2020 Toyota C-HR Review

　　

2020 Toyota C-HR Review

byRyan ZumMallenContributor

　　Ryan ZumMallen has worked in the automotive industry since 2012. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Ryan has also contributed to Road & Track, Autoweek, Trucks.com and more. In 2019, Ryan published his first book, Slow Car Fast, on the millennial generation and its unique take on modern car culture.

　　In many ways, the 2020 Toyota C-HR can be a case study in untapped potential. When it debuted in the fledgling subcompact-crossover class, it benefitted from sporty handling, plenty of standard features and youthful styling. Unfortunately, none of these advantages could outweigh the C-HR's greatest liability: an anemic engine and transmission pairing. Put bluntly, the C-HR is one of the slowest vehicles we've tested in any class.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 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) - $21,295 MSRPXLE 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) (Most Popular) - $23,330 MSRPLimited 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $26,350 MSRP

　　vs

　　$166/mo

　　Avg. Compact SUV

　　A short two years later, the C-HR's few advantages have mostly evaporated in the face of newer rivals, pushing it out of our Top 10 rankings for subcompact SUVs. For 2020, it gains Android Auto, gets some revised front-end styling and loads up on more standard features, but these improvements aren't enough to drag the Toyota C-HR from its lowly position. In addition to its poor performance, it continues to suffer from an abundance of road and wind noise, limited cargo space, and the absence of an all-wheel-drive option.

　　If you're looking to step up from hatchbacks or downsize from small SUVs, we suggest passing on the C-HR in favor of our class favorites. These include the Hyundai Kona, the Kia Soul and the Honda HR-V, all of which represent better value and deliver significantly better performance than the 2020 Toyota C-HR.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Below Average

　　7.1

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.0/10

　　How does the C-HR drive? It's difficult to recommend a vehicle as sluggish as the Toyota C-HR. Its four-cylinder engine simply can't muster enough power to get the C-HR going with any authority. At zzdcar' test track, we logged a 0-60 mph time of 10.6 seconds. That's slower than other small crossovers and hatchbacks. It's even slower than a Toyota Prius.

　　But the C-HR holds its own in other categories. The brake pedal is easy to modulate, so it's easy to stop smoothly, and the steering is easy to twirl around at low speeds and accurate in sporty situations. The C-HR is also somewhat entertaining to drive on a twisty road even if there's a distinct lack of grip from the tires.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the C-HR? The C-HR's seats are well cushioned and supportive, and the suspension smooths out most bumps in the road. The cabin of the C-HR is a pleasant place to be whether you're a driver or passenger.

　　That said, the C-HR isn't built for less than perfect conditions. We noticed that larger patches of rough pavement can easily upset the ride quality and create a lot of noise in the cabin. It isn't very well insulated from outside noise, and any wind gusts stronger than a light breeze are quite loud inside.

　　

Interior

7.0/10

　　How’s the interior? Getting in and out of the C-HR is easy thanks to its elevated seating position. There's also plenty of headroom up front. The rear seats have enough room to keep regular-size adults in decent comfort, but the thick rear roof pillars may make them feel a little claustrophobic.

　　The C-HR's simple control layout is attractive, and the main controls are easy to operate for the most part. But some of the more advanced features such as the adaptive cruise control are a little more difficult to figure out. It's pretty easy to see out of the front of the C-HR, but those thick rear roof pillars obscure your view to the back.

　　

Technology

7.5/10

　　How’s the tech? The C-HR comes with an 8-inch touchscreen that is simple to read and operate through the menus. It connects with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphones, and an effective navigation system is available. The audio system provides decent clarity, but the sound quality, especially for songs with thumping bass, quickly degrades when the volume rises.

　　We're fans of the driver safety aids included in the Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P) package, which is standard on all C-HR models. The lane-keeping alert system can be overzealous in its warnings when you're driving on a twisty road, but it's otherwise helpful. The adaptive cruise control is very good at reducing driver fatigue in heavy traffic and can bring the vehicle down to a smooth stop.

　　

Storage

6.0/10

　　How’s the storage? Storage space is tight inside the C-HR. Rear trunk space is about average for the class at 19 cubic feet. You can fold down the rear seats to access 37 cubic feet of capacity, but that figure ranks low compared to the competition. Space for small items is adequate up front, though the center console is only average size. The cupholders are on the small side and awkwardly positioned.

　　Planning to put kids in the back? Car seat anchors are positioned well, but there's little room to install a rear-facing child safety seat without moving the front seats forward. Overall the C-HR is compromised by its quirky shape and size, and Toyota did not bring any of its trademark smart storage solutions to the table.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimates fuel economy at 29 mpg combined (27 city/31 highway), which is about average for the class. We found the rating accurate, and even exceeded it with an average of 33.9 mpg on our 115-mile mixed-driving evaluation route.

　　

Value

7.0/10

　　Is the C-HR a good value? The C-HR offers solid build quality and distinctive materials for the class. We also like the amount of standard safety equipment Toyota includes and the two free years of scheduled maintenance. But the C-HR isn't as affordably priced as some value-minded competitors.

　　

Wildcard

7.5/10

　　The distinctive styling alone earns Toyota points for bravery. Most people fall into one of two categories: They love the C-HR's design, or they hate it. Those who like it will find the rest of the vehicle filled with personality, from swooping dashboard lines to interesting trapezoid designs pressed into the ceiling. But just about everyone will find that the lack of power can sour the driving experience.

　　

Which C-HR does zzdcar recommend?

The midgrade XLE trim gets our recommendation. It brings keyless entry, blind-spot monitoring and larger alloy wheels at a reasonable price. Shoppers in colder climates may want to step up to the Limited, primarily for the heated leather seats.

　　

2020 Toyota C-HR models

The Toyota C-HR is available in three trim levels, starting with the LE, which is more competitive against other subcompact crossovers when it comes to price. The XLE adds a few niceties and safety features, while the top Limited trim gets you leather upholstery, upgraded front seats and some additional tech features. Every C-HR is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (144 horsepower, 139 lb-ft of torque) matched to front-wheel drive and a continuously variable automatic transmission.

　　Standard features for the base LE trim include 17-inch steel wheels (alloys are optional), automatic LED headlights, heated mirrors, a rear spoiler, remote keyless entry, adjustable driving modes, dual-zone automatic climate control, 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, a Wi-Fi hotspot, remote vehicle controls, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Amazon Alexa integration, and a six-speaker audio system with satellite radio.

　　Several advanced safety and convenience features are also standard, including automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, 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, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.

　　The top-of-the-line Limited trim gets you adaptive headlights, foglights, leather upholstery, heated front seats, and two-way power lumbar for the driver's seat. An upgraded infotainment system that adds HD radio is available for the XLE and Limited trims.

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2020 C-HR Highlights

Trim: LEXLELimitedLE

　　

Base MSRP	$21,295
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	29 MPG
Cost to Drive	$132/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	19.1 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles