Toyota C-HR AX10/AX50 AWD (2017-2023)

What a great car! – After driving a Ford Fiesta for ten years, my wife and I were in the market for a replacement vehicle. While the Fiesta had been reliable and well suited my wife, we both agreed that it was severely missing the driving assist technologies which are becoming increasingly prevalent in modern vehicles and thus offering a level of safety assistance we… Read more

were seeking.

Therefore, the criteria was to find a smallish “SUV style” vehicle with a suitably large range of driving assist features and technology. After considerable internet research, we narrowed it down to a Hyundai Kona, a Mazda CX3 and the Toyota C-HR. After test driving all three, it became clear that the Toyota C-HR best fitted what we were looking for. The Mazda CX3 had less load capacity and neither of us liked the dashboard. To get the required level of technology we required needed us to select a model which primarily seemed to use a HUD (Heads up display) which neither of us liked. The Hyundai Kona was a worthy contender but was let down by some cheap quality plastics in the interior. It would also prove noticeably higher in the change-over price than the Toyota. My wife and I also felt the Toyota’s seats were more comfortable with my wife complaining about how the Hyundai and Mazda headrests were “pushing her head forward”.

Having decided on the vehicle, we were able to source a 2018 runout model in stock at the local dealer with all the features required and at a great changeover price. This was the top of the range KOBA AWD model in Atomic Rush (Ruby Red pearl) paint and with the optional black roof. Please note that in the remainder of this review, I may be referring to features only on the KOBA model that are not on the base model C-HR.

We have had the vehicle for a couple of months now and have not regretted our decision one little bit. Specifically:

Exterior - Rather futuristic in design, the car is eye-catching from any angle. Fitted with 18” wheels and factory mags (no necessity to change these) there are super bright LED daytime running lights and LED headlights. High beam has an automated control that will automatically dip the lights when there is oncoming traffic. Falseing” is rare. The front indicators have a type of sequential strobing that points in the direction you are turning…a feature I have only seen on some “high end” vehicles. Only disappointment here is that the rear indicators don’t do the same but all rear lights are LED too so they are very bright and clear. The reversing lights are noticeably bright white and this is handy at night…although you also have parking sensors and a rear camera to assist. Handles for the rear two doors are rather high and could be out of reach for small children. They tend to blend in with the vehicle and make it look more like a two door than a four door. Vehicle also has “puddle lamps” giving you a light when stepping out of the vehicle at night. It’s a bit kitsch but these lights also display “Toyota C-HR” on the ground under the mirrors. At least you can turn off these lights if you choose.

Interior - Front buckets seats are probably the most comfortable of any car I have ever driver. You are surrounded by lots of plush soft plastics that all feel to be vey high quality. In fact, there is nothing about this car to make you feel that corners have been cut. Doors close with a solid reassuring thud. All windows are electric and feature automatic up and down…normally reserved for the driver window only. Control lighting is a soft blue and well laid out. There is a little bit of a learning curve on the dashboard LED screen as you can navigate left and right and top and down. You soon get to know where things are and you will probably end up leaving it set in one place all the time (Do you really need to keep monitoring the diagram showing where power is being applied to your four wheels and what the G-Rate is as you corner?). The only complaint I have here is to access one of the three driving modes, ECO, NORMAL and SPORT, you must navigate through this screen. A switch maybe on the centre console may have been preferable? Changing the driver modes alters the behaviour of the CVT transmission and air conditioning. Despite being a Constantly Variable Transmission, selecting SPORTS mode will make the transmission feel as if it has seven change points (like a “standard” automatic transmission). Nb. SPORTS mode automatically returns to NORMAL once the engine is turned off. NORMAL and ECO mode remember their selection until you change it yourself. In NORMAL mode, you can also override the automatic and “change gears” by pulling the transmission lever right and then tapping it forward or back to alter the ratio.
At 6.1 inches, the Multimedia display for GPS and radio is a little on the small side but has other redeeming features. Even when the GPS is not in use, a female voice will alert you to such things as red light cameras etc. My favourite is when you receive a verbal warning of a school crossing zone ahead yet it will only warn you when the school zone is active…no false alarms for the rest of the day (or night). Only exception is during school holidays as these will be different from state to state. Radio works well and there is a USB socket for attaching a multimedia device (No Apple or Android Car). Strangely, the unit seems a bit dated as it also has a CD player (remember those?) And there is a blue fluorescent digital clock of a type I haven’t seen in cars for about twenty years? GPS works well enough and is updated with traffic alerts so it will offer you alternative routes. Map indicates it has a Q4 2016 update which is a little old for a car purchased new in 2019 but Toyota says that is the latest. There is also a feature to locate not only the nearest garages but also will display the cost of the fuel there. A weather forecasting app is present and you can even bring up the BOM weather radar. Data access is supplied by your bluetooth connected phone.

Driving - The many technology features of this car are astounding. The car handles superbly on its big 18” wheels which are pushed out to the four corners of the vehicle assisting in giving it a low centre of gravity. Controls are all well placed and easily used. Perhaps the most surprising is the electric handbrake. No more levers to pull. There is, instead, a switch on the centre console. You can activate it manually or leave it in “automatic” which apples the park brake every time you shift into Park. Likewise it releases the brake when you shift out of Park. Additionally, there is a “Brake Hold” next to it. Turning this on means every time you stop at traffic lights etc. the vehicle automatically applies the brakes. When the lights turn green, you just put your foot on the accelerator and go. You can’t even feel the brakes being released.....it's that smooth. With the radar cruise control, you are able to “dial in” the exact digital speed you wish to be travelling at. The radar enables the vehicle to not only follow a preceding vehicle (at one of three available distances you can set), but is also capable of bringing the vehicle smoothly and safely to a complete stop if the vehicle in front stops eg traffic lights. When the lights change the vehicle waits for you to give a single tap on the cruise control wand (or accelerator pedal) and it will again move off and follow the vehicle in front. The ride is refined with bumps well cushioned and the Bridgestone Potenza tyres fitted seem quiet and sufficiently grippy.

Performance - This is the area where you will see most complaints about the C-HR. Unless you are a racing fanatic that wants to constantly engage in traffic light duels, this complaint is unfounded! Yes….the 1.2L Turbo engine is not a powerhouse but lets just assume (for the sake of the argument) you are a “normal” driver. The engine is perfect around the city and surprisingly good on the open road. I have seen others saying you will notice its breathlessness around windy hills. Far from it. My wife and I have driven it around some windy hills in northern NSW and up Mt Cootha in Brisbane. Not once did we find it lacking. If I was to lodge a complaint with the engine, it would be because it requires the more expensive 95RON fuel rather than the cheaper 91RON. On the other hand, the vehicle is very fuel efficient and we generally using around 7.6L/100km in the suburbs. During running in while holding a steady 80km/hr on the open road, the fuel computer was registering a steady 4.4L/100km

Technology - This is where the C-HR really shines. There are so many things but here are just some:

*Radar Cruise control
*Blind spot mirrors *Rear Cross traffic alert *Rear camera and front/rear parking sensors *Brake Hold *Pre-collision braking ( for vehicles and pedestrians) *Lane departure alert (with steering access) *Hill start assist *Rain sensing wipers *Keyless entry

…and so it goes.

Warranty and Servicing The C-HR has a 5 year/unlimited Km warranty but if you always service it with a Toyota Dealer for the five years, they will cover the drivetrain for a further two years. No reason not to have it serviced with a dealer as services are annual and capped at $195 for the first five years. Three year roadside assist is also included.

So what is wrong with it? *Well, its not perfect. With so much technology on board you would think it would automatically lock the doors when you drive off….afraid not. *Rear seat occupants may feel a little claustrophobic in the back due to the high-rise design of the rear doors. This would potentially impact young children but they will probably have their attention fixated with a screen and won’t notice. Probably best regarded as a two door vehicle and you won’t be disappointed.

In conclusion, it is a very enjoyable vehicle to drive and I would recommend anyone thinking about a small SUV to take a C-HR for a test drive. It really is a brilliant little vehicle.