With so much hype and talk about the Toyota C-HR, it’s hard to believe that this is a car that is yet to go on sale. Not just in Malaysia, but in Thailand as well, which is Toyota’s regional production hub for the model. I wonder how many potential customers have gone the way of the HR-V while waiting. Speaking of the Honda, a facelift is already on the way…
Anyway, order books for the C-HR are now open in Thailand, where the B-segment crossover will launch in the first quarter of 2018. Two engine options will be available there – a naturally aspirated 1.8 litre and a hybrid 1.8 litre. The 1.8 Dual VVT-i motor makes 141 hp and 177 Nm of torque, and is paired to a CVT automatic with seven virtual ratios. As is the norm in Thailand, the engine is E85 compatible.
The hybrid model combines a 2ZR-FXE Atkinson-cycle 1.8 litre engine (98 hp/142 Nm) with an electric motor with 72 hp and 163 Nm. Max combined output is 122 hp, but there’s plenty of torque from rest. The battery that powers the motor is a nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) unit. Toyota claims fuel economy of 24.4 km/l and CO2 emissions of 95 g/km. Toyota’s hybrid system is well-proven, but there’s a five-year warranty for the system and 10-year warranty for the hybrid battery for peace of mind.
Toyota Thailand is also touting the new Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform that underpins the C-HR, highlighting the new car’s low centre of gravity, good handling, double-wishbone front suspension and excellent visibility. All their words, not ours.
The C-HR can be had with Toyota Safety Sense in Thailand. The suite of active safety systems includes Pre-Collision System (warning and AEB), Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control and Automatic High Beam.
Also part of the tech push is T-Connect telematics, which comes with functions such as WiFi, vehicle tracking, 24-hour SOS and operator service and navigation. All four tech pillars – hybrid, TNGA, Toyota Safety Sense and telematics – are highlighted in videos that we’ve pasted below.
The 1.8L can be had in Entry and Mid trim levels, while the Hybrid comes in Mid and Hi variants. The base 1.8 Entry (9XX,XXX baht) comes with auto halogen projector headlamps, LED tail lamps, 17-inch alloys, black fabric seats, seven-inch touchscreen audio (USB, AUX, Bluetooth) and seven airbags (front, side, curtain, driver’s knee). The top non-hybrid C-HR, the 1.8 Mid (1,0XX,000 baht), adds on fog lamps, leather and keyless entry/push start.
Going for the Hybrid Mid (1,0XX,000 baht) will net one all of the above plus full LED headlamps, full LED tail lamps and T-Connect telematics. The top 1.8 Hybrid High (1,1XX,000 baht) gets the full works, further adding on navigation and the Toyota Safety Sense pack.
Six colour options are available, with the three brighter hues (blue, red and green) contrasted with a black roof. There’s also a free “custom name plate” for Thais who book the C-HR from now till the end of February 2018. What’s that? Video below.
The C-HR is of course coming to Malaysia, and the latest round of teasing happened last month, when the Malaysian-spec car was previewed. We’ll be getting our stock from Thailand, and in 2ZR-FE 1.8 NA form (137 PS/170 Nm) with no hybrid option.
Our C-HR will come with halogen projectors, LED DRLs, 17-inch alloys, front and rear fog lights, keyless entry with push start, puddle lights, leather upholstery with diamond perforations, powered lumbar adjustment (on manual seats), auto lights and wipers, a 4.2-inch colour multi-info display, dual-zone climate control, auto-dimming rear-view mirror and a reverse camera. The closest Thai-spec C-HR is their 1.8 Mid.
For safety, we won’t be getting Safety Sense, but there will be a Blind Spot Monitor, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, seven airbags and VSC. The estimated local price is RM145,500 on-the-road without insurance. The C-HR will arrive next year, but it surely won’t be before the Q1 Thai launch.
GALLERY: Toyota C-HR, Malaysian spec preview
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
How come the 1.8 hybrid lower power output than petrol? Even a city hybrid develop more power from lower capacity 1.5 engine. Toyota engine design really failure and not attractive. The 1.8 hybrid should develop at least 160hp.
Cheapest CBU crossover in Malaysia & Most valuable car brand TOYOTA. CHR ftw!!!
From the side it looks like Urus.
I know what U are trying to say there. Your Civic turbo is the BEST. Yes or Not ?!
Good experience with civic 1.5T body rolling like boat sailing. To enhance civic build body platform, just add +++ extra steel bars… Unbeliebe the tiny Polo/Virtus b-segment can handle 2.0T, so solid build. Not lime civic to add steel bar everywhere like kindergarten lego-ing…
No doubt Volkswagen builds way better cars than Honda or Toyota. VW’s turbocharged TSI engines are incredibly powerful. I had a chance to drive a twincharged Volkswagen. The experience was mind blowing.
Wait till DSG plagued in, lol
Sorry got to agreed on this, drove my aunt car 6 full adults going up hill, The car just going up without any problems or changing gear… Impress by the performance.
Mind blowing when it enters SC more than on road
Toyota.th website show from 1000k baht onward, somehow here able to get at 900k baht.
