Featured C-HR 184 hp refresh

We're getting the C-HR in 1.8l Hybrid next month.

But they haven't fixed up the ridiculous styling. The back seats have almost no outward visibility - very high sill and huge C Pillars:


Effectively only a 2 seater. Yep - the front seats are far better than PRIUS.

 

If the C-HR 2.0 hybrid ever get a plug, I guess that is the closest I'll get to my 10 year wish for a prius C with a plug.

Much like Clairol used to say "Does che or doesn't che? Only your hairdresser knows for sure!

 

I can't recall where I read that the 1.8 Hybrid is a better package than the 2.0. Except with power - which, in a hybrid isn't a real consideration.

Replacement for a PRIUS c - I think is the YARIS Hybrid - should be a much better vehicle than the under-baked C-HR.

 

Yes, but it is one way to not have to make the traction pack as big as would be needed otherwise on say a Rav4 or C-HR hybrid.
And with the amount of tuning Toyota has already done to the 1.8 in the Prime, it's a sure thing that whichever model(s) sell, I'd think they will do the same on the 2.0 eventually,
Because, how many people that you know drive slower these days than they used to?
I also think Toyota is doing a good job at building quality hybrids and sharing some of their R&D with anyone interested in contributing though open sourcing the HSD system.

 

The 2 liter hybrid is really pushed to market in Europe. This is because Toyota wants people to switch to their hybrids from diesel powered cars.

I went from a Ford Focus 1.6 diesel (105bhp/250Nm) to a Corolla 1.8 hybrid and you definitely loose a lot of low end grunt of the diesel and in the beginning it can be a bit disappointing.

Overhere in Europe we are spoiled with either diesel engines with high torque or petrol engines with turbo's with high torque.

The 1.8 hybrid feels comparable to the low end 1.0 liter 3 cylinder turbo engines in terms of power and torque.
In order to get people out of their diesel cars you need to deliver the sensation of a lot of torque at low revs and the 1.8 setup simply does not deliver that and at high revs it isn't the smoothest engine as well. I was a bit surprised by that as well since our 2010 Toyota Auris 1.6 Valvematic was really smooth up to the redline if needed.

 

2 cars ago I had a great 2.0l FOCUS Diesel with Getrag 6sp Manual - I reckon the best car I owned. Very economical too - 5.4 lifetime Measured l/100km.

Replaced with a 1.6 FIESTA - not as good a car to drive, but still very good, 4.6 l/100km.

And now the PRIUS Gen 4 - 4.2 l/100 - but definitely not as sporty as the FOCUS!!

 

Feeling is something you get yout of a test drive. Happiness comes when you make a full cycle ownership, because the 1.8HSD delivers pretty well, and doesn't have harmonic balancer, turbos, and the worrying fuel consumption a downsized engine has in various scenarios.
C-HR has been criticised for lack of sound proofing, nothing else.

 

Yes, 2/3 are to be sold in Europe with the 1.8 under the bonnet. Not easy to understand why not in Italy. Here in Portugal the 1.2T stood for 5% so far against the 1.8, and got discontinued for this facelift (1.8 + 2.0 only).

Hope so.

 

It's been heavily criticised for the poor back seat - the front is great, but you wouldn't put your worst enemies in the back without vomit bags - they just can't see out. LEXUS UX is based on the same vehicle - but they at least made the back seat better. LEXUS's sill is still very high, but the C Pillar has been trimmed intelligently.

LEXUS UX - compare with my post #3

 

Correct, those passengers sure have a claustrophobic test when looking around...
(not related to the engine though...)

 

Depends on were you live. The lack of grunt is mentioned in just about every review of every Toyota hybrid here in the Netherlands.
I don't think that it is even half as bad as the car journalists make it seem but compared to a comparable priced diesel powered car it does lack in the grunt department. Yes, the 1.8 HSD can be driven sprightly but then the fuel economy will be way worse than the diesel.
I do however completely agree that in terms of reliability the HSD driveline is a way better choice. My hybrid is a company car and privately we drive a C-Max 1.5 Ecoboost which is thirsty as hell and we drive to few kilometres to warrant a diesel but we need it to pull our caravan in the summer.

 

According to Motoring Journalists who would prefer an Aston Martin to drive, the PRIUS with 1.8 (and earlier models with smaller) engines were always given low ratings - even the dramatically improved Gen 4. They had AMG Merc glasses on.

UNTIL ...
a couple of weeks ago, CarAdvice, probably our most objective Motoring Journalists here gave it an excellent score. And excellent comments like:

• Prius is one of the best riding cars on the market, let alone this segment
• you're able to achieve impressive fuel economy figures
• Toyota has managed to strike the right balance between comfort and bump compliance, even on constant undulations, which can often upset softly sprung cars
• Toyota has perfected brake pedal feel as much as is possible with a hybrid
• driving a Prius is just like driving any other car
• it's no different to any other car to drive
• delivers efficiency, an excellent ride, and a commendable set of features
• it's a car that really doesn't put a foot wrong
• It won't set any world records, but the system offers flexibility for efficient driving with enough reserve for sudden torque requests
• Leg and head room in the first and second rows are excellent. There is a surprising amount of knee room available in the second row for passengers to stretch out

etc

They point out that Apple/Android CarPlay are missing - but when Gen4 was designed in 2015, they weren't even born - or only just!!!
2020 Toyota Prius review | CarAdvice

 

A nice review from a journalist for a change!
Here in the Netherlands journalists seem to dislike anything that has a CVT in it or a transaxle that behaves like a CVT.