Our road test today features a rather unusual looking Toyota called the C-HR. For the C-HR Toyota has taken a radical new styling direction compared to its worthy other offerings. The name C-HR, I believe stands for “Coupe-High Rider,” but from the sides, its body is styled to look more like a coupe. However, in my opinion the styling is more crossover than SUV and the C-HR will compete in this highly competitive segment.

The front represents a further development of Toyota's signature design identity while the C-HR's coupe-like styling is further enhanced by disguised rear door handles integrated within the C-pillar, a sweeping roofline and a discreet rear tailgate spoiler. The prominent rear light clusters give the rear view of the C-HR an equally expressive visual. The handles however, are positioned quite high, putting them out of reach for young kids. The C-HR test car was fitted with 5-arm alloy wheels shod with 215/60R17 Michelin radials, and there’s a full-sized spare under the boot board.

Moving inside, the quality of the fittings in the cabin is immediately noticeable. Premium cloth upholstery and soft touch plastics are used throughout, while gloss black inserts add a touch of class. There’s ample legroom at the rear and a surprising amount of headroom given the sloping roofline. Access is relatively easy, as despite its coupe looks, the C-HR benefits from a five-door layout. The rear doors open wide and only taller occupants will find the low roof a bit of a pain when lowering themselves in.

The 152 litre boot is roomy and well-shaped, and with the rear seat folded down, capacity increases to 792 litres - a little less than average for the class. The tailgate opens wide and it’s easy to load items despite the lip. There’s plenty of space for oddments, a fair-sized cubby-hole, large front door bins, a large lidded container between the front seats, and a small tray ahead of the gearlever that’s perfect to hold a bunch keys or a cellphone.

Upfront, the driver and passenger get plenty of space and generous seat adjustment. You sit slightly higher than in a traditional hatchback, while the low dashboard and large windscreen give a panoramic view out. From behind the wheel, all the operating switchgear and a display audio touch-screen are slightly angled towards the driver. A unique new two-tiered front seat design combines a slender, sporting upper section with a more strongly bolstered and supportive lower area. The seat and steering wheel move freely to adjust for different body shapes, and the seat itself is comfortable. The diamond motif is extended from the exterior into the interior, with many interior elements such as the door panels - using a similar shape.

Visibility, however, is one of the C-HR’s weaker areas. When reversing out of an angle or perpendicular parking, the heavily styled rear-end makes it difficult to see what’s behind you, and the small rear side windows don’t exactly help either. The view out of the front, however, is generally good, although the front pillars do get in the way a bit when pulling out of junctions.

Standard features in the Toyota C-HR Plus include the multi-Information full-colour TFT Display operated by a 4-way direction switch on the steering wheel, electric parking brake, which automatically engages and disengages depending on gear and key position, hill assist control with 'holding period', dual-zone electronic climate control with ECO mode, dual mode climate control, USB, iPod, iPhone, Bluetooth and CD/DVD interfaces, cruise control, leather steering wheel, follow me home lights, front and rear fog lamps, daytime running lights, rain sensing wipers and remote central locking. Safety equipment comprises; driver and passenger airbags, disc brakes at all four wheels with ABS, Brake Assist EBD, VSC and two ISOFIX attachment points.

The Toyota C-HR Plus is powered by a four cylinder 2-litre turbo-petrol engine pushing out 85 kW at 5 600 RPM and 185 NM of torque from 1500 RPM and sends drive to the front wheels through a 6-speed manual gearbox. The C-HR isn’t particularly quick but still offers adequate performance. In acceleration tests, it “ran” the 0 to 100 km/h sprint in a reasonable time of 11.2 seconds after two gear-changes and the top speed is set at 190 km/h. Claimed fuel consumption is 6.3 l/100 km on the combined cycle although the trip recorder in the test car indicated 6.9 litres per 100 km’s which is pretty good.

On the freeways, travelling at a steady 120km/h in 6th gear, the C-HR engine spins at a leisurely 2 500 RPM. The six-speed gearbox also benefits from a light and accurate shift, plus it gets Toyota’s remarkable Intelligent Manual Transmission set-up, which automatically increases the engine revs with a perfectly executed 'blip' when down-shifting and for a smooth gear change.

The steering is quite light but is well-weighted to match to the other controls. The C-HR feels cohesive, changes direction quicker and feels lighter on its feet. The relatively low center of gravity and sophisticated rear suspension pay dynamic dividends here, because they allow the C-HR to come by its sense of handling response and precision easily. The C-HR holds the road well when you push it hard into a tight hairpin, slowing the car smoothly to the ideal entry speed while the body settles quickly on its outside wheels. The chassis will even allow you to tighten your line mid-corner, such is its assured grip on the tarmac. Traction is generally strong, and the traction control system is dependable.

The new Toyota C-HR with its radical styling, certainly caused a few admirers to stop and ask about for a look. One guy even said he can’t believe this is a Toyota. The retail selling price of the Toyota C-HR Plus 6-speed manual is R364 600 which includes a 3 year / 100 000 km warranty, a 5 year / 90 000 km service plan, with service intervals set at 15 000 km.