2021 Toyota C-HR

Pros: Nimble-for-the-class handling; generous list of safety features; easy entry and exit

Cons: Missing some expected comfort and convenience features; rearview camera display is small; middling acceleration; so-so passenger space; less cargo capacity than most rivals; AWD is not available

CG Says: The 2021 Toyota C-HR gets Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, an improved version of the previous system that has enhanced pedestrian detection and emergency steering assist to help avoid pedestrians. There is also a new Nightshade Edition appearance package. Toyota introduced its genre-bending crossover vehicle for 2018. The C-HR is a subcompact-sized four-door hatchback that straddles the line between the subcompact car and subcompact SUV segments. The C-HR’s tall body build, raised ride height, and better-than-a-car cargo capacity push it into our subcompact SUV category, but unlike most SUVs, the C-HR isn’t available with all-wheel drive, it comes solely with front-wheel drive. And, despite its name (C-HR stands for Coupe-High Rider), the C-HR is a four-door (though the rear doors are camouflaged by the swoopy styling and “hidden”door handles). The sole powertrain is a 144-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a CVT automatic transmission.
Standard equipment includes Toyota’s TSS-P (Toyota Safety Sense P) suite of high-tech safety features, which includes forward collision warning and mitigation with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning and mitigation, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control. Available features include blind-spot alert, rear-cross-traffic alert, heated front seats, a sport driver seat with adjustable lumbar support, keyless access and starting, and leather upholstery. The C-HR is not quite as quick or as spacious inside as some rivals. However, this hard-to-categorize runabout’s radical styling, crisp handling, and decent practicality may attract shoppers who want to stand out from the crowd.