Toyota’s new compact SUV, the aptly-named C-HR (compact high rider), will be priced from $26,990 plus on-road costs in Australia.
The breakthrough new model will take on the likes of the Nissan QASHQAI, Mazda’s CX-3 and Honda’s HR-V with what Toyota claims is a “disruptive” new model targeted at young singles and family buyers alike.
Confirming price and specification at the vehicle’s national launch in Melbourne today, Toyota Australia executive director Tony Cramb said the C-HR would be offered in two grades — C-HR and C-HR Koba, the latter referencing the car’s Japanese chief engineer, Hiroyuki Koba.
The line-up will be underpinned by a front-wheel drive, six-speed manual C-HR dubbed “the driving enthusiast’s” variant, priced at $26,990 plus on-road costs.
An optional seven-speed continuously variable transmission (CVT) adds $2000. A mid-spec all-wheel drive costs $30,990 plus on-road costs paired with the CVT.
The flagship Koba will be priced from $33,290 plus ORCs in two-wheel drive guise, and $35,290 plus ORCs in all-wheel drive trim.
“This prime buying motivation for this car is style … almost all buyers will be new to Toyota,” Cramb said.
“The message behind this vehicle is to disrupt the segment, disrupt the market, disrupt at every turn but make sure we get things right.”
Entry-level C-HR models sold in Australia get 17-inch alloy wheels, fabric seat trim, heated and power folding wing mirrors, satellite navigation, front and rear parking sensors, a colour trip computer, a reversing camera, LED daytime running lights, LED fog lights, rain-sensing wipers, a six-speaker stereo and dual-zone climate-control.
Advanced safety technology such as automatic high-beam headlights (that automatically dip if they detect another car) radar-based adaptive cruise control (automatic acceleration and braking), blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure alert and forward collision warning with autonomous emergency braking (AEB) will also be fitted as standard on every C-HR model sold in Australia.
Stepping up to the top-grade C-HR Koba, customers will gain big-ticket items such as 18-inch alloy wheels, leather-accented seat trim, keyless entry and engine start, LED headlights and LED brake lights, tinted windows, heated front seats, ambient interior lighting and optional two-tone roof-body paintwork.
All C-HR models will be powered by a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine mated to the six-speed manual or seven-speed continuously variable transmission (CVT).
Each combination makes 85kW of power and 185Nm, returning a combined claimed fuel average of 6.3L/100km in manual guise, or as high as 6.5L/100km in all-wheel drive automatic trim.
The C-HR will also be the first vehicle in Toyota’s fleet to be offered with a five-year servicing plan, up from three years. Each service carried out at an approved Toyota service centre will be capped at $195, according to local stakeholders, with intervals set at every 12 months or 15,000km.
The C-HR will also be available with an arsenal of genuine accessories including optional roof rails, along with eight exterior colours and the option of a $450 contrasting roof.