Test Drive and Review of the 2021 Toyota C-HR at Spinelli Toyota!

As others have done before it and since it seems to be a very popular trend for some time, the 2021 Toyota C-HR also gains a new variant with black accents for this new vintage. Here is the Nightshade Edition, which is outfitted with 18-inch black alloy wheels, a black side skirt as well as black mirrors and door handles. Available on the menu are the Black Sand Pearl, Blizzard Pearl, Supersonic Red and Magnetic Grey exterior shades. On our roads in Montreal, Laval and the North Shore for only three years, the Toyota C-HR has carved out a place for itself in the hearts of subcompact SUV enthusiasts, for several reasons.

A more than satisfying test drive of the new 2021 C-HR

This test drive of the C-HR gave us a real sense of the scope of its bold and funky design. And wherever it goes, chins raise, and eyes follow, so beware if you don't like to be stared at, because this little SUV inevitably attracts attention. The colour choices, whether monochrome or two-tone, really do it justice, especially with the Blue Eclipse Metallic with Black Roof, which our tester was dressed in and which requires a small extra charge of $540, but the effect is striking.

The interior is equally original with its blue or grey stripe, depending on your model, surrounding the touchscreen and continuing across the dashboard to end up in the doors, giving a rather nice modern effect that breaks up the monotony, in the otherwise all-black interior. We really appreciated the divine comfort of the leather seats and the ergonomics of the dashboard, intelligently thought out for the driver for intuitive and easy use, as well as the leather-wrapped heated steering wheel, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, not to mention the countless safety features.

An SUV worth its price!

But what we liked most of all was the driving dynamics of the C-HR, which has a base price of just over $31,000. One of the reasons the 2021 C-HR is so lively and fun to drive is because of its ultra-stiff structure. Add to that a new MacPherson strut front suspension and SACHS shocks, and you get stable body movement whether you're enthusiastically taking a curve or quickly changing lanes on the highway. No matter what you do, the handling of this small SUV is not only predictable, but always on track.

And in addition to its exceptional driving dynamics, this little crossover is very frugal with a combined fuel consumption of only 8.2 L/100 km, courtesy of its 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine with 144 horsepower and 139 lb-ft of torque, coupled with a CVT gearbox that does a tremendous job and doesn't make us feel like we're struggling to get up to speed. The only negative thing to say about this powertrain is the lack of an all-wheel drive system, but we can always hope that the manufacturer will add it to future models.

Even the cargo capacity of the 2021 Toyota C-HR will satisfy you

With 1,031 litres of cargo space behind the first row, there's plenty of room for all your gym bags and groceries, and even for helping a friend move into their new home. And since the liftgate opening isn't too high, it's easy enough to get your stuff in without having to give yourself a boost. A feature you'll greatly appreciate if like many people, you're of short stature.

In short, in our humble opinion, the Toyota C-HR is without a doubt an excellent product that will have a long career. Not only because it's generously equipped or because it's devilishly fun to drive, but also because it's part of a family whose DNA is synonymous with reliability, trust and quality. So if you don't mind attention and you like a high dose of fun behind the wheel, the C-HR should definitely appeal to you. Come and see it for yourself at your Spinelli Toyota dealer and take it for a test drive, and chances are you'll fall under its irresistible spell just like we did.