Comparison of 2017 Toyota C-HR and 2017 Honda HR-V

Comparison of 2017 Toyota C-HR and 2017 Honda HR-V

Wheel Drive System   12/13/2016 06:04:00 AM

Introductory video showing similar features and different features between 2017 Toyota C-HR and 2017 Honda HR-V

The Honda HR-V (or "Hi-rider Revolutionary Vehicle") slots right under the larger CR-V in price just as the Toyota C-HR (or "Coupe High Rider") takes up less room in your garage and budget than the RAV4.

These sub-compact SUVs are known as "mini-utes." Both began life on small car platforms (Fit and Prius) and then Honda and Toyota treated them to some rugged styling and platform heels. They are seeking sales in a market that is drifting away from traditional sedans toward versatile crossover vehicles that have the economy of a car but the utility of a truck. Other entrants in this burgeoning segment include Chevy Trax, Nissan Juke, Jeep Renegade, and arguably the best all-around choice, Subaru Crosstrek.

C-HR's controversial styling comes directly from the Japanese techo-brutal design school pioneered by rival Nissan on its GT-R supercar. In fact, C-HR looks more like a Nissan Maxima or Nissan Juke than the conventional-looking Toyota products to which we're accustomed. Toyota heir and CEO Akio Toyoda has been pushing his staid company to produce vehicles with a little more aesthetic and kinetic passion, which might explain why the C-HR apes Nissan's aggressive styling. Fortunately for CH-R buyers, they will break a lot less often than a Nissan!

As Subaru dealers, we don't have a dog in this hunt, but if you wouldn't let us drive a Crosstrek then we would probably pick the HR-V. We like Honda resale value and the ingenious Magic Seat system that permutes manifold cargo-people configurations, making the car act much bigger than it is. Comparably equipped, they cost almost the exact same, around $24,000 for an all-wheel-drive version in mid-level trim. You really can't go wrong with either one, and either way you get three consonants and a hyphen.
You can buy an HR-V now but you'll have to wait til spring, 2017 for a C-HR.

Review
All Wheel Drive System

Both come standard with front-wheel-drive. Honda and Toyota bolt on additional hardware to convert to AWD. Toyota system is more sophisticated and responds more quickly to a loss of traction.

Ride Quality
Both offer a much better ride than the truck-based SUVs of yore. Both have lots of "suspension travel" up and down over bumps. "Travel" is just a fancy way of saying that there is more space for the suspension to compress, which results in a more compliant ride. We give the slight edge to Honda's handling...somehow they've figured out a way to spray some eau-de-Formula-One on their economy runabouts.

Driver Assistive Technology
Both Toyota and Honda produce suites of optional technologies to help you drive more safely, even including automatic braking if you're distracted. These features are not yet available on HR-V. Toyota Safety Sense is standard on the C-HR as Toyota is pushing to include autonomous safety features in its economy cars

Standard Engine and Fuel Economy
C-HR
2.0 liter four cylinder
in-line engine with
144 horsepower

HR-V
1.8 liter four cylinder
in-line engine with
138 horsepower

2017 Toyota C-HR 1.2T Engine - Overview Videos

2017 Toyota C-HR 1.2T Engine - Overview Videos

videos   11/21/2016 05:44:00 AM

From Scion Concept to Production Toyota: The 2018 C-HR It's a little ute coupe! You don't know what it's got!

With the Scion brand consigned to the dustbin, Toyota slid its new, Scion-intended C-HR small crossover into its mainstream lineup. Of course, the C-HR was always planned to sell as a Toyota in other markets, such as Europe (where that market’s production version was shown in Geneva early this year). Look, just because the lifted-coupe thing hasn’t been cool to us since “Eagle” was an American Motors brand doesn’t mean that other folks don’t find it impossibly hip. Just ask the Germans. If the Japanese want to ape some of that perceived Teutonic snap, who are we to discourage them from making a vehicle with a name that stands for “Coupe High Rider”?

As befits the modern definition of “coupe” so handily revised by—you guessed it—the Germans, the C-HR features four doors with a sloping roofline and hatch. It rides on Toyota’s New Global Architecture (TNGA) which also underpins the current Prius; it carries a 144-hp 2.0-liter naturally aspirated four-banger up front, routing its 140 lb-ft of torque through a continuously variable automatic with a manual-shift mode that simulates seven forward gears. Engaging Sport mode snugs up those “shifts” and adds heft to the electrically assisted power steering. As of now, the C-HR is front-wheel drive only; there’s no AWD option.

While Toyota goes to great lengths to brag that TNGA was tuned at the Nürburgring, any legitimate sportiness is second to style, utility, and amenities in this segment. To that end, the C-HR’s dash features a 7.0-inch multimedia screen and a 4.2-inch multifunction display between the gauges, and on XLE models, there’s a leather-wrapped steering wheel, power-folding and heated exterior mirrors, an auto-dimming interior mirror, and dual-zone climate control. The XLE Premium adds blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, heated front seats, a power driver’s seat, and puddle lamps that project “Toyota C-HR” onto the ground. Fog lamps and keyless start are also part of the XLE Premium package, while both trim levels get AM/FM/HD radio, Harman’s Aha app, a USB port and an aux jack, Bluetooth, voice recognition, and a 60/40 split-folding rear seat.

Whatever the directions handed to the styling people, the result looks like the Incredible Hulk about to bulge his way out of his shirt. With 18-inch wheels. And some cybernetic stuff. Bulging Borg Hulk. But small scale. And, lest you forget, a coupe. Small Borg Hulk Coupe. “SB-HC” isn’t a lamer name than C-HR, is it? We suppose the trademark stuff would get complicated—potentially as complicated as the C-HR’s aesthetics.

Toyota does point out that the rear wing is functional.

All grades of C-HR are equipped with a forward-collision warning system with pedestrian detection and automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning with steering assist, automatic high-beams, and adaptive cruise control. Inside, there’s a complement of 10 standard airbags, while a rearview camera surveys the surroundings behind you.

Toyota has yet to announce pricing, but we expect the C-HR will be competitive with Kia’s Soul and the Nissan Juke, its primary competitors in the funk-zazz-uticle segment. We admit, if you’d asked us 20 years ago, we wouldn’t have pegged “funk-zazz-uticle” as a viable market niche, but here’s behemoth Toyota, dropping a distinctive diamond right into the middle of it. Maybe they’ll do one up in Evangelion livery.
Read More All grades of C-HR are equipped with a forward-collision warning system with pedestrian detection and automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning with steering assist, automatic high-beams, and adaptive cruise control. Inside, there’s a complement of 10 standard airbags, while a rearview camera surveys the surroundings behind you.

Toyota has yet to announce pricing, but we expect the C-HR will be competitive with Kia’s Soul and the Nissan Juke, its primary competitors in the funk-zazz-uticle segment. We admit, if you’d asked us 20 years ago, we wouldn’t have pegged “funk-zazz-uticle” as a viable market niche, but here’s behemoth Toyota, dropping a distinctive diamond right into the middle of it. Maybe they’ll do one up in Evangelion livery.