The 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show was awash in crossover utility vehicles, including a new model from Toyota that stretches the definition of that category.
The 2018 Toyota C-HR features the high driving position of a crossover, but in a vehicle with decidedly car-like styling, and without an all-wheel drive option.
Adding to the confusion, the letters C-HR stand for "Coupe High Rider" but, unlike a traditional two-door coupe, the C-HR has four conventional doors and a rear hatch.
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Unveiled earlier this year at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show and previewed by multiple concepts, the C-HR was originally to be sold in the U.S. under Toyota's now-defunct Scion "youth brand."
It will compete against a growing array of subcompact crossovers, including the 2018 Ford EcoSport also unveiled in L.A., the Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-3, and the Nissan Juke—which features similar funky styling.
Aside from its jacked-up ride height, the C-HR looks more like a small hatchback than a traditional crossover, with a low roofline and headlights and taillights pulled back toward the wheel wells.
2018 Toyota C-HR
Pronounced creases over the rear wheel wells and thick D-pillars seem to be an attempt by Toyota to camouflage the rear doors.
Underneath the sheetmetal, the C-HR rides on the same Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform that debuted with the current-generation Prius hybrid.
Toyota claims the TNGA platform allows for a lower center of gravity that can improve handling, and boasts that the suspension setup was tuned at the famous Nürburgring race track in Germany.
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The sole engine option in the U.S. will be a 2.0-liter inline-4, producing 144 horsepower and 140 pound-feet of torque.
That power is sent to the front wheels through a continuously-variable transmission (CVT).
EPA fuel-economy ratings will be published closer to the C-HR's launch. A hybrid version may also arrive at a later date.
2018 Toyota C-HR
The C-HR will come standard with the Toyota Safety Sense P bundle of electronic driver aids, including automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane departure warning with lane keep assist.
Other notable features include an infotainment system with 7.0-inch touchscreen and Aha smartphone app, dual-zone automatic climate control, and 18-inch alloy wheels.
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The C-HR will arrive in U.S. dealerships next spring, with pricing information to be released closer to the launch date.
For more new-car debuts, head over to our Los Angeles Auto Show news page.
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