The Toyota C-HR, unveiled in production form in March, is one of the most anticipated models from the big T. The boldly-styled rival to the Honda HR-V and Mazda CX-3 will reach Australian showrooms early next year, and we’re expecting the ASEAN debut to be around the same time, if not slightly earlier in Thailand.
The crossover is already in the UK, and prices have been revealed to give us an idea of Toyota’s positioning vis-a-vis rivals such as the Honda HR-V. How about when compared to traditional mid-size SUVs such as the Honda CR-V?
The Turkish-made C-HR is available in the UK with two powertrains – a 1.2 litre turbocharged petrol engine and a 1.8 litre hybrid system. The C-HR is the second model in Europe to get the 1.2L downsized turbo after the Auris C-segment hatchback. Toyota claims that the 120 hp/185 Nm unit offers the performance of a 1.6L NA engine but with significantly lower fuel consumption and emissions. It can be had with a six-speed manual gearbox (FWD) or CVT auto (FWD/AWD).
The 124 hp petrol-electric powerplant is from the new Prius, but tuned for this application. It consists of an engine that returns 40% thermal efficiency (world’s best for a petrol unit) and a CVT with lower gearing for improved off-the-line acceleration. Best in class C02, FWD auto only.
Toyota has three trim levels – Icon, Excel and Dynamic – with the 1.2L turbo priced from £20,995 (RM114,140) for the Icon FWD 6MT to £27,995 (RM152,196) for the Dynamic AWD CVT. That’s the most expensive C-HR there, along with the top hybrid in Dynamic trim.
The Honda HR-V, which is sold in the UK as a 1.5L NA i-VTEC (MT and CVT) and 1.6L i-DTEC (MT only), is priced from £18,495 (RM100,549) to £24,305 (RM132,136). Both the HR-V’s entry and highest prices are lower than the C-HR’s, although the Toyota does boast more advanced (and therefore costlier) technology such as the downsized turbo engine and the hybrid powertrain. Also, the C-HR has an AWD option while the HR-V is FWD-only.
The funky C-HR is not the cheapest then, but Europeans do get a bit more than the usual compared to the HR-V and the Mazda CX-3, which also doesn’t have a turbo option. In fact, a big chunk of the C-HR price list overlaps with that of the much larger Honda CR-V, which is priced from £22,775 (RM123,763) to £31,035 (RM168,650) in the UK.
While the CR-V seems like a much better deal and a lot more metal for the money, it has a school run image that the young and trendy target market for the C-HR would not want to be associated with. There’s something for everyone.
Toyota gave us a first look at the Coupe High Rider’s cabin in June, targeting “class-leading sensory quality” and a “modern and sensual style.” Plenty of curves and flow in the design, which has a large touchscreen (6.1-inch wide, with the brand’s trademark digital clock beside) rising from a centre stack that’s slightly angled towards the driver. The centre console design is asymmetrical.
Toyota said that its designers focused on component quality and the consistency of grain, texture, shape, colour and illumination in every element, even the stitch groove radii of the seats. Speaking of that, a new two-tiered front seat design combines a slender, sporting upper section with a more strongly bolstered and supportive lower area.
The C-HR, which sits on the new and modular TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) platform, measures 4,350 mm long, 1,795 mm wide and 1,550 mm tall, with a 2,640 mm wheelbase. To give you a rough idea, that’s 56 mm longer and 23 mm wider than the Honda HR-V, but 55 mm lower. The Toyota’s wheelbase is 30 mm longer.
Toyota says that the C-HR’s bold design represents the determination of the company president Akio Toyoda to allow greater stylistic freedom and promote engineering creativity with eye-catching designs and enhanced driving pleasure.
Australia will get the 1.2L turbo while Japan will get a 2.0L NA engine with 150 PS and 193 Nm, paired to a CVT and FWD. Should this configuration reach our shores, the C-HR will have 8 PS/21 Nm more than our Honda HR-V 1.8, but 6 PS/11 Nm less than the Mazda CX-3 2.0.
Like what you see? UMW Toyota Motor must be licking their lips in anticipation too, as the world’s biggest automaker is seriously under-represented in the booming SUV segment, where each of its rivals have something to offer in these parts. No, the Rush doesn’t count.
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Thai import 1.8L 128K soon
Yes agreed.Greedy UMW won’t learn any lesson!
The wait is now over. Time to book my wife the HR-V.
no worry, UMW will definitely sell around RM180-200K to you..
Or maybe 120-130k with no equipment at all. hahaha
Too much lines and curves on body, the design is not neat at all. I’ll pass this.
First time see: Nice!
