Toyota still holds supremacy in some classes of crossover and SUV segments. Rav4, Highlander, and premium Lexus RX are the best-selling vehicles in their tiers. But, the largest and smallest vehicles are a bit behind the competition. The Japanese company will try to revive the interest in full-size Sequoia with the TRD Pro package. On the other side of the lineup, the 2021 Toyota C-HR will be unchanged.
When the subcompact crossover debuted, its design was pretty radical. C-HR did draw attention, but the sales weren’t jumping. The popularity of the small model is the highest in Europe, where over 100k units find new homes every year. Then, the second-largest market is Japan, then China, and then comes to the US. Well, it is understandable, since drivers love larger vehicles in this part of the world.
The styling of the 2021 Toyota C-HR will be a major advantage over the competition. Aggressive appearance is still attractive, although the company didn’t update the crossover since recently. On the other hand, the engine is not meeting demands with only 145 hp coming from its 2.0-liter engine. The attractive design has its downsides – lack of space at the back. We cannot expect too much comfort from a subcompact vehicle, but C-HR will offer even less room compared to its predecessors.
2021 Toyota C-HR Engine
The only powertrain available for the 2021 Toyota C-HR is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder. It creates 145 hp and 140 lb-ft of torque, which is not enough for crispy acceleration, although the crossover weighs only 3,050 lbs. A seven-speed CVT is sending power only to front wheels. The lack of all-wheel drive system is another downside that turns buyers to other subcompact crossovers. There are some rumors that AWD could join the lineup next season.
The Japanese carmaker can upgrade the engine lineup with some of the drivetrains available outside the US. An electric motor, available in China, is definitely the biggest wish. Well, Toyota would announce this very loudly. A couple of hybrid configurations based on petrol units are coming out in Europe. One thing is certain – there won’t be diesel powertrains, not only in North America, but elsewhere in the world.
Fuel Economy Comparison
We already mentioned some of the most popular Toyota vehicles in the crossover and SUV segments. One of the reasons for their hot status is a hybrid engine with unbelievable gas mileage. Rav4 was the first compact crossover with 40+ mpg. Mid-size Highlander was the only three-row model with a hybrid engine, and now this configuration returns 35 mpg. It is better than the base 2021 Toyota C-HR with 27/31 mpg. We can get the same outcome from Honda HR-V, while the AWD drops the rate. Jeep Renegade is far away from the competition with 22 mpg for an urban drive, Ford EcoSport is slightly better, while the Chevy Trax is on the same level with Japanese models. The absolute leader in the subcompact class is Nissan Kicks. You will get up to 36 miles per gallon on the highway.
2021 Toyota C-HR Trim Levels and Options
Only three trim levels are available for the 2021 Toyota C-HR. Well, most other vehicles are offering even more. This might be another reason why buyers are not so interested in the subcompact crossover. Well, for the new season, the safety is upgraded. Safety Sense 2.0 is available all across the lineup. Plus, the Nightshade Edition is optional package available for the mid-range XLE trim. These are the only notable updates for the 2021YM.
The base offer includes the LED headlights, auto air conditioning, infotainment system with an 8-inch screen, and Android Auto/Apple CarPlay. If you pay $2,000 on top of that, the XLE version will add larger 18-inch wheels. The interior is recognizable thanks to the special blue/black combination. Push start button is also added and safety is boosted with blind-spot monitoring system. The 2021 Toyota C-HR Limited comes with the most exclusive offer. Leather seats with heated front buckets, and adaptive headlights are the notable upgrades.
Nightshade Edition Accessories
There will be a total of ten vehicles with the Nightshade Edition package available for adding in 2021. The C-HR subcompact crossover is one of these. Big rigs are already out (Sequoia SUV and two trucks, Tacoma and Tundra), as well as Corolla. Highlander and Camry are the latest models that offer the packages. The next to be introduced is the 2021 Toyota C-HR and Avalon sedan. We can only compare it to other Nightshade Editions since details are not confirmed. Blacked out color and wheels are the highlights and the package will also come with unique interior features.
Source: Motor1
2021 Toyota C-HR Price
One of the good things about the subcompact crossovers is their price. Unfortunately, the 2021 Toyota C-HR is not going to belong to the under-$20,000 class. The base price is $21,500 and you need to count on the destination fee. XLE is $2,000 on top of that, while the Limited trim starts at $26,500.