2022 Toyota C-HR

Even within the more rational proportion of the population, few would deny that purchasing a new vehicle is often an emotionally-charged decision, a reality that the Toyota C-HR wants to take advantage of. Walk up to this oddball concoction of hatchback/crossover/coupe, and it's hard not to warm to its quirky, bold styling. Paired with that trusty Toyota badge, first impressions are strong. Unfortunately, the C-HR is saddled with an asthmatic 144-horsepower engine that fails to complement the crossover's sporty handling. There are more issues, such as a noisy cabin and limited cargo space. These shortcomings are thrust into the spotlight when measured alongside more balanced rivals in the US like the Honda HR-V and Kia Soul. As a fashion accessory, the C-HR works well, but it needs more polish to compete with the top competitors in this segment.

In the USA, the 2022 Toyota C-HR has a starting MSRP of $24,130 for the entry-level XLE, increasing to $24,895 for the Nightshade Edition and $27,150 for the Limited. The priciest Limited Toyota C-HR will cost over $30,000 when equipped with all the available accessories. These prices are exclusive of tax, licensing, and registration costs, along with a destination charge of $1,215. By comparison, the Honda HR-V begins at $21,870, over $2,200 less than the Toyota C-HR's price point.

The C-HR's powertrain is even more disappointing when you get to the first corner and realize that this is a properly sporty crossover with excellent handling characteristics that would've been a great deal more fun had there been a turbocharged engine available. The steering responds quickly, isn't completely muted in terms of feel, and when combined with minimal body roll, the C-HR finally puts in an effort that matches its striking appearance. Grip levels are not that high, but because you will rarely be going that quickly anyway, this isn't a massive concern. Adding to the crossover's spread of talents are confidence-inspiring brakes that are easy to modulate.

In most situations, the little Toyota rides comfortably and smoothes out everyday bumps and ruts. Together with comfortable seats, it puts in a good showing. However, road noise is prevalent and together with the strained four-pot, this disrupts the calm inside the cabin and doesn't encourage the driver to hit the top legal speed. Overall, the C-HR's road manners are acceptable rather than great.

"Toyota" and "sensible" are usually two words that sit comfortably alongside each other, but it's doubtful whether this is the case with the C-HR. While it is far from a terrible crossover, competitors like the Honda HR-V and Kia Soul come across as more well-rounded products. Holding the C-HR back is its comparatively small trunk, limited rear-seat space, and an engine that simply doesn't have the go to match the show. The C-HR is not without its merits, though. It's one of the most flamboyantly styled small crossovers around and it handles well, both attributes that will find favor with a younger audience. It's also crammed with modern safety features. If you don't need lots of space and spend most of your time covering short distances in the city, the C-HR will serve your needs adequately, but others in this segment simply tick more boxes.

The Toyota C-HR isn't a luxury vehicle and value for money remains an important aspect within this segment, so for this reason we'd rule out the Limited. The XLE and Nightshade Edition are separated by just $765, so you'd need to decide if the latter's slightly sportier styling is worth it. Both are otherwise similarly equipped with all the essentials including many safety features and a decent infotainment system.

The Toyota RAV4 is one of the best-selling crossovers in North America and for good reason. It's spacious, comes with many standard features, and has a solid reputation. Although not nearly as funkily styled as the C-HR, the RAV4 is significantly larger. Over eight inches of added body length means that the RAV4 has much more space for rear-seat passengers and a trunk that is close to double the size of the C-HR's. The RAV4 is no ball of fire but its bigger 2.5-liter engine means it can tow over 3,500 lbs, as well as being quicker than the lazy C-HR. Plus, the RAV4 has better ground clearance and available AWD. Although the C-HR is more fun to drive, the RAV4 is far more refined. Starting at $26,975, the RAV4 is obviously more expensive, but if you can stretch to it, it's the better SUV by a wide margin.

Although the Toyota C-HR makes more of a statement with its outlandish design, the Honda HR-V is an attractive subcompact crossover that has a lot more to offer than initially meets the eye. For starters, it's a much more practical proposition than the C-HR as the Honda offers more rear legroom and far more space for luggage, whether the back seats are upright or folded. Both vehicles pair rather noisy four-cylinder engines with a CVT transmission, but although the HR-V has inferior outputs of 141 hp and 127 lb-ft of torque (144 hp/139 lb-ft for the C-HR), it's the Honda that accelerates with more urgency. Much of this comes down to the fact that the HR-V is the lighter crossover, even in available AWD guise, whereas the Toyota only powers the front wheels. Dynamically, it's the Toyota that has the edge with its more composed handling, but despite this, the more demure and cheaper Honda comes out on top in this battle.