Flash Drive

2021 Toyota C-HR

June 21, 2021 - Behind The Wheel - Comments: 

Model Tested: 2021 Toyota C-HR Nightshade

The 2021 Toyota C-HR stands out in a crowd thanks to its distinctive styling and compact size.

Engine: 2.0-liter I-4, 144 horsepower, 139 lb-ft torque

Transmission: CVT automatic, front-wheel-drive

EPA Rating: 27-mpg city, 31-mpg highway, 29-mpg combined

Base Price: $24,245

As Tested: $25,240

Performance:

Independent front and rear suspension

Pretty good fuel economy

Pleasant, composed highway ride

The 2021 Toyota C-HR hasn’t changed visually from the 2020 model. It looks like it could have AWD, but it doesn’t,

Underpowered

Comfort:

Stretch-out front legroom

Firm, but very supportive front seats

Excellent headroom

Rear seats snug, but good if fronts are moved up

Great rear seat shoe room under front seats

Low rear seat floor hump

Adults can fit in middle position, but limited shoulder space

Nice, medium thick leather steering wheel

Rear seat room is snug unless the front seats are moved up considerably.

Lots of good auxiliary steering wheel controls

Very good range tilt/telescopic column

Utility:

Split folding rear seats fold flat

Flat cargo deck

Minimal lift-over lip

High opening hatch clears tall people

Cargo area on the small side

Nice flap between cargo area and folded seats

Medium size locking glovebox

The C-HR has a good dashboard and steering wheel layout and lots of welcome features.

Shallow front door bins

Hard sunvisors with small extensions

Medium size, but deep center console bin

Good size infotainment screen

No rear seatback pouches or door bins

WOW Factors:

Nightshade Edition gives unique look

Nimble city car

Lots of useable standard features including road sign assist

Excellent Toyota reliability

The high door glass and sloped rear roof area make the backseat a little cave-like.

Whines:

Low on horsepower

No all-wheel-drive option

Oddly sculpted headliner

No rear door bins or seatback pouches

Poor rear visibility

Cave-like back seat

Bottom Line:

The 2021 Toyota C-HR is a small compact crossover that is only available with front-wheel-drive, which limits its

The 2021 Toyota C-HR is an excellent size for city commuting.

SUV factor even though it favors SUV-like styling. The C-HR has a big list of standard safety and convenience features along with Toyota’s strong reliability history. The Toyota C-HR is a distinctively styled, unique small car that works well as a city commuter, but lacks the features to make it a true mini ute.