Another great SUV is coming our way, it is the 2024 Toyota C-HR. It is not too long since the last time Toyota did a redesign of this SUV. It is on the smaller side, a compact one if you will. This means there is a big market for them and not too much competition. Most of the SUV crowd is in the crossover and three-row SUVs category. The current generation of C-HR has been around since 2017 and it is about time to get a redesign. The exact extent of remodeling involved is not known as of yet.
Toyota is a bit mysterious when it comes to that. Hopefully, the surprise at the end is a nice one. There are rumors surrounding the C-HR and its powertrain mainly. Per reports, it will be a fully electric version. But that doesn’t mean they will completely forego the internal combustion engine. There will most definitely be some sort of restyling. Both interior and exterior should receive updates. The technology is a bit stale and could use an upgrade as well. Let us take a better look at what the new C-HR looks like.
2024 Toyota C-HR Exterior Changes
The outside of the 2024 Toyota C-HR looks similar to the previous generation of the SUV. It has small 18-inch rims that are lightweight. The backside of the rooftop is slanted and gives it an extremely aerodynamic feel. This translates well to handling, steering, and especially fuel economy. The C-HR has an adaptive front lighting system.
There is a Nightshade trim that gives some interesting black accents to certain outside details. The front fascia is changed a bit, it doesn’t have too many air intakes. And if the EV model comes into production, there won’t be any. Instead, we will have a unified front part of the modern and sleek-looking SUV.
Interior Features
The interior of the 2024 Toyota C-HR got a small refresh. The seats are leather-trimmed and include contrast stitching. The pattern is a diamond shape and there are multiple color choices. There are heating and ventilating features, no massaging feature though at this price. Seats are adjustable with a click of a button and there are 8 settings.
There is dual-zone climate control and some blue accents align the cabin. There is Toyota Safety Sense 2.5. It includes a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection. Cruise control and lane change assist are present as well. At this price, we might not get hands-free driving, but it could happen since the technology is there.
Engine Specification
Where many manufacturers decide to offer a plethora of engines, Toyota is not among those. The 2024 Toyota C-HR comes with a single powertrain. But it is a good and reliable one. It is a 2.0 liter 4-cylinder. This small beast can produce 145 horsepower with 140 pound-feet of torque. The compact SUV is on the smaller side, but this engine does seem a bit anemic coupled with an SUV. We would have liked the horsepower to be better and the torque sounds like it couldn’t pull you out of a pinch.
The engine would benefit from a turbocharger or a supercharger, but that hasn’t happened yet. The 2.0-liter powertrain needs a whopping 11 seconds from zero to sixty mph. Obviously, Toyota didn’t think about top speed or acceleration when they coupled this powertrain with the C-HR. Due to a quick throttle that propels you enthusiastically off the line when you are driving routinely through town, the absence of horsepower is effectively concealed. However, if you press hard on the accelerator with your right foot, the engine will rev to its maximum and then remain there, droning on as you wait for the continuously variable automatic gearbox (CVT) to change gears in an attempt to offer quick forward motion.
The C-HR provides a smooth ride over bumps, but it doesn’t stand out in this market. Large road irregularities cause the suspension to swiftly recover, but when you hit a length of patched or cracked pavement quickly, you’re rewarded with a maelstrom of noise; sharp bumps cause reverberations all through the cabin. The C-front HR’s wheels respond immediately to inputs, and the steering feels precise. The C-HR has energetic handling, a well-controlled body roll, and a joyful atmosphere while you’re in the driver’s seat. It is obvious that an upgraded powertrain is needed to improve both performance and the ride itself. Perhaps it is because they are looking towards the future and can’t bother with this powertrain. That might bode well for EV fans.
Fuel economy
The small 2024 Toyota C-HR is quite a nimble SUV, and quite economic at that. The upside of having a small engine is its good fuel economy. The C-HR gets around 30 mpg of combined driving. A hybrid powertrain would bump this to 50mpg surely.
2024 Toyota C-HR Electric
A fully electric C-HR would have many benefits. It is not huge and wouldn’t need a huge battery pack to move around. A battery of 100 kWh would suffice, it would even outmatch the current engine with performance. Surely it would offer a good range on a single charge.
The platform might need to be modified to accommodate new components. A dual electric motor setup is the most popular currently, as we don’t see more motors being used in an SUV of this size.
Price and Release Date
The new 2024 Toyota C-HR is going to be released later in 2023. Probably be the fall of the upcoming year. Prices will be dictated by the trim you choose, there are three to be named.
First up is the XLE trim at $25000, Nightshade at $26000, and Limited and $28000. Main competition includes Hyundai Kona and Nissan Kicks.