2019 Toyota C-HR Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　

What's new

New LE and Limited trim levelsApple CarPlay is now standardNew optional factory navigation systemRevised feature availabilityPart of the first C-HR generation introduced for 2018

　　The popularity of subcompact crossovers is growing and with the introduction of the Toyota C-HR last year, so, too, are the choices available to shoppers. In its inaugural year, we noted the C-HR's sporty handling and generous list of features (including advanced safety equipment) as some of its strengths. We also pointed out the noticeable absence of Apple CarPlay, an integrated navigation system and leather upholstery on the available features list. Well, what a difference a year makes: The 2019 Toyota C-HR can now be had with all of them.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 Toyota C-HR LE 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$132/mo  for C-HR LE

　　C-HR LE

　　LE 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $21,145 MSRPXLE 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) (Most Popular) - $23,180 MSRPLimited 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $26,200 MSRP

　　vs

　　$166/mo

　　Avg. Compact SUV

　　We're still not fans of the weak engine and its lazy acceleration, while the lack of an all-wheel-drive option should continue to be a drawback for those in cold-weather climates. On the whole, the C-HR's updates for 2019 go a long way. In particular, its new base LE trim drops the price of admission to be competitive with its chief rivals: the Honda HR-V, Hyundai Kona and Mazda CX-3. Meanwhile, the top trim gets a new name, more features and a corresponding bump in price.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

6.6 / 10

　　We noted a higher-than-average base price and the absence of Apple CarPlay, navigation and leather upholstery as drawbacks of last year's Toyota C-HR. Those have all been addressed this year. It's still oppressively slow, but there's a lot more to like about the 2019 model.

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Toyota C-HR XLE Premium (2.0L inline-4 | CVT automatic | FWD).

　　Since this test was conducted in 2018, the current C-HR has received some revisions, including a new base trim, the renaming of the XLE Premium trim to Limited, and a shuffling of some standard features between models. Our findings remain broadly applicable to this year's C-HR, however.

　　

Scorecard

Overall	6.6 / 10
Driving	6.5
Comfort	6.5
Interior	7.0
Utility	6.0
Technology	7.0

　　

Driving

6.5

　　There's no getting around it: The C-HR is slow. You really need to plan your moves in advance because there's a long delay before it starts moving. Once it's underway, acceleration is weak. That's really too bad because otherwise it's a dynamically capable, little crossover.

　　

Acceleration

4.5

　　The C-HR is one of the slowest vehicles we've tested, taking a considerable 10.6 seconds to reach 60 mph. Acceleration is characterized by a long hesitation between a pedal stomp and any forward motion. This is true whether you're stopped or trying to pass slower traffic on the highway.

　　

Braking

7.0

　　Coming to a stop from 60 mph required 119 feet, which is about average for cars in this class. In panic-braking tests, the C-HR experienced moderate nosedive and some residual bounce, but it tracked straight and remained controllable. In everyday driving, the brakes operate just as you'd expect.

　　

Steering

7.0

　　There's not much feedback coming through the wheel, but it feels direct and accurate in a sporty kind of way. At parking lot speeds, the effort is appropriately low and weights up as speeds increase. Sport mode makes effort a little too heavy.

　　

Handling

8.0

　　We were pleasantly surprised to discover that the C-HR can be entertaining to drive on a twisty road, even with a not very powerful engine and a lack of grip from low-rolling-resistance tires. There's noticeable tire squeal under moderate cornering, and the tires really howl when pushed harder.

　　

Drivability

7.0

　　The small footprint and turning radius make it easy to maneuver the C-HR into tight spaces. The transmission works fine, but it's unremarkable. Though the C-HR is classified as a subcompact crossover, the low chin spoiler scrapes on parking blocks and many driveways.

　　

Comfort

6.5

　　In terms of overall comfort, the C-HR is pretty good, but the amount of cabin noise is a letdown. Over a long trip, that noise can add to the fatigue factor. Everything else seems to be well-executed in this regard.

　　

Seat comfort

7.5

　　Even though the front seats don't come with a lot of adjustments, they offer good padding and support to keep occupants comfortable over several hours. The fabric upholstery also breathes well in hot weather, eliminating the need for ventilation or cooling.

　　

Ride comfort

6.5

　　For the most part, the C-HR delivers a comfortable ride. Smaller road imperfections are smoothed over as well as they are in other small SUVs, but there's a little jostling over moderate undulations.

　　

Noise & vibration

5.0

　　The C-HR is loud inside. There's a noticeable amount of wind noise, even below highway speeds. Road noise is also excessive, and it increases at higher speeds and over coarse asphalt. The engine drones like a wounded cow under hard acceleration, and we noted an annoying rattle in the back of the cabin.

　　

Climate control

7.0

　　The simple dual-zone climate controls are easy to operate, and the overall system performance is good. Once the system was set, we never felt the need to readjust it.

　　

Interior

7.0

　　The C-HR's interior is reasonably attractive thanks to a rather simple layout. It can accommodate adult passengers in all seats, though there are some drawbacks for taller drivers and rear passengers. Despite a few issues, we think most drivers will be fine with the interior over the long run.

