Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/753405
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 20 NOVEMBER 2016 Motoring V THE new Toyota C-HR, Coupe High Rider smacks of riding the range, corralling the bad guys and owning the boardwalk with all the cool of a high plains hero. Was Ennio Morricone play- ing gently in the background as the new Toyota C-HR was sketched out? The C-HR is the creation of chief designer Hiroyuki Koba, and is the latest crossover from Japan to join the Toyota line-up although you would be forgiven for mistaking it for one of the more luxurious Lexus range. The nose is softer than the original concept, previewed to much acclaim at the Paris Motor Show in 2014, but the rear has retained the elegant muscular creases. The back windows offer pri- vacy glass and the handles of the rear doors are very cleverly set into the door so that they do not interfere with the line of the car. In profile, the roof sweeps down to the integrated spoiler and more creases along the bodyline add movement and style. Kabo has kept the C-HR fluid and made it distinctively different from its SUV sta- blemate, the RAV4, which is bigger, more rugged and much beloved of Toyota fans. Inside, the C-HR is glamor- ous, plush and well finished – a bit of a gem actually, which might explain the diamond de- sign cues throughout. Toyota are keen to stress the premium quality of the C-HR and this is reflected in the leather work and Nappa that stretches in layers throughout the cabin. Otherwise, there is a grainy soft finishing to the doors and sweeping lines in sparkling piano black, silver or blue run across the dash. Indeed, not only have Toyota planned a car that is very ca- pable, they have given it a distinctive look and added in a touch of quality that custom- ers are going to love. And, of course, Toyota being Toyota, it is incredibly environmentally friendly. Alongside manual and CVT automatic models in front and all-wheel drive, they have added in a 1.8-litre hybrid pet- rol that they reckon will be their best seller. Highly attractive to the grow- ing number of green drivers, the hybrid powertrain – a petrol engine combined with two electric motor generators – de- livers 120bhp but boasts CO2 emissions as low as 86g/km. In a uniquely Toyota arrange- ment, one electric engine acts as a generator converting extra power from the petrol engine into electricity for the battery. It is also the starter motor. The second electric motor drives the car from start-up, at low speeds, in EV mode and in reverse. It, too, acts as a generator when the C-HR is in regenerative braking mode. It all adds up to a drive that is smooth and efficient, claiming fuel economy of 74.3mpg. For those who want a manual or a CVT with less power, the 114bhp 1.2 petrol is a sweet performer, with impressive reactions on open roads or in town. It averages 47.9mpg with ei- ther gearbox and emits as little as 134g/km of CO2. The C-HR comes in three trim levels – Icon, Excel and Dynamic – with Toyota Safety Sense as standard on all levels. That includes a pre-col- lision system with pedestrian warning, adaptive cruise con- trol, lane departure alert with steering control, automatic high beam and road sign assist. More features come with Ex- cel, including park assist, blind spot monitoring and Toyota Touch 2 with Go, which adds sat nav from this level. Dynamic adds exclusive seat upholstery, a very attractive bi-tone paint finish and LED lights. All versions can be equipped with the Sport Pack, which gives the C-HR an even more unique look, with added side skirts and front and rear under runs. This is a very important vehi- cle for Toyota and one that is going to challenge quite well- established rivals. It is the stranger in town, the newcomer roaming the streets as the dust stirs up the tumble- weed. Morricone may not be your choice of music on the state-of- the-art JBL sound system but you can very definitely drive happily off into the sunset with the C-HR. Newcomer roams the town as rivals look on in envy