2018 Toyota
C-HR

By Tara Weingarten

Ten Things to Know About the 2018 Toyota C-HR

What exactly is a C-HR, you wonder? It stands for Coupe-High Rider. Coupe, not because it’s a two-door (rather, it’s a five-door hatchback really) but it has the sleek sloping lines of a coupe, and its rear doors are designed to blend into the styling and disappear. High-riding because it’s a crossover, even though it’s on a car platform and honestly feels more car-like in its exquisite handling than a high-riding truck. Confused? Sorry. Please read on.

Until now, Toyota’s best-selling RAV-4 was its smallest crossover/small SUV. Now, with the 2018 C-HR, Toyota gives millenials, empty nesters, and eco/budget-conscious families a smaller alternative. The vehicle’s ride quality is outstanding. Comfort is fab. And handling on twisty mountain roads is better than any crossover/compact SUV we’ve tested. If you don’t need a lot of room, are happy to own a vehicle where you can park in even the smallest slots, and you like tight driving qualities, the 2018 Toyota C-HR should be tops on your shopping list.

The C-HR looks edgy and is a departure for a company otherwise tied to mainstream design. To hammer home that Toyota went far outside is normal styling mien, it held its media launch for us automotive journalists in Austin, TX., a city known to “keep it weird.” Indeed, the 2018 C-HR is weird in such a good way. It takes all the charm of the RAV-4 and torques it with angular sheet metal and masculine design lines.

This is a driver-centric car. The placement of buttons and a 7″ touch-screen display screen for the six-speak sound system, climate control and wireless connectivity are angled toward the driver’s seat for ease of use. It’s even got an in-car wireless phone book that holds up to 2,500 numbers, should you be fortunate enough to have that many friends.

Though the Toyota C-HR is tiny on the outside, it feels expansive on the inside. There are soft touch points throughout, giving a premium feel to the vehicle’s interior. Working to reduce driver distraction, Toyota has increased the car’s voice command capabilities. Rather than take your eyes off the road, you can use your voice to call friends, check texts and turn on certain features of the C-HR.

Got stuff to haul? No problem, one of the key components of this versatile compact SUV is its spacious flat cargo area and wide-open hatch-back-like trunk. The C-HR is a five-seater with the 60/40 split back seats able to fold flat either one at a time or together. Not sure why Toyota told us this but the C-HR can store 768 cans of Red Bull in its trunk. That just sounds like an bad idea to me.

Seating is supremely comfortable, thanks to a manual 8-way setting and a lower seating position which limits driver fatigue. Excellent head room makes the C-HR a winner for tall and short drivers alike.

The 2018 Toyota C-HR comes in nine fun colors. If you’re the spirited type, opt for the R-Code version, which comes in a choice of red, blue or green with contrasting body-color accents on the roof and side mirrors – think Mini Cooper’s whimsical trim additions.

Three driver modes allow for different driving styles. The C-HR defaults to the ECO mode for the most economical driving. But set the dial to Normal for quicker acceleration response and better flow from the HVAC, or to Sport for enhanced performance.

The C-HR has a best-in-class 10 airbags! And it has a myriad of standard features not found among its competitors in the sub-compact SUV market. There are automatic high-beam headlights, which dim at the sight of oncoming cars, a back-up camera, and hill-start assist to ensure the vehicle doesn’t roll back on inclines when you take your foot off the brake.

For the money, it’s hard to beat the 2018 Toyota C-HR. It rides exceptionally well on a variety of road conditions, has loads of standard safety features, including the use of high tensile steel to better withstand impacts, and a scrappy look for those eager to stand out.