Second time: Ok ok
Third time : Fugly
Ohwai.jpg
Wow…stunning…will sell like hotcakes…both hrv and crv will not see another day when this beast arrive…
Since the new civic copied the C-HR taillights when it (the C-HR) was still being developed…honda had to struggle to make the c pillar on civic looks nice in order to accommodate the borrowed taillights…but in the end it looks so ugly and horrible that people think the new civic is cacat on that particular part…but surprising the taillights look so nice on C-HR. .perfect to a T…make it looks even more sporty…so a lesson for you honda…dont steal other peoples ass…create your own…and dont be an ass…
For 14k~20k more expensive depending on the variant ?? Might as well buy CX-5 which is bigger and more powerful. HRV also consider very expensive already especially the top spec compare to a base variant CX-5 .
CVT? nahhhhh
I thought in UK can get this much cheaper coz no protongkat but hey without p1 still expensive!
Hahaha good one…
C-HR 2.0 price if come to Malaysia would be much expensive than Altis 2.0. I prefer 2.0 C-HR anyway.
I’ll choose facelift HRV with fully equipped specs and reshape.If Honda manage to do that.Much cheaper surely.No turbo make Toyota feel sucks among SUVs
HRV using inferior SOHC engine, supposed to be much more cheaper than current price.
SOHC….. sad…..
CHR boot space sucks, HRV much larger
If they want compete with HRV in bolehland they must price between RM92k-114k same as HRV.
Is Turkish-made C-HR cause the price expensive? How if Thailand-made for Malaysian market? Hopefully cheaper.
Merc GLA > all
i’m just waiting for someone to said the tail light copied from Honda Civic
Honda called to ask for their loaned taillights back, but toyota replied; since MY pipu wud rather support copy instead of own innovation, why shud they return the design?
Toyota UK follow umw footstep in term of greedy instinct.Then Honda come out with better specs reshape/facelift.As we know Honda good on that.Toyota UK might not effected but UMW eat dirt again
You are comparing durian with orange. CHR with hybrid or turbo technology while HRV with conventional petrol engine. The difference between these two are just too far.
ini toyota mabuk
wokkk!! gonna be expensive once it is here in Malaya.
Take a look at how the UK distributor provided options for their customers. 6MT is available for ALL grades. MT lovers here are always assumed budget constrained hence only lowest grade is available.
Exactly… you are spot on. The art of driving is in the Manual controls.
You are right on the spot there. People who are really passionate about cars would love to drive a good quality stick-shift anytime of the day. Here, even when you are passionate about some DIY project, no matter car maintenance, house renovation, household goods corrective maintenance, ..etc, generally people will assume either you are a cheapskate or cannot afford to hire outside help. There is sometime wrong with the mentality of our ppl.
Dream on. It wont be here. Malaysia is a third world market if according to the T brand.
Once reached Malaysia price starts from RM258,888. All thanks to that idiot Proton man who started all these mess!
In UK also expensive, thanks to P1!
Oh wait!
Ok..
Pass..
Stick to HRV until Honda Malaysia settle all problematic part.
I always say Toyota is the best in the world. 1.2 turbo is just wow.
But but but aussie review said no wow
What is so wow about that? The Renault Captur is the same segment is already using a 1.2 litre turbo, most probably sourced from Nissan.
Super! but is so NOT for the bangsat crowd!
Mazda CX-3 is better in look compared to the rest in the segment; even Mat Salleh agreed to this.
These FWD palsu punya SUVs are for kids or females.
If you appreciate the contribution of someone, give her at least a CRV lah.
CX3 no turbo, boring
But CX3 got no boring CVT gearbox . It is running on a 6AT .
Ok that means expect the CHR to have a CRV pricetag when it arrives here. If that’s the case I doubt it will sell well here since one can get a CX5 or CRV at the same price.
Proves that UMWT have no balls. If not they would’ve announced to bring this into MY and its sister RAV-4 and kill HR-V and CR-V dominance completely. Toyota should just sack UMWT and directly distribute here instead. They are no.1 in the world but losing to Honda here. Shame.
That rear especially the tail lights looks like the euro honda civic… hmmm
can children reach the rear door handle?
Many people have bought the Honda HRV or Mazda CX3, but it is still better late than never. In this segment here the European brands are non-starters.
UMW Toyota should bring in the Hybrid version to benefit from the EEV incentive resulting in lower cost and pricing.
this gonna be super tiny interior space like all others Toyota SUV. Be it Prado, Rav 4, vanguard, Harrier etc etc….
Only Americans know how to design cars.
Dashboard design looks very much like Peugeot’s i-cockpit design/concept.
How would children open the rear doors?…
Better saving your pocket for meal or give your money to poor people. Big boss at Japan buy CHR at cheap price while non reach Malaysian must pay very high cost to get the same car.
Price list for c-hr in malaysia