Toyota C-HR Koba 2WD 2017 Long-term review - 2

Without over stating the obvious it's the C-HR’s styling that is the main attraction. I’ll say it early - I love the look of the C-HR, particularly in our Koba test vehicle, finished in ‘Crystal White’. Familiar with the pros and cons of a compact SUV, which will be covered in detail during its long-term stint with the team at motoring.com.au, my thoughts this week were dominated by the tiny Toyota’s progressive design aesthetic.

For me, it’s all about balancing the form over function equation. And if my shoe purchases are anything to go by, looking good counts for a lot – often at the expense of practicality, comfort and occasionally price.

Shapely appeal
I’m drawn to the angular lines of the Toyota C-HR, although it wasn’t so long ago I tested the mid-spec AWD variant and it did take me some time to warm to it. The benefit of time, perhaps… and a change in exterior colour…works wonders.

Toyota is not the first to push the limits of design in this segment, the Nissan JUKE, Kia Soul and Renault Captur were earlier debutants and all draw equal parts accolades and criticism for their interpretation of a ‘funky’ SUV. And in coming months, I’ll be interested to see Hyundai’s Kona in the flesh.

For now, I think Toyota has the balance closer to right than those who dared before. Proportions are good and the lines are interesting. The 18-inch alloys which are standard on the C-HR Koba are a good fit and provide appreciated visual balance to the stocky SUV.

There are however several negatives in the edgy design. For starters, those semi-concealed rear door handles are at an odd angle for young children to easily open the door. And the boot’s steep angle makes it heavy (no mechanical assistance for opening) so it’s awkward, even for adults.

Inside story
The cosy cabin of the Toyota C-HR presents an onslaught of high shine surfaces. Black gloss plastics surround the fiddly and often-temperamental 6.1-inch infotainment touchscreen and flows the width of the dashboard, extending through the centre console and caffeine management zone. It’s a magnet for dust and fingerprints and definitely not recommended for the OCD-types among us. It does however bring an upmarket feel to the game.

I applaud the use of interesting textural finishes (soft and embossed patterns) throughout the cabin and door trims, but the verdict is still out on the two-tone (brown/black) interior in our test vehicle.

The manual-adjust, heated leather seats are comfortable and offer good support and adjustability. They also look the part.

A sports (flat-bottom perhaps) steering wheel is a current omission which would fit in nicely.

Poor Visibility
The Toyota C-HR’s biggest drawcard, its shape, is also its biggest downfall. In the driver’s seat, the sloping rear end and large pillars comprise significant rearward blind spots. No amount of head turning or seat adjustment will fix this – the C-HR’s design is flawed in this regard. Yes, a reversing camera and parking sensors (four front and four rear) are helpful, but should never be solely relied upon. Proceed with caution, particularly in reverse.

Moving to the second row, the design I dearly love (from the outside) gains further criticism. The combination of large pillars, that sloping roof and high sills mean second row occupants – children – have limited outward views. My nearly eight-year old daughter couldn’t see out the window. My son (6.5yrs) had the benefit of a booster seat, but still struggled. It’s very closeted.

Tech foibles
Bluetooth connectivity for audio streaming worked well, but the screen was random in its display of album/song titles. Hands free telephony worked well, but I lament the lack of Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.

The labels on the 6.1-inch touch screen are small and not terribly sensitive to touch, as a result I struggled to successfully navigate pathways.

We also experienced unexplained issues with the second row seatbelt warnings. On several occasions, when my children were positioned in the outward seats, the seatbelt warning for the middle seat would sound. The only way to resolve this was to plug in the centre belt.

However the C-HR’s driver assistance technology worked well. In the absence of any useful rearward visibility, the rear cross traffic alert got a thorough workout.

Happy compromise
On one hand, the Toyota C-HR is pricey, a little cramped, has poor visibility, temperamental infotainment technology and my kids can’t see the outside world. On the other hand, it looks awesome.

Like Valentino shoes, striking looks and trusted heritage are a strong combination.
If you ask me, the C-HR is the best looking car Toyota has produced in a long time. If this is a sign of things to come, I’m excited.

Long-Term Tests
motoring.com.au aims to make your choice of vehicle easier. Our Editorial section does this via our mix of news, international and local launch reviews, as well as our seven-day tests.

From time to time we also take the opportunity to spend even longer with a vehicle. These longer-term tests can be as short as a couple of weeks, but more recently we’ve settled on a three-month period as indicative of ‘normal’ ownership.

Long-term tests give our staff writers and contributors a chance to get to know a car as an owner would. While the car is with us, we pay for fuel, the servicing, and generally use and live with the car as a new owner would.

We believe long-term tests give car buyers a deeper insight into the vehicle on test, but also the qualities behind the brand and nameplate. The extended period also allows us to touch base with the dealer networks in question.

It comes as no surprise that manufacturers tend to have a love-hate relationship with long-term tests. Three months is plenty long enough to fall out of love with the latest and greatest, and start to nit-pick — just like real owners do.

2017 Toyota C-HR Koba (2WD) pricing and specifications:
Price: $33,290 (plus on-road costs) / $34,190 (as tested)
Engine: 1.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 85kW/185Nm
Transmission: Continuously variable
Fuel: 6.4L/100km (ADR Combined) / 6.7L/100km (as tested)
CO2: 144g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP

Related reading:
>> Toyota C-HR 2017 Long-term Test Introduction
>> Toyota C-HR 2017 Long-term Test Update #1
>> Toyota C-HR v Holden Trax Comparison