Mechanical Specs and Standard Equipment

The 2021 Toyota C-HR is a budget-friendly subcompact crossover with a nice ride height, excellent fuel efficiency, and a racy look that makes it appear to be ready for the track. But instead of being built for speed, it has a gas-sipping 144 hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), a combination that will save you lots at the fuel pump. According to EPA estimates, this front-wheel drive subcompact crossover returns 27 mpg around town and 31 mpg on the highway. The CVT features Sequential Shiftmatic mode, allowing the driver to control virtual shift changes (CVTs don’t have actual gears, but gear ratios) and feel more engaged; the sport-tuned suspension adds to this driving enjoyment.

The 2021 Toyota C-HR is made in LE, XLE, Nightshade Edition, and Limited trim levels. The high-quality interior is as durable as it is comfortable, and it’s set up well with standard features. Even the base LE comes with desirable features such as LED headlights, 17-inch wheels, heated side mirrors with turn-signal indicators, dual-zone automatic temperature control, a rearview camera system, a tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, cloth seats, a 60/40 split fold-flat rear seat, keyless entry, and an infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen, voice recognition capability, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio streaming, SiriusXM satellite radio (with 3-month trial), a USB data port, and a six-speaker audio system.

The XLE provides 18-inch vortex-style wheels, touch-sensor lock and unlock functions for the front doors, a blind-spot warning indicator in the exterior mirrors, auto-folding puddle lamps, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and push-button ignition. The equipment list is similar for the Nightshade Edition, which also receives special black badging and other blacked-out elements, including a black chin spoiler and lug nuts. The Limited loads up the list with 18-inch turbine-style wheels, LED low- and high-beam headlights, high-performance LED fog lights, adaptive headlights (which move slightly in the direction of turns and are also self-leveling), leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a power-adjustable driver’s seat. HD radio is optional for both the XLE and Limited.

Trims

LE

The C-HR may be Toyota’s smallest crossover and one of its most budget-friendly vehicles, but that doesn’t mean it’s not equipped like a mid-grade model. It gets some pretty desirable features, led by LED headlights and exterior mirrors with safety-enhancing turn-signal indicators and frost-melting heat feature. This base trim also gets 17-inch wheels and a climate-control system that’s not just automatic but dual-zone as well. The voice-controlled infotainment system has an 8-inch touchscreen, while many base-level competitors have smaller screens – some that aren’t even touch-controlled. There’s also standard smartphone integration (Android Auto and Apple CarPlay), SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth (for phone and audio streaming), and six speakers.

The Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 package of advanced driver-assist technologies is also standard issue on the LE. It includes automatic high beams, full-speed range dynamic radar cruise control, a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning with steering assist, lane tracing assist, and road sign assist.

XLE

The XLE adds a few desirable items, starting with 18-inch vortex-style wheels, auto-folding puddle lamps, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. It also gets push-button start and touch-sensor lock and unlock for the front doors. On the safety side, a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert is added, along with a blind-spot warning indicator in the side-view mirrors.

Nightshade Edition

This trim’s differences are mostly aesthetic. It’s equipped similarly to the XLE, but some of the exterior elements are blacked out, such as the badging, chin spoiler, and the vortex-style wheels, including their lug nuts.

Limited

The Limited might as well be called the Loaded, because it gets just about everything, from self-leveling adaptive LED headlights (which move to illuminate around curves and corners) to leather seats that are heated in front. The 18-inch wheels take on a turbine style, and it also gets high-performance LED fog lights and a power-adjustable driver’s seat.

Safety and Active Driver Aids

Across its trio of trims, the 2021 Toyota C-HR gets the Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 suite of driver-assist features. This consists of a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning with steering assist, lane tracing assist, automatic high beams, full-speed range dynamic radar cruise control, and road sign assist. All trims minus the base LE also get a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert.