and front and rear wheel spats. The XLE Premium adds integrated fog lights, a touch sensitive liftgate and power side mirrors.

Interior Overview

On paper, the Toyota C-HR seats five, but four is a better choice. Three adults sitting side by side in the back would find the space extremely tight. The front seats are supportive…if you are young. There just is not enough hip and leg support to please a mature man such as myself. Happily, the seat has power lumbar support and a heating element. I needed both while taking one long drive to sooth my lower parts.

2018 Toyota C-HR But there are some good things about this crossover’s interior, including a clean, layered and stitched dashboard design marked by an instrument panel hood and a center console topped by a color display rising from the dashboard. Moreover, the diamond theme advanced across the exterior carries over to the interior where door panels and the headliner express that particular motif. The look is unique, if not playful, likely to spark interest for youthful drivers.

The rear bench seat is a one-piece design and this means it lacks a center armrest. The standard storage space measures just 19 cubic feet, expandable to 36.4 cubic feet with the seat folded. That is noticeably less than the Honda HR-V ( 23.2/55.9 cubic feet), but ahead of the standard 12.4 cubic feet in the Mazda CX-3, yet behind the 44.5 cubic feet with the seat folded.

Standard features include keyless entry, power windows, a tilt-and-telescopic steering column, fabric-trimmed seats, dual-zone automatic climate control and a cargo area cover. The XLE Premium builds on this by supplying push-button start, a power driver’s seat with lumbar support, heated front seats and dual sun visors with illuminated vanity mirrors.

Performance Matters

If you are looking for a high-performance small crossover, the C-HR is not it. Then again, performance typically is not a characteristic of this segment. Nor even for the compact segment above it.

2018 Toyota C-HR What you get here is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, generating 144 horsepower and 139 pound-feet of torque. Modest power at best, but it is no slouch either. Toyota pairs this engine with a continuously variable automatic transmission and that means under full throttle you will hear the engine strain as the transmission sends power to the wheels.

Step-off acceleration is certainly up to the task. Its relatively lightweight frame ($3,300) helps. Up hill, down dale and the C-HR seems at home. Steering is light to the touch and handling is sharp. You are still dealing with a high-profile vehicle, therefore the body rolls are noticeable on tight turns.

As for fuel economy, expect a return in the high 20s mpg. This is not bad for the segment, but then it is about 10 mpg less than the similar-sized Corolla. Think about this for a moment. When gas prices are cheap, as in below $2 per gallon, this is not much of an issue. But gas prices are on the rise and will likely top $3 per gallon this summer.

Technology and Safety Highlights

Toyota supplies a straightforward audio system with the 2018 C-HR. This six-speaker system does not offer satellite radio, but it does include Aha with access to more than 100,000 radio stations. Bluetooth wireless technology, two USB ports, an auxiliary audio jack and a 7-inch color display are also included.

2018 Toyota C-HR Do you want navigation? Sorry, it is not included. Not even Scout GPS Link, an app that Toyota usually relies on to supply directions is also absent. Without Apple CarPlay or Android Auto smartphone compatibility, drivers must rely on their smartphones directly to supply directions.

On the safety front, the Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P) suite of driver-assist technologies includes a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert with steering assist, automatic high beams and full-speed radar cruise control. Also included is blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.

Parting Thoughts: Toyota C-HR

The C-HR takes an approach to the segment unlike most of its competitors. Sure, the upcoming Nissan Kicks (replacement for the Juke) will take a familiar front-wheel drive-only approach and likely deliver its ow take on a car-like drive.

As for the Toyota C-HR, there are a few things we’d like to see going forward.

First, more power.

The engine is fine, but fine is not a standard we like. I cannot mention the performance numbers for the still-under-embargo 2019 Toyota Corolla
Hatchback, but I can assure you it delivers a noticeable performance edge over the C-HR with the same engine. Matching the Corolla’s performance numbers is an easily attainable goal. Besting it by rolling out a turbo version would be awesome.

Second, let’s offer a manual.

Yes, I know: manual transmission take rates are abysmally low in the US. Some manufacturers have abandoned them, while others restrict manuals to their weakest or base model. Offering a manual would liven the segment and might just interest young buyers with this form of driving.

Third, give us all-wheel drive.

Just like the manual, an all-wheel drive version is available in Europe. I believe Toyota loses some customers without it, especially in colder areas. Definitely, add more power to the engine before expanding the running gear to gain all-wheel drive.

Fourth, make tech great again.

Toyota delivers an odd split when it comes to the C-HR and technology. On the one hand, they are ahead of the competition with driver-assist features. Other manufacturers will certainly follow, but Toyota has the clear lead. On the other hand, Toyota is behind the curve in infotainment technology, at least when it comes to navigation. In this case, Toyota offers the customer zero, zip, nada. This means when you need directions, you will access your phone and will likely hold said phone in your hand as you drive. Do you see what I mean? In this case, expect the distracted driving technology to kick in often as distracted drivers look away from the road to their smartphones.

All in all, Toyota continues to show a commitment to entry-level vehicles and in ways other manufacturers do not always match. That you can get this vehicle for under $25,000 is an important price point for first-time new car buyers. Further, there are several other Toyota models starting below $20,000, offering further credence of Toyota’s commitment to new car shoppers.

2018 Toyota C-HR Specifications

Toyota	2018 C-HR
Segment	Subcompact Crossover SUV
Base Sticker Price	$19,995 (plus $995 destination fee)
Price as tested	$25,485 (Titanium AWD with $2,750 discount)
Standard Engine	2.0-liter, inline-four
Horsepower	144 @ 6,100 RPMs
Torque (lb.-ft.)	139 @ 3,900 RPMs
Transmission	Continuously variable automatic
Seating	2+3
Curb Weight (pounds)	3,300
Wheelbase (inches)	103.9
Length (inches)	171.2
Width (inches)	70.7
Height (inches)	61.6
Head room (f,r — inches)	38.1, 38.3
Leg room (f,r — inches)	43.5, 31.7
Shoulder room (f,r — inches)	49.0, 52.5
Hip room (f,r — inches)	53.0; 48.0
Storage (cubic feet)	19.0, 36.4
Gross vehicle weight (pounds)	NR
Towing (pounds)	NR
Payload (pounds)	NR
Fuel	regular
Fuel Tank (gallons)	13.2
EPA Fuel MPG (city/highway)	27/31
Manufacturing Plant	Sakarya, Turkey

See Also — Full Disclosure: 2018 Toyota C-HR

Some of the best deals are for small cars.

You might have your eye on that small SUV, but if you’re trading up from a compact car the incentives for small cars are very strong as we reach the heart of the spring selling season.

Consumers continue to shift their interest from cars to trucks and SUVs, and that means demand for the former has fallen, while interest in the latter is soaring. And if you know anything about the impact of supply and demand on prices, incentives follow the low-demand vehicles.

2016 Jeep Renegade. — 2016 Jeep Renegade priced from $17,995.

Dodge Dart Discounted, Models Realigned

For example, sales of the 2016 Dodge Dart are down by about one-third year-over-year through the first three months of this year. Further, the entire segment is down by just over 5 percent and would be much worse off if Honda hadn’t updated the Civic. Notably, Civic sales are up 30.8 percent and have moved ahead of the previous category leader, the Toyota Corolla (down 7.1 percent).

To help move Dart sales, Dodge is doing a couple of things:

1. Incentives are strong, depending on region. Some models are marked down by up to $3,250. Low-rate financing is also available. Visit the Dodge website, enter your zip code, and check out the discounts in your area.

2. Three trim levels instead of five. Just past the halfway mark of the model year and the 2016 Dart now has two fewer trim levels. The three remaining trims were renamed and given engines to correspond to each level. Likewise, Dodge shuffled content, cut prices, and spread its package options across all three lines. All in all, the result should be a model better positioned to compete in a very tough segment.

2016 Honda HR-V. — 2016 Honda HR-V priced from $19,125

Financing and Cash Back Incentives

Toyota incentives also vary by region. In my area (southeast USA), the current deal is 0 percent financing for up to 60 months or 0.9 percent financing for 72 months. But those incentives are better elsewhere, including in Los Angeles, where Toyota is offering $1,500 cash back or low-rate financing. Furthermore, attractive lease offers are in play as well.

Demand for small SUVs is up 6.3 percent year-to-date, a modest number. But the biggest gainers are found in the entry-level, subcompact SUV segment as those sales are up a whopping 78.7 percent. Of course, there are four new products in the mix and are driving sales. These are: the Fiat 500X, Honda HR-V, Jeep Renegade, and the Mazda CX-3. The segment has expanded to accommodate the new models as customers shift their interest from small cars to SUVs.

Despite the strong sales, there are incentives on some of the smaller SUVs. At present, Jeep is offering 0 percent financing plus $1,000 cash back on 2016 Renegade models. The brand is also jockeying for market share, hence the discount.

Honda isn’t offering any special deals at the moment for the HR-V, but it is providing a lease deal on its hot-selling Civic. As for financing deals, Honda simply says “Please see your local Honda dealer for available offers.”

Incidentally, both segments offer comparable passenger and storage room, hence the comparison.

Sample Dodge Dart Savings

Using the Dodge build and price configurator, I spec’d out a mid-grade Aero model ($21,095). I then added the $1,250 6-speed automatic transmission and immediately that cost was fully offset by an “applied offer.” The net price came in at $22,090.

For a better deal, go to the next-level Dart GT and the discounts climb to $2,750 and the final price actually comes in lower at $20,340. You also get a larger and more powerful engine, while saving nearly $1,700 off the Aero price. With smart negotiating you can get the price down even lower, probably below $19,000.

Chevy v. Chevy Price Comparison

Of course, comparing models takes some theatrics, especially if the brand under consideration doesn’t offer both a subcompact SUV and a compact car such as Chevrolet and Honda do.

Chevrolet may offer the best example of the price differences between compact car (Cruze) and subcompact SUV (Trax). The 2016 Cruze is priced from $16,120 and the Trax starts out at $20,300.

With the Cruze, discounts of $1,000 and 1.9 percent financing apply to the LS Manual ($18,995) on up. Choose the Trax and you’ll get a $500 purchase bonus and you may qualify for 2.9 percent financing. Typically, you’ll pay about $4,000 more for a similarly-equipped Trax versus the Cruze. Add another $1,500 for all-wheel drive, available only with the Trax.

To sum up, similar-sized cars and SUVs offer significant price differences, especially after all incentives have been taken. If you really want an SUV, then by all means shop for one. But if you’re on the fence and money is a factor, bargaining down the price of a compact car can make a significant difference for your budget.

Sales figures courtesy of GoodCarBadCar.net.

SUBCOMPACT SUV

Toyota C-HR: Coupe Meets Crossover