The 2021 Toyota C-HR is a subcompact crossover that sits below the RAV4 in Toyota’s U.S. lineup. It entered production in late 2016 and reached the United States for the 2018 model year. The C-HR received a facelift revealed in October 2019 for the 2020 model year, and the 2021 model built on that update with a new Nightshade Edition and standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.5. This article covers the redesign timeline, what changed for 2021, and when the model arrived.
Model History and the 2020 Facelift
Toyota previewed the C-HR with a concept and put it into production in November 2016, with U.S. sales beginning for the 2018 model year. The name stands for Coupe High-Rider, reflecting its mix of coupe-like styling and crossover ride height. The 2020 model year brought a facelift, unveiled in October 2019, that revised the front bumper, headlights, grille, and rear spoiler and made Android Auto and Apple CarPlay standard. The 2021 C-HR carried that styling forward without further body changes, so 2021 was a feature update rather than a redesign.