2018 Toyota C-HR features, specs for April 2017 release

The upcoming 2018 Toyota C-HR has a lot of new features that users can try by the time it releases in April 2017. The vehicle is said to appear like a coupe-SUV hybrid.

The vehicle's name stands for Coupe-High Rider and it is meant to combine the elements of a coupe and an SUV. At first glance, the vehicle maintains qualities of a concept car. It has a raked roofline and features sharp angles. There are character lines on the side that "slices" the appearance of the car. The back features boomerang taillights and a protruding wing.

The hidden rear door handles and the roofline capture its coupe angle. However, not much can be seen that can be attributed to its SUV "origins."

Toyota's new car has 144 horsepower and a 2.0 litre four-cylinder engine. It also features three driving "modes," namely Eco, Normal and Sport. These offer variations in throttle, which drivers can use to further customise their experience.

According to Cars, the CH-R's interior is reminiscent of the interior branding of a Toyota vehicle. It has a 7-inch touchscreen in the middle of the dashboard and a multimedia system. It has a USB port, auxiliary jack and Bluetooth options. Unfortunately, others may notice its lack of satellite radio and navigation systems.

However, according to Motor Trend, the nature of the 2018 Toyota C-HR as a crossover utility vehicle makes it competition against rivals such as the Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-3 and the Nissan Juke.

The 2016 Honda HR-V was introduced in 2015. The HR-V has its fuel tank under the front seats in order to maximise its interior space. It has the Civic's 1.8 litre I-4 rated engine that gives it 141 horsepower and 127 lb-ft of torque. The car also features "Magi Seats" on its second row that can fold into a myriad of uses. The car costs US$19,220 (AU$25,130).

The Mazda CX-3 takes a lot from its predecessor the Mazda 2 supermini. It can be bought with a 2.0-litre petrol engine with 16-inch wheels. All of the car's models also come with built-in touch screen interfaces. Unfortunately, critics do not seem to appreciate the CX-3's interior design. The vehicle's base models begin with a US$19,990 (AU$26,150) price tag.

The Nissan Juke seems to be the one that started the trend of smaller vehicles in the market. It was designed with a wide variety of petrol engines, but only one engine for diesel. The Juke comes with a variety of onboard systems, which makes accessing both entertainment and driving options easier. Unfortunately, some may say its suspension might be too firm for comfortable riding. The car starts with a price tag of US$20,250 (AU$26,490).

However, the 2018 Toyota C-HR is not cheaper than the aforementioned vehicles. It will start with a US$23,460 (AU$30,690). The vehicle will be available in Toyota dealerships beginning April 2017. Unfortunately, no specific date was specified.