For the style before any

Photo courtesy Toyota
The way of the Nissan Juke, the Toyota C-HR implementation on an aesthetic out of the ordinary to arouse the interest of the motorists motivated by a deep need to stand out.

Jacques Welcome

Sunday, 15 October, 2017 21:19

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Sunday, 15 October, 2017 21:19

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The proliferation of small utilities has given us a wide variety of products. In this batch, there is a new spring for the importance openly made its appearance, a product by Toyota as designated by three letters, really evocative : C-HR.

Small commercial vehicles, there are now many, and most have a planning before any practice. This is obviously the case of the Honda HR-V, the champion of “transformist” in this niche. There are also these other models which are distinguished by a design that is more sophisticated such as the Mazda CX-3, which provides a road copy and a very neat finish. And until recently, this niche has only one utility, the Nissan Juke, as an aesthetic undeniably eccentric made it attractive, for at least some of them. This was before there appears the Toyota C-HR.

Like the Juke, the C-HR is the kind of vehicle that we offer before all to make you happy. Point to the line ! Here, the logic no longer has its place. Boil one small vehicle becomes for many the main selection criterion. Toyota has made the deliberate choice to draw the CH-R as well to reach a specific clientele : these people emotional motivated by a deep need to stand out. A strategic logic for this new model, which was initially intended to wear the coat of arms of the deceased Scion brand, and that has made a late entry in a niche already crowded.

Its designers have, therefore, drawn to the angular shapes are very pronounced, despite a ground clearance raised, evoke the look of a coupe. The roof arched, and extended by a very long spoiler, the high waistline and the handles of the rear doors, cleverly concealed in the amounts of the roof amplify this impression. Like it or not, force is to admit that the designers of the Toyota have worked well.

Photo courtesy Toyota

As for the bodywork, the dashboard has irregular shapes that enchant. Its central section oriented towards the driver is well served with a instrumentation of intuitive design.

INSIDE OR… ” COCOON “

The interior of the C-HR is going in the same direction. A real ” cocoon “, the constructor assigns it a five-seater, a detail probably secondary to the purchaser, the target, which, in the majority of cases, will not use regularly the back seat. And it is so much the better, because once seated in the back, one has the impression of being to the earth. The high waistline and the glazing parsimonious also makes the rear area very little inviting, in addition to limiting sorely rear visibility, which makes it difficult parking maneuvers. Fortunately, the bucket seats, that will have the most importance to the customers of this vehicle are very comfortable. They wrap literally the body and the support firmly in place, which makes long rides enjoyable.

The design of the dashboard reflects the style of the original bodywork with irregular shapes and an efficient combination of textures and finishes. Everything is black though.

In contrast, the central section of the dashboard oriented towards the driver the serves well with a instrumentation of intuitive design. However, one may ask why the creators of the C-HR have chosen to incorporate the rear view mirror a tiny screen connected to the camera, while a large 7 ” screen occupies the center of the dashboard ? The screen is ridiculously small from the rear view mirror gives the impression that one must use a lens to see behind to park the car. This is not really practical.

The tailgate is very inclined gives access to an area in the luggage the folders split 60/40 rear seat can adjust. When these files are in place, the useful volume of 538 L available is honourable, since it places the C-HR between the two models, the more popular the niche, the HR-V (688 L), and CX-3 (408 L). However, the maximum volume of 1 031 L available after you have folded up the folders has nothing to copy. The two champions of the niche are much better in this respect with 1 525 L for the CX-3 and 1 665 L for the HR-V ! The height is unusually high from the floor of the trunk provides can be an explanation to this reduced volume.

Photo courtesy Toyota

The trunk of this vehicle is flexible, but its useful volume maximum is among the least important of its class.

NOT AWD

The C-HR is powered by a 4-cylinder 2.0 L. This engine atmospheric book 144 hp and 139 lb-ft to the front wheels through an automatic gearbox with continuous variation. Toyota does not offer manual transmission or all-wheel drive for this model in North America. This powertrain proves to be performance, with a 0-100 km/h in less than 7 s, and very flexible, thanks to the programming wisdom of its automatic transmission. However, it is not the most efficient on the market, as evidenced by the average fuel consumption of 8.2 L/100 km announced by the manufacturer (confirmed by our own average of 8.5 L).

This vehicle comes to us from Turkey (see box) is only available in a single version called XLE, it is possible to improve it with the optional set Premium. Its endowment of series includes, among others, a multimedia system with touch screen 7 “and Bluetooth connectivity, an air-conditioner dual zone control, heated front seats, a tilt-telescoping steering wheel, alloy wheels 17”, heated outside mirrors with integrated turn signal indicators, a leather-wrapped steering wheel that takes well in hand, and a cargo cover for the trunk.

For $ 1,600 more, the entire Premium gives the right wheels 18-inch (more costly to put on winter tires), the Smart Key system with push button start, mirrors-folding, assisted with lighting on the ground, two devices of very practical driving aid monitoring of blind spots and the detection (when backing up) of vehicles traveling crosswise to the rear.

These devices add to the range of security hardware that receives the base model and includes a system précollision with pedestrian detection, an alarm, forward collision with automatic braking emergency, an alarm detecting the sway with assistance to the steering, road lights to change code automatic and cruise control dynamic radar.

However, for less expensive, you can get a Toyota Corolla, iM a car compact more spacious, which is also enjoyable to drive and a bit more convenient, since the useful volume of the trunk of his car reached 1192 L. Periodically, you can also find RAV4 two-wheel drive cars that are as affordable as a C-HR, thanks to the special offers offered by the manufacturer. But, obviously, these two models are perhaps too common to appeal to some buyers.

A little Turkish

Photo courtesy Toyota

The Toyota C-HR is assembled in Turkey.

On 9 November 2016 was a day of celebration for the employees of the factory Toyota Motor Manufacturing Turkey (TMMT) located in Sakarya, Turkey, that began the production of the C-HR.

“The Toyota C-HR is of enormous importance for the whole of Toyota, even beyond TMMT. The niche of crossovers is growing and, with this product, Toyota makes a very noticeable “, said Johan Van Zyl, President and ceo of Toyota Motor Europe, at the ceremony celebrating the start of production.

The C-HR which then became the eighth model Toyota assembled in Europe and, since its introduction to our market in may of last year, it’s also the second to be exported from the Old Continent to Canada, with the Toyota Yaris hatchback, which comes to us from France.

Inaugurated in 1994, the facilities of TMMT have a production capacity of 280 000 vehicles per year. They provide work for about 5,000 people.

TMMT exports a large share of its production in Europe, but with the arrival of the C-HR, it expanded its coverage to other markets, including Taiwan, Mauritius, South Africa, Canada and the United States.

Toyota C-HR

Base price

24 690 $ (base); 26 290 $ (Premium).

Transport and preparation

1 785 $

Powertrain

L4 DOHC, 2.0 L, 144 hp at 6100 rpm, 139 lb-ft at 3,800 rpm. Automatic gearbox with continuous variation. Front-wheel drive.

Features

Four-wheel independent Suspension. Disc brakes to all four wheels. Anti-lock braking system series. Tires : P215/60R17 (base); P225/50R18 (Premium).

Ratings

Empattement : 2 640 mm; length : 4, 350 mm; width : 1797 mm; height : 1 565 mm.

Weight : 1 497 kg. Volume of fuel tank : 53 litres. Trunk Volume : 538-1 031 L. average fuel Consumption (tested) : 8.5 L/100 km.

Competition

Ford EcoSport, Ford Escape, Honda HR-V, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Jeep Compass, Jeep Renegade, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-3, Mazda CX-5, Mitsubishi RVR, Nissan Qashqai, Subaru Crosstrek, Toyota RAV4

Strengths

• Good powertrain
• Comfortable bucket seats
• Clean finish

Weak Points

• Rear visibility awful
• Screen back-up camera is ridiculously small
• Rear seats reduced
• Safe little practice