Toyota has given the C-HR a big facelift and they've taken the opportunity to give it a new drivetrain as well.
A more powerful one. Next to that, is the Mazda CX-30 with the new SkyActiv X-drivetrain aboard. An important rival to the C-HR,
so it's a nice duo to put up against each other.
Since the last few years, it's crazy on the crossover-market. Mazda knows that as well, so they already had a CX-3 and CX-5.
and there was a small gap there. You'd say, perfect for the CX-4, but that name has already been taken. A car which drives around in China.
In the Hiroshima-patent desk, it would've caused a lot of confusion. So that's why they've called it CX-30.
This car. And it doesn't only nicely fit inbetween the CX-3 and CX-5 when it comes to segment, it also fits in the design language.
Where the CX-3 has a funny, playful look to it, this is around the same but a tad more serious. It looks bigger as well, but it doesn't look as...
dull as a CX-5. It's a nice mix between the two.
It has a recognizable Mazda-front. That huge grille with sharp headlights on either side. It looks agressive, and I really like it.
On the inside, Mazda continues the good run they've been on for the past few years. This is exactly the same interior as in the Mazda 3.
Something you can only like, because it's incredibly clear. Tight lines, very ergonomically designed,
everything is where you want it to be. It looks very good as well. The finishing is good, the materials are good, it's really above average.
When it comes to interior space, it's very good. There's a luggage space of 430 litres, and there's lots of space in the back. The seating is good.
The infotainment system is pretty far away, but that's not a bad thing because it doesn't have a touchscreen. Yep. It still exists.
You control it all with these buttons over here on the middle console, and to be honest, I like that more than a touchscreen. You've got...
much more stability. Unfortunately, it only has two USB-ports in the front, so the kids in the back should find other way to entertain...
themselves.
Then there's the drive, the unfortunate part is that this car is on winter tires. That makes it less direct and a lot less fun to drive.
Less sporty as well, but since we already drove the SkyActiv G on regular tires, it's clear that the CX-30 is pretty close to the C-HR.
A very big compliment, because a C-HR is incredibly fun to drive. This CX-30 has an automatic gearbox, and Mazda's automatic...
gearboxes aren't incredibly good. I'd go for the manual gearbox. This SkyActiv X changes up very late, as if it needs lots of revs.
Because of that, it's pretty noisy. It makes you think it's in Sport-mode but it actually is in Normal-mode.
For the rest, it's powerful enough for a car like this. It picks up easily, nothing to complain about there.
Toyota is a brand which usually doesn't excel in exciting designs. That's why the C-HR came as a very big surprise about three years ago.
You can say a lot of things about this car, but you can't call it boring.
I really like it. The headlights which continue almost to the A-pillar, the roof which continues to the rear lights instead of the C-pillar.
That way, it becomes kind of a coupé. The extended wheel arches, almost like an Audi RS. This car really is a statement.
And as a nice detail, the door handles incorporated in the C-pillar. Not very handy, but it looks incredible.
On the inside, it all looks nice and a bit weird. It's of decent quality, a bit average in this segment, but it's kind of unlogical.
When it comes to space in the back, it's already pretty cramped, but the small windows do give some kind of claustrophobic feeling.
That isn't as good. The toll of a funky design.
It does have a big screen on the middle console, featuring the new system of Toyota.
We saw it on other Toyota's already but it's now available on the C-HR as well. It also comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
When it comes to connectivity, it only has one USB-port and one 12V-port. In the back, there's nothing.
I already mentioned the new C-HR-drivetrain, but let me talk you through it. It's the more powerful 2.0-litre hybrid, producing 184 horsepower.
It's an incredibly nice car to drive, and it tested the exact same way as the factory spec stated. The exact same times,
8,2 seconds from 0-100 km/h on a wet surface. Just consider how good that drivetrain is on dry tarmac.
It has a CVT-transmission, which has been developed properly. I never liked that technology, but it's now at a level it almost feels like a regular...
automatic gearbox.
When it comes to power output and sprints, it's very alert. A pleasant throttle response with a very direct steering.
A C-HR might be the best steering regular Toyota from the last few years. It's nice and sporty, it's direct, you know exactly what you're doing...
and that makes it a very pleasant car to drive.
Then, the hardest part. Making a choice. Manufacturers don't make bad cars anymore. It's a cliché, but it's the truth.
These are two good looking, nicely driving, good cars. But I still have to choose. If you're looking for practicality and interior space,
you need the Mazda. It has much more luggage space, room in the back, and cabin space in the front.
It also looks better, is clearer and feels more premium. However, there's also something called handling.
That makes the decision more difficult. The Mazda is on winter tires which absolutely don't help the ride. The Toyota doesn't.
The C-HR is one of the best driving Toyota's in the last few years, so it has some credit. However, because we drove the SkyActiv G some...
time ago, and we already said it was very close to the C-HR. That's why choosing now is very difficult.
If we look at the drivetrain, there's only a four horsepower gap. However, the C-HR is a lot quicker.
On paper, this only takes 8,2 seconds to reach 100 km/h, whilst the Mazda takes 8,8 seconds to go from 0 to 100 km/h.
In real life however, the Mazda does 10,8 seconds from 0-100. Of course, that has something to do with the winter tires.
If we look at the inbetween-sprints, when winter tires don't matter as much, the C-HR is still quicker.
In the 80-120 km/h, the Toyota is more than two seconds quicker, so there's that.
Then, the automatic gearboxes. Mazda's gearbox isn't one of the most refined systems. It's pretty slow when it comes to gear changes,
gear changes which the C-HR doesn't even have because of its variable transmission. That makes the hybrid C-HR, especially because of its...
powerful electic motor instead of the small mild-hybrid engine, the better drivetrain.
So, the Mazda wins when it comes to space, a tie when it comes to handling, but a win for the Toyota in the drivetrain-department.
So what's it gonna be? Well, it's up to you. For the exact outcome, you should check the paper AutoWeek, where you'll not only find...
the fuel consumption-numbers and the comparison with two other cars. A Kia XCeed and a Nissan Qashqai.
It can go either way.