RM145k. Better buy Harrier 2.0T recond
Greedy UMW. Gomen say want to give rakyat cheap cars. But Gomen owned UMW sell this super cheap car for RM146k.
No logic. This is not even a proper C Seg SUV like CX5 or CRV. And all over the world, CHR is same price at HRV Honda.
In Malaysia HRV is RM100k but CHR is RM148k
2018. Car price reduced 30%
For Crying out loud, u wait until 2025 only buy 2018 Harrier 2.0t at RM145K?
2014 Harrier 2.0 150hp RM144,800.
Noturbonobuy
Agreed. UMW is killing Toyota brand & the potential of CHR. Over priced for a good car. CHR pricing is making everything else in that price bracket a much more attractive n reasonable option.
In all other countries including UK & Australia, CHR is priced competitively & alongside likes of HRV, Mazda CX3, KIA SPORTAGE. Only in Malaysia, pricing for CHR is curiously over priced…
May UMW retail go the way of its ok & gas business…
1.8 litre Atkinson-cycle engine only produce 98hp?! I don’t understand.
This car doesn’t have enough power. Typical Toyota. Underpowered engines and outdated technology.
Without built in smart tag..myvi is better..haha
Btw, toyota safety sense is something that i looking for..should be a standard product near future
Sabah n sarawak user no need this.
RM145k for this HR-V rival? Better get the entry level Mazda CX-5 or even CR-V.
Stop buying expensive Toyota will forced them to rationalize their pricing.
CHR is a good crossover no doubt, but UMW Toyota screwed it up with bad marketing. The pricing kills itself before even launch for booking. CHR will be as rare as Rush on the road in future. HRV launched and sold 10k in weeks back in 2015, I doubt CHR could even hit that number in it’s production life cycle in Malaysia.
DoA
Even the thai’s counterpart get dual vvti 141hp/177Nm compared with bolehland 137hp/170Nm which seems underpowered and Overprice. Hrv is better choice
I hope UMW bring the hybrid to Malaysia. This is because, it can pass the special tax incentives for hybrid to the consumer.
If UMW just brings the normal 1.8 petrol, it will be RM145k. If it brings in the Hybrid, UMW can sell this car for even RM100k. This will benefit the consumer a lot
Just like how the X5 was RM590k but with the hybrid tax incentive, the X5 40e is sold for RM388k
Hybrid tax incentive is only for locally assembled car. CHR will be assembled in Thai thus not eligible for it.
Do you think UMW want to kill its Altis by selling 100k CH-R?
Yes, actually UMW do want to kill both Altis & CH-R – so priced both more expensive than Civic and HR-V.
Waaa so much different in pricing. From 90k in Thailand. We got from rm145k. Ish ish ish..
Meanwhile HRV is slightly above 100k after diskaun.
even at 900k Baht, that would be around RM114k here…how did you get 90k? You do realise the RM exchange rate has plummeted even against THB
the top of the line hybrid is almost equivalent to the Malaysia price. Probably the taxes are killing Toyota since it is imported CBU
900k baht is roughly RM113k. Still overpriced, but get your figures right, bro.
u compare with the wrong variant..obviously bolehland lower spec is equivalent with thai CHR mid variant.. even the article above mention bout that. thai mid variant is around ~RM130k
Looks nice just that it’s starting to look dated even before launching here. Oh dear…
At least thai get the better Hybrid version… malaysia get the Altis 1.8 variant only.
At RM145K many alternate choices to consider unless it is equipped with the full suite Toyota active safety features and of course you are a die-hard Toyota fanboy. I was once a big Toyota fan and drives each new generation of the Corollas until the Altis. Moving to Ford, Nissan, Honda, VW, and Ssangyong. I am now a satisfied Subaru XV owner. But then also disappointed the new NV came minus the Subaru eyesight feature. Notwithstanding, the gap between the different brand name has narrowed in recent times. Not much difference in quality between a Korean make and Japanese local assembled make. The only differentiating factor is perceived image and resale value. I am keeping my fingers crossed the C-HR Hybrid would be sold locally and will decide then. Of course, the novelty factor of owning the C-HR would have diminished greatly by then and perhaps even be considered dated.
Double wishbone suspension? WOW!
Will we get the same thing here??? Or just the lousy torsion beam?
Be like perodua laaa….silently developing new car and then boom, announce, and few days later on sale already…..
No development, just redesign bumpers and bodykit.
Malaysian spec C-HR no Safety sense for 145k? CR-V got honda sensing and more powerful 1.5 Turbo engine….. CR-V is better
Shouldn’t it be between RM115k – RM125k? What’s with the RM20k-RM30k additional profit, UMW? Greedy, eh? Is it AWD even?
For safety, we won’t be getting Safety Sense.
HAHAHAHA
Malaysia version of imports always cut cost through safety part.
UMW only have self interest in mind, and totally self centred management style have totally killed the TOYOTA brand in Malaysia. Rest in peace UMW TOYOTA!
come to malaysia, lemme guess…no safety sense kit will be installed ^^