Toyota C-HR vs Honda HR-V
Executive Summary
The Honda HR-V (or "Hi-rider Revolutionary Vehicle") slots right under the larger CR-V in price just as the Toyota C-HR (or "Coupe High Rider") takes up less room in your garage and budget than the RAV4.
These sub-compact SUVs are known as "mini-utes." Both began life on small car platforms (Fit and Prius) and then Honda and Toyota treated them to some rugged styling and platform heels. They are seeking sales in a market that is drifting away from traditional sedans toward versatile crossover vehicles that have the economy of a car but the utility of a truck. Other entrants in this burgeoning segment include Chevy Trax, Nissan Juke, Jeep Renegade, and arguably the best all-around choice, Subaru Crosstrek.
C-HR's controversial styling comes directly from the Japanese techo-brutal design school pioneered by rival Nissan on its GT-R supercar. In fact, C-HR looks more like a Nissan Maxima or Nissan Juke than the conventional-looking Toyota products to which we're accustomed. Toyota heir and CEO Akio Toyoda has been pushing his staid company to produce vehicles with a little more aesthetic and kinetic passion, which might explain why the C-HR apes Nissan's aggressive styling. Fortunately for CH-R buyers, they will break a lot less often than a Nissan!
As Subaru dealers, we don't have a dog in this hunt, but if you wouldn't let us drive a Crosstrek then we would probably pick the HR-V. We like Honda resale value and the ingenious Magic Seat system that permutes manifold cargo-people configurations, making the car act much bigger than it is. Comparably equipped, they cost almost the exact same, around $24,000 for an all-wheel-drive version in mid-level trim. You really can't go wrong with either one, and either way you get three consonants and a hyphen.
You can buy an HR-V now but you'll have to wait til spring, 2017 for a C-HR.
Review
All Wheel Drive System
Both come standard with front-wheel-drive. Honda and Toyota bolt on additional hardware to convert to AWD. Toyota system is more sophisticated and responds more quickly to a loss of traction.
Ride Quality
Both offer a much better ride than the truck-based SUVs of yore. Both have lots of "suspension travel" up and down over bumps. "Travel" is just a fancy way of saying that there is more space for the suspension to compress, which results in a more compliant ride. We give the slight edge to Honda's handling...somehow they've figured out a way to spray some eau-de-Formula-One on their economy runabouts.
Driver Assistive Technology
Both Toyota and Honda produce suites of optional technologies to help you drive more safely, even including automatic braking if you're distracted. These features are not yet available on HR-V. Toyota Safety Sense is standard on the C-HR as Toyota is pushing to include autonomous safety features in its economy cars
Standard Engine and Fuel Economy
C-HR
2.0 liter four cylinder
in-line engine with
144 horsepower
HR-V
1.8 liter four cylinder
in-line engine with
138 horsepower
