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Hyundai Elantra vs Mazda32021 Toyota C-HR Review: A Unique, but Sluggish Crossover
What do our experts think of the 2021 Toyota C-HR? We look at powertrain, interior options, trim levels, and more. Find out our thoughts here.
What’s New for the 2021 Toyota C-HR?
A new Nightshade edition is the only obvious change to the C-HR for 2021. It adds black 18-inch wheels along with black trim both inside and out. Toyota has also updated the SafetySense suite of advanced driver assistance technologies in the C-HR as well.
2021 Toyota C-HR – pressroom.toyota.com | Shop 2021 Toyota C-HR on Carsforsale.com
The Breakdown
Great fuel economy
Standard safety equipment
Quality cabin
Short on space
Snail-like speed
No AWD option
We’d love a hybrid
Toyota C-HR Specs
- 144 horsepower from base engine
- 139 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 3 available trims
- 19.1 cu-ft of cargo capacity
- 37 cu-ft of cargo capacity with seats down
- 8-inch infotainment screen
- Advanced Safety Features Standard
- Two years of complimentary maintenance
2021 Toyota C-HR Powertrain
The beating heart of every C-HR is a 144-hp four-cylinder engine. It’s mated to a continuously variable transmission and the pair couldn’t be better matched, at least with respect to the fact that neither is in a hurry to provide any sort of driving engagement or joy. Of course, this little crossover isn’t really meant for those who prioritize pleasure behind the wheel, it’s built to be a comfortable means of conveyance and for that it’s fine.
Toyota has provided the 2021 Toyota C-HR with two qualities that we really enjoy, specifically, the quick throttle response and the excellent handling. Off of the line the C-HR is pretty spritely, albeit only to about 30 mph.
The body roll is largely canceled out with good shocks, sway bars, and dampers. Feedback through the steering wheel and pedals is just barely a step above the average for this class but these attributes don’t make up for the massive gap in passing power that rivals have put on the C-HR.
2021 Toyota C-HR Fuel Economy & MPG
Since every C-HR uses the same exact drivetrain that means that all of them should get somewhere around the EPA-estimated 27 mpg in the city and 31 on the highway. In fact, we’re confident that a light foot could achieve even higher numbers in the real world.
Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space
The front half of the Toyota C-HR is sincerely very good. Despite the fact that this is one of the cheapest vehicles in its class, it’s not full of super-cheap plastics or foams. It’s not luxurious or premium though and buyers should cross-shop cars from Subaru and Hyundai before settling on the C-HR.
The seats in the C-HR are comfortable and supportive up front and we appreciate the use of soft-touch materials. They offer decent space and good visibility too though the blind spot can be a bit troublesome at times.
The space behind the front seats is a little less liberal. Rear seat passengers will wish the driver had bought something like the Honda HR-V and that goes double if cargo is required for the trip as the C-HR only has 19.1 cu.ft. of space behind those seats. That’s not a whole lot more than in the Toyota Camry sedan and at least in that vehicle, the rear seats are spacious.
Entertainment & Technology
Every C-HR uses the same 8-inch infotainment screen equipped with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. In addition, the entire lineup gets SiriusXM and Bluetooth. As a complete system, Toyota’s Entune user interface does a nice job of presenting important functions prominently and responding fairly fast to inputs.
Besides the main infotainment system, technology is pretty limited in the C-HR. No premium audio system is available, and neither is a heads-up display or a larger infotainment screen.
Safety Features
The C-HR received a five-star crash test rating from the NHTSA and also managed to snag a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS. In addition, it has an updated Safety Suite from Toyota with adaptive cruise control, lane-tracing capability, forward collision mitigation and more.
2021 Toyota C-HR Trims & Pricing
LE – $22,910
The base C-HR gets LED headlights, dual-zone automatic climate control, 17-inch wheels, an 8-inch infotainment system, and keyless entry. As mentioned above, all C-HRs come with the same 144-hp engine and a full suite of advanced safety equipment.
XLE – $24,945
The XLE adds 18-inch wheels, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, body-colored exterior mirrors, blind-spot monitoring, and keyless entry on all four doors. A new Nightshade package adds black trim along with black 18-inch wheels.
Limited – $27,965
At the top of the lineup is the Limited with its leather upholstery, adaptive LED headlights, special 18-inch wheels, and power-adjustable heated front seats.
Warranties
Toyota offers the C-HR with the same somewhat base warranty package that most others do. That includes a three-year or 36,000-mile limited warranty and a five-year or 60,000-mile powertrain warranty. Where Toyota stands out is with its two years or 25,000 miles of complimentary maintenance.
What we think
2021 Toyota C-HR – pressroom.toyota.com | Shop 2021 Toyota C-HR on Carsforsale.com
The Toyota C-HR is a very unique entry into the market as it looks more aggressive and attractive than much of its competition. Despite that attractive face, the C-HR will appeal most to those who won’t need to rely on it to transport a full complement of people and or cargo often. It’s a vehicle that objectively requires compromise since it itself is a compromise to some degree.
The 2021 Toyota C-HR is not a full size SUV so it can’t haul like one, at the same time it’s very car-like so it handles better than an SUV. Of course, it’s not as quick as most cars in this space but it does have a great complimentary maintenance package. If that set of qualities speaks to you then by all means give the C-HR a shot but be sure to cross-shop the competition.
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