Toyota’s all-new C-HR is a crossover vehicle that isn’t easy to pigeonhole. Its funky styling is a vast departure from other Toyota models. Example: exterior rear door handles are near the roof line. C-HR’s appeal factors were evident immediately during a week-long test drive. First off, C-HR has great ingress/egress for front seat passengers. (Even a rider who underwent hip replacement surgery 10 days earlier, found entering/exiting the front passenger seat relatively easy.) Front seat occupants have 43.5 inches of legroom, while rear seat legroom is 31.7 inches. C-HR also hits a sweet-spot via the base XLE model’s MSRP. (The up-level XLE Premium adds $1,850 to the price tag).

Powering the C-HR is a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder that produces 144 horsepower at 6100 rpm and 139 pounds-feet of torque at 3900 rpm. Engine mates with a continuously variable transmission with intelligence and shift mode (CVTi-S). The 103.9-inch wheelbase C-HR’s safety standards include 10 airbags and hill-start assist control. In a Toyota-first, the front wheel drive C-HR has a double wishbone multi-link rear suspension with 26 mm stabilizer bar and urethane upper damper supports. This suspension contributes to C-HR’s comfortable ride. Cargo capacity is 19 cubic feet with rear seat upright and 36.4 cubic feet with rear seat folded. The tested C-HR XLE has a $22,500 MSRP. The estimated mpg is 27 city/31 highway.