　　

Ease of use

6.5

　　The C-HR's simple layout is attractive, and the main controls are easy to operate for the most part. Some of the more advanced features, such as adaptive cruise control, were a little more difficult to figure out. Some staffers mentioned having to consult the owner's manual.

　　

Getting in/getting out

7.0

　　Front passengers have easy seat access afforded by a slightly higher seating position, which makes slipping into the cabin a breeze. There's no climbing up or stooping down. Rear passengers need to dip their heads a little to clear the sloping roofline, a trade-off for the C-HR's sporty styling.

　　

Driving position

6.0

　　The steering wheel doesn't telescope back far enough, even for average-size drivers. As a result, you have to sit closer and more upright than preferred. Drivers smaller of stature should be just fine.

　　

Roominess

7.0

　　There's more interior space than you'd expect from such a small crossover. There's plenty of room up front in all dimensions. The rear seats can indeed hold regular adults in decent comfort. But the thick rear roof pillar and high windows might feel a little claustrophobic.

　　

Visibility

8.0

　　Outward visibility is excellent thanks to the thin and well-profiled front roof pillars. Despite big rear pillars, the rear window is big enough to see all you need. And there's very little guesswork when backing into a space, so you won't have to rely on the tiny rearview monitor.

　　

Quality

7.0

　　The interior is well-designed and uses quality materials that exceed expectations for the class. Were it not for an annoying rattle in the back of the car, this score could have been higher.

　　

Convertible top

　　LATCH anchors are easily accessed, but a rear-facing child seat will require you to move the front passenger seat well forward.

　　

Utility

6.0

　　It should come as no surprise that subcompact crossovers are limited when it comes to cargo capacity, but the C-HR has one of the smallest maximum spaces in the class. You'd be better off thinking of it as a raised hatchback rather than a crossover.

　　

Small-item storage

6.0

　　There's an acceptable amount of storage for your personal items, with small door pockets, decent-size cupholders, and a center armrest bin that is about average in size. The typical smart storage solutions that Toyota is known for are absent.

　　

Cargo space

6.0

　　With the rear seats in place, you have 19 cubic feet of cargo space, which splits the difference between the C-HR's primary competition. The maximum capacity is 36.4 cubic feet, which is significantly smaller than the space in any other subcompact crossover.

　　

Technology

7.0

　　The addition of Apple CarPlay and a built-in navigation system is a significant improvement for the 2019 C-HR. It also continues to benefit from plenty of standard advanced safety features.

　　

Audio & navigation

7.0

　　The audio system in the C-HR is decent but not at all impressive. It lacks some bass overall, but clarity is acceptable. The touchscreen mounted atop the dash is easy to read at a glance and operate with minimal distraction, too.

　　

Smartphone integration

7.5

　　Apple CarPlay is a welcome addition to the C-HR's features list and is a good substitute for the optional built-in navigation system. We experienced occasional slowdowns in the previous model-year system's response, though. Android Auto is not available.

　　

Driver aids

8.0

　　We never had any frontal collision warnings, which either means this driver aid is well-tuned or not working. (We're inclined to think it is working.) The adaptive cruise control works well and operates down to a stop.

　　

Voice control

6.5

　　The native voice controls worked pretty well, but considering that the system only operates the audio and phone, it's acceptable at best. Historically, Apple CarPlay has been easier to use and more accurate, but it requires an internet connection.

　　

Which C-HR does zzdcar recommend?

　　With the addition of a new base model and a price increase for the top trim, we recommend the midrange XLE. The price jump is reasonable for the convenience, appearance and safety features you gain. Shoppers in colder climates who want heated seats will have to spring for the top Limited trim since they're not offered on lower models.

　　

2019 Toyota C-HR models

　　For 2019, the Toyota C-HR is available in three trim levels, including the new entry-level LE trim that's more competitive against other subcompact crossovers when it comes to price. The XLE adds a few niceties and safety features, while the top trim is now called the Limited and comes with a noticeable price jump from last year.

　　Every C-HR is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (144 horsepower, 139 pound-feet of torque) matched to only front-wheel drive and a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Standard features for the base LE trim include 17-inch steel wheels, automatic headlights, LED daytime running lights, heated mirrors, a rear spoiler, keyless entry, adjustable driving modes, dual-zone automatic climate control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, height-adjustable front seats, cloth upholstery, 60/40-split folding rear seats, a cargo cover, an 8-inch touchscreen, a rearview camera, Bluetooth phone and streaming audio, a USB port, Apple CarPlay, and a six-speaker audio system.

　　Several advanced safety and convenience features are also standard, including automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, brake hold at stoplights, lane keeping assist, and forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking.

　　The XLE trim upgrades to 18-inch alloy wheels, power-folding mirrors, keyless ignition and entry, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert.

　　The top-of-the-line Limited trim gets you foglights, automatic wipers, leather upholstery, heated front seats, driver two-way power lumbar adjustment, and an upgraded infotainment system (optional on XLE) that adds a Wi-Fi hotspot, remote vehicle controls, and satellite and HD radio. A navigation system can be integrated into the standard touchscreen only on the Limited trim.

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2019 C-HR Highlights

Trim: LEXLELimitedLE

　　

Base MSRP	$21,145
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	29 MPG
Cost to Drive	$132/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	19.0 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles