Toyota comes gunning for Honda HR-V with very similar compact crossover

Anyone that follows the decades long competition between Japan’s largest automotive manufacturer Toyota, and number 2 Honda, knows that this no holds bard auto-slugfest has raged on for decades -- in rolls the all new Honda-HR-V knock-off, Toyota’s dynamic looking 2017 CH-R compact crossover.

As of this writing, I’m assuming that the manufactured in Japan CH-R, is destined for Asia and European markets only, but who knows? Presently Honda’s HR-V compact Ute is selling very well in the U.S., perhaps Toyota marketing believes there's room in the segment for yet one more contender. What does Torque News Toyota specialist John Goreham think of this development?

From a brand loyalty perspective, they may be correct. There’s no argument that the Toyota CH-R is dynamic in design, interior proportions, and from what we view in photos, ground clearance. Toyota CH-R is PHAT and chunky, right where it should be. Will it be imported to the U.S.? Read my latest Honda HR-V drive review here.General specifications

17″ alloy wheels (5-spoke)
Auto Headlights
Auto Wipers
Follow-me-home headlights
Reversing Camera
LED Daytime running lights
Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection
Lane Departure Alert with Steering Control
Road Sign Assist
Automatic High Beam
Adaptive Cruise Control
Front fog lights
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)
Immobiliser
Motion sensor & Intrusion alarm
Toyota Touch® 2 multimedia System with 8″ display
Bluetooth® Connectivity
Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB)
USB & Aux in connectors + 12v front outlet
6 speakers
3-spoke leather steering wheel with multimedia switches
Electronic parking brake
Leather gear shift
4.2″ Colored TFT screen for multi-information display
Dual-zone automatic air conditioning
Audio & telephone switches on steering wheel
Electric Power Steering (EPS)
Auto-dimming rear view mirror
Front & rear power windows with auto up & down and anti-jam protection
Illuminated entry system
Toyota C-HR 2017 Excel Trim Features and Specs
In addition to Icon grade
18″ black machined-face alloy wheels (10-double-spoke)
Privacy glass on rear windows
Intelligent Parking Assist (IPA)
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
Blind Spot Monitor (BSM)
Voice recognition
Heated driver & front passenger seats
Power-adjustable lumbar support on driver seat
2017 Toyota C-HR Dynamic Trim Features and Specs
In addition to Icon grade
18″ black machined-face alloy wheels (5-double-spoke)
Bi-tone Black Roof
LED headlights
Front LED fog lights
Rear LED lights

Powertrain: Hybrid Engine Specs — Toyota C-HR Icon, Excel, Dynamic
“Beneath the hood, the brand new Toyota C-HR 2017 will be powered by a 1.2-litre, 114 bhp turbocharged petrol engine in the UK markets. This engine will be mated to an either a six-speed manual or CVT gearbox. Also, we can expect front wheel drive as standard as well as all wheel drive type as an option."

"Furthermore, we can also anticipate Toyota’s latest 1.8-litre hybrid system. According to Toyota, we can expect excellent fuel consumption. Toyota actually claims a combined fuel consumption of 74.3mpg UK (3.8lt/100km) as well as only 86g/km of CO2 emissions which is very good.”

Looking to the specifications, I’m going to go out on a limb here and assume that Toyota C-HR is Asian, European market specific. Only time will tell. At any rate, 2017 Toyota C-HR is darn good looking.

Specifications and comments attributed to Handi.Tech 2016. Photo Attributions Toyota Motor Company Japan.