For years now, Toyota has been the poster child of reliable, sensible, no-frills transportation for millions of people.
But, there is one model Toyota has that stands out a bit more than the others.
No, I’m not talking about the new Supra or 86. I’m referring to the C-HR.
If you don’t know what the C-HR is, let me do my best to describe it to you.
As you would expect, Toyota, being the largest manufacturer of vehicles by production numbers, makes a subcompact crossover SUV to compete with the likes of the Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-3, Hyundai Kona, Chevy Trax, and Nissan Kicks, among others.
We all know that the entire crossover SUV segment is on fire, with the abnormally high amount of consumer demand killing off manufacturers’ desire to keep making their own family sedans.
It’s only natural that Toyota would have a smaller crossover to complement their RAV4, 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Land Cruiser.
Uncharacteristically for Toyota, the crossover SUV they came up with to fill this segment is, well… pretty different.
I need not say too much else after you see it.
Its appearance alone is enough to send the long-time Toyota faithful into mass confusion over what they are seeing.
I suppose that if you look at it from the front, and squint really hard, you can pick out some elements of the Corolla and Sienna, but from any other angle, you’re on your own.
They say beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, and if you like the way it looks, that’s fine. My opinion isn’t so much that it’s ugly, but more that it’s just a hodgepodge of too many elements working too hard to fit in with everyone else.
Taking a page from the Mini Cooper, Fiat 500, and the Kia Soul, you can even get the C-HR in one of several dual color paint schemes. The roof can be painted a different color from the body. Not necessarily a bad thing, but a bit off-kilter for a Toyota…
In addition to the styling, the performance just isn’t up to par, even against those directly competing with the C-HR. No subcompact SUV is supposed to be fast, but most people who have tested the C-HR agree that it is woefully lacking for any kind of grunt.
The only available engine is a 2.0 liter 144 horsepower unit connected to a CVT transmission. With 3300 pounds to haul around, it’s easy to see why the performance falls short.
And before you say anything else, just remember that few people complain or care that the Corolla, with less horsepower, is rarely teased for just not having enough “get up and go.”
Confusingly enough, the C-HR is also only offered in a front-wheel drive layout. There are one or two more crossover SUVs in this segment that do the same, but the C-HR is still considered an SUV.
Space is lacking. Not that any subcompact SUV is designed for copious amounts of interior volume, but the C-HR is aggressively designed, and thus, cuts down on some cargo area and head room from all the curves and angles.
Additionally, road and engine noise are almost universally complained about by those who have tested the C-HR.
Not everything about it is bad, though. Most people who have driven it state that it is agile and has sharp handling. It also comes with plentiful standard safety and technology features that would be extras on some other competitors.
So, what is the deal with the C-HR? What makes it stand out so much?
It does so for the simple fact that it is a very un-Toyota-like vehicle for being a Toyota.
Most people believe it will be reliable enough, but there are just too many other things that don’t fit. They make it feel left out.
The styling is more characteristic of the hottest new Nissan, Kia Soul, or even some of the more recent Lexus SUVs.
The handling, while good, is almost too sharp to be a Toyota – not that I would complain about being too good in the handling department. It just doesn’t fit. And if you don’t believe me, both of Toyota’s sports cars – the 86 and the Supra – were co-engineered with other manufacturers to cut down on costs and to make sure they got the whole sports car “thing” correct.
Perhaps the most surprising thing about the C-HR, and the thing that truly makes it stand out, is that it really isn’t that practical.
Interior and cargo space isn’t the worst in its class, but it is far from the best. Additionally, the C-HR doesn’t come with an all-wheel drive option, even though it’s considered to be an SUV.
While none of this makes the C-HR a terrible vehicle, none of it makes it a standout Toyota with the exception of its host of standard features.
It may be terrible to say, but it should be more like a Honda HR-V than a Nissan Kicks. It should feel more like a Rav4 than a Mazda CX-5. And, it should look more like a small SUV than a hatchback/SUV/car hybrid.
All that being said, the C-HR actually does quite well for itself in terms of sales numbers. It does well for itself despite all of its un-Toyota-like characteristics.
It has also done something else that nobody really thinks about too much. It has bridged the gap between Toyota practicality, reliability, and predictability and the new consumer market.
The C-HR is very in right now, and even though it doesn’t really fit my own personal preferences or Toyota’s traditional mold, it fits a lot of other people’s. And, that’s pretty cool.
