限量版——2024 款丰田 C-HR Limited 评测
It's good to have the opportunity to compare different spec levels of the same car. This is the case with the new Toyota C-HR. Recently it was GX, and then it was time for Limited to get the same treatment.
The C-HR is a success story for Toyota, as the first-generation model attracted everyone's attention with its peculiar styling cues and "SUV and coupe" stance. Aside from a few technical upgrades and stylistic tweaks, it remains largely unchanged. Today, the C-HR is in its second generation, completely remodeled with a new powerplant and a completely new look.
Made in Europe, C-HR has a comprehensive product line. As mentioned, the GX starts at $45,990 TDP (Toyota Driveaway price), then the GXL has a TDP of $49,990, and then my limited edition at $52,990. For an extra $1000, your limited edition will receive a two-tone paint scheme that Toyota calls "Two-tone Plus". Want to make your C-HR a sportier look? The flagship C-HR GR Sport is priced at $55,990 and $56,990 in two-tone options.
Like what I found on the GX, the C-HR Limited is powered by the same 1.8L four-cylinder petrol engine with a hybrid battery system. The C-HR is no longer equipped with a gasoline-only engine, but is hybrid or none. The combined power is 103kW and the torque is 142Nm, which is 15% higher than the first-generation C-HR. The combined fuel consumption is 4.4L/100km and the carbon emission is 98g/km. Also, the only C-HR with a larger powerplant is the 2.0L HEV unit and E-Four AWD in the C-HR GR Sport.
The striking styling of the latest C-HR has been taken to the next level. A large number of angles, curves, and C-shaped LED headlights give this new car a unique look and fully follow the current Toyota design language. As I found out on the GX, you can see a lot of homage to the all-electric bZX4.
The full-width light bar on the rear is one of my favorite parts of the whole design, and I also love the way the C-HR logo lights up. The flush doorknob is also nice. As a Limited model, you get larger 19-inch alloy wheels and front and rear chrome trim. With these extra visual details, Limited definitely has an edge over GX. I also like that rear spoiler.
The interior has been completely revamped, continuing the theme of angular and avant-garde details. The interior is also more spacious, with more headroom and leg room. This is mainly because the C-HR is longer and wider than the model it replaces. Toyota is also pleased to note that the new C-HR uses twice as much recycled material as the previous generation.
In addition to features such as Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, sat nav, and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, Limited provides you with additional on-board equipment such as upholstered leather seats with heating and ventilation, a heated steering wheel, digital mirrors, a power tailgate, a panoramic sunroof, and a head-up display.
Now those who know me will know how much I love good car stereos, and another motivation for upgrading to C-HR Limited is that you get a JBL 9-speaker premium sound system. I think JBL is one of the most underrated systems and it does a great job of getting Robert Plant the respect he deserves with these 9 speakers.
Like the GX, Limited takes full advantage of Toyota's improved Safety Sense system, in which the pre-collision system can now detect motorcycles. In addition to the regular adaptive cruise control, turn assist, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, reversing camera, and lane following assist, you now have a new driver monitoring system that alerts you if your gaze is off the road ahead for an extended period of time.
Open the trunk and you can see 440 litres of luggage space. Loading and unloading is very easy, and although the trunk floor is not the lowest, loading and unloading odds and ends is a breeze.
The time I spent driving the C-HR Limited was both commuting and a couple of road drives in the Canterbury Highlands, the latter of which you might see from the photos. In any case, much like the GX, Limited's hybrid powertrain transitions from gas-assisted to all-electric mode better and seamlessly than many of its competitors.
In addition, like the GX, the Limited's rear view remains the same as the GX, thanks to its sloping coupe lines. Another downside I found with the GX is the aforementioned driver monitoring system, which kicks in when you take your eyes off the road for a short while. Fortunately, it can be deactivated.
In town, the C-HR performed well, but on a short trip to the Elwell Forest and Canterbury Highlands, the C-HR Limited showed excellent shifting ability for an energetic yet relaxed driving experience. In Sport mode, the steering weight is moderate, and the electric and gasoline power blend seamlessly, making this urban SUV feel very lively and eager to move.
I've test-driven the GX and Limited versions in a row now, and if it were up to me to pay for it, I'd pay an extra $8,000 for the Limited version, purely for that sound system and extra refined configuration to make the daily commute feel a little more sophisticated.
Whichever configuration you choose, you'll get a very well-rounded SUV that takes the benefits of the original C-HR and takes it to the next level. Toyota's second album for this eye-catching, peculiar urban SUV definitely deserves to be shortlisted by any potential buyer.