Usability Review - 2018 Toyota C-HR XLE

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The 2018 C-HR is Toyota’s all-new model entry to the increasingly competitive subcompact sport utility vehicle (SUV) segment. As is to be expected with Toyota, the C-HR comes equipped with a solid list of safety features—all standard—including collision alert, lane departure warning, pedestrian detection, and adaptive cruise control. The model tested was the XLE trim, which came in at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of just over USD23,000.

Even with the impressive set of safety features and potentially competitive price point, the Toyota C-HR falls way behind the competition in infotainment functionality. While some automakers are opting to equip their entry-level vehicles with Android Auto or Apple CarPlay to partially make up for any infotainment shortcomings, Toyota has not gone that route. The system also lacks an on-board navigation system, even on the higher XLE Premium trim level. The key to the C-HR’s success will clearly be in achieving an intuitive experience to overcome any feature shortcomings. While there are some successes, the shortcomings of this vehicle’s infotainment system are difficult to ignore.