This week it’s the hoedown of the hyphens, between Toyota’s brand new kid on the block, the Toyota C-HR Vs the Honda HR-V.
2017 Honda HR-V
Pricing From $24,990+ORC Warranty 5 Years, 100,000km Safety 5 Star ANCAP Engine 1.8-Litre Four-Cylinder Petrol Power 105kW at 6500rpm Torque 172Nm at 4300rpm Transmission CVT Drive Front-Wheel Body 4294mm (L); 1772mm (W); 1605mm (H) Kerb Weight 1347kg Towing 1790kg (Braked) Boot Space 437 litres Spare Space Saver Emissions Euro 5 Fuel Tank 50 Litres Thirst 6.9L/100km (Combined)
2017 Toyota C-HR
Pricing From $26,990+ORC Warranty three-years, 100,000km Service Intervals capped price servicing – $195; 12 months/15,000km Safety five-star ANCAP Engine 1.2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol Power 85kW at 5200-5600rpm Torque 185Nm at 1500-4000rpm Transmission six-speed manual; CVT Dimensions 4360mm (L); 1795mm (W); 1565mm (H) Ground Clearance 154mm Turning Circle 10.4m Boot Space 377 litres Spare Space Saver Weight 1375-1510kg Towing 600kg Fuel Tank 50 litres Thirst 6.3-6.5L/100km
WE KNOW THE Honda HR-V and Toyota C-HR will appeal to different types of buyers but that doesn’t stop them competing in the same segment. And that’s why we’ve decided to put them head to head this week. We’ll continue comparing the obvious choices with the not so obvious choices, because we want to help you make the best purchasing decision possible.
What are we testing?
Don’t be scared. Honda’s HR-V is nothing like the old one – it was a boxy, styling disaster of a car that always looked ready to fall over. The new one is not exactly a looker, but it looks fit for purpose while occupying a relatively small footprint.
Based on the Jazz, it’s a compact SUV that inherits the smaller car’s big interior (making it even bigger), engine and transmission package and overall ease of use. Available in VTi, VTi-S and VTi-L spec – with the occasional special edition – the HR-V is a simple range of three cars starting at $24,990+ORC and ending at $33,340+ORC. You can have any transmission you like as long as it’s a CVT and any engine you like as long as you adore a 1.8-litre single-overhead cam. There aren’t many options, with the ADAS Safety Package available on the VTi-L, although there are a ton of dealer accessories.
The C-HR is something completely brand new from Toyota. It’s a comparative latecomer to the segment, but Toyota hasn’t disappointed with what is surely the coolest-looking of the lot, both inside and out. The reason it’s late is that Toyota’s new global C platform (a box of bits that will be re-used for lots of other cars) sits underneath your feet. That’s a good thing because the company could easily have gotten away with just jacking up a Corolla or a Yaris and say, “Ta da!”. Priced from $26,990 through to $35,290, the C-HR range is made of up two spec levels – basic and Koba – and comes in manual or auto and front or all-wheel drive. Plenty of choice, then, except for the one engine, which is a 1.2-litre turbo.
Next Page: What the interior is like…
I had another look at C-HR this week – that back seat is ridiculous – it’s a 2 seater really.
Unless you have only 2 people and never want to carry enemies in the back seat – you’d never put friends there, and children would be car-sick in no-time, the HR-V is the only option you could consider (of these 2).
I did sit in the read seats and it’s nothing as you said.
I’ll buy the C-HR if it’s a hybrid like in Europe.