Toyota C-HR – new SUV reaching Australia in 2017

Toyota Australia has uploaded a new video to its YouTube page, and it features the Toyota C-HR. The compact SUV, which features very bold styling to tempt buyers away from the Honda HR-V and Mazda CX-3, will be reaching Down Under in 2017, according to the 26-second clip. We’re looking at the shape of the future, Toyota says.

Unveiled at this year’s Geneva show, the production C-HR is slated to roll off Toyota’s Sarkaya plant in Turkey as well as the Miyagi plant in Japan later this year. Thailand, a major regional hub for Toyota, has to be on the list as well.

Australia is a right-hand drive market in the Asia Pacific region, and like our market, is an importer of Thai-made Japanese cars. Will the C-HR also hit ASEAN countries next year? I can imagine local reps UMW Toyota licking their lips in anticipation – the big T is seriously under-represented in the booming SUV market, where each of its rivals have something to offer in our market (the Rush isn’t sophisticated enough).

The C-HR is built on the modular Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA), the second car to be built on the platform after the new Prius. The driving dynamics are said to be a match for the precision and control of a modern C-segment hatch thanks to the new platform’s refinement and low centre of gravity, allowing the C-HR to “carry its speed through corners with excellent body control and steering fluidity.”

2016-GMS_Toyota-C-HR_08

Japan will get a 2.0 litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine with 150 PS and 193 Nm of torque at 3,800 rpm, paired to a CVT and FWD. Should this configuration reach our shores, the C-HR will have 8 PS/21 Nm more than the Honda HR-V 1.8, but 6 PS/11 Nm less than the Mazda CX-3 2.0. There’s also a 116 PS/185 Nm 1.2 litre turbo engine (CVT and 6MT, with AWD) and a hybrid.

Measuring 4,350 mm long, 1,795 mm wide and 1,550 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,640 mm, the C-HR is 56 mm longer, 23 mm wider but 55 mm lower than the HR-V. The Toyota’s wheelbase is also 30 mm longer. The interior is still a mystery. CH-R – what do you think?

GALLERY: Toyota C-HR at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show

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Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

Comments

  • What a beauty!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 7
  • komarad on May 09, 2016 at 12:09 pm

    looking good…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 1
  • Kawenih on May 09, 2016 at 12:27 pm

    A worthy hrv contender….if the price is right of course

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 2
  • takNakP1 on May 09, 2016 at 12:40 pm

    too late & too bold for my liking.
    been holding back buying a new car for few years hopefully they will come out or upgrade to something decent but nothing decent show up.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 2
  • Muniandy Periasamy on May 09, 2016 at 12:44 pm

    Come here, Toyota will charge Rm140k for this car, take out VSC, take out all airbags except 2, Take out lane watch, take out so many things.

    Then all in Malaysia will say, syukurlah UMW sayang kami.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 20 Thumb down 4
  • Saitam on May 09, 2016 at 1:20 pm

    This goes to show that if Toyota really want to kill off the competition, it is very easy.

    HRV? CX-3? If not for the stupid pricing of UMW and slow in bringing in new model, others will have a very tough competition.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
    • Toon899 on May 09, 2016 at 1:46 pm

      Everyone knows Toyota’s ability, no doubt about that!
      Only UMW is the retard here………

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 4
  • What’s wrong with me..I am drooling over a Toyota? Wazaaa..wazaaa..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 1
  • Clever on May 09, 2016 at 4:03 pm

    There’s a subtle hint of clever marketing from Toyota with the naming of C-HR. Throw in the letters CX-3 and HR-V and you get C-HR. Good way to confuse potential Honda and Mazda customers. Imagine this scenario with a Honda customer trying to recall the name of her beloved HRV: “What was that name of that you beaut SUV again? Was it C-HR? H-MV? HR-V? C-VT?”. Googles her first thoughts: “C-HR”… and up comes this Toyota. Gotcha!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 3
  • If the price is competitive to HRV’s and the local sales don’t shave off too much essential specs – read airbags and VSC- then it’ll take HRV’s sales.. otherwise….kiss it bye2

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Middle Age Driver (Member) on May 09, 2016 at 11:25 pm

    2017-2018 is a long time for competitors to dominate the market. Toyota really got caught napping in this segment..ha..ha..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
  • Weeding on May 10, 2016 at 1:01 am

    2017 in Australia,.. 2018 in Bolehland.This story will come up here again n again for the next 2 years time.Eventually can’t digest it anymore..vomit! Then Honda come up with refresh facelift hrv with full specs.Now civic come with 6 airbags for all variants,guys! All variants!! Same lorrr ended up at corner side again smoking weed

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 2
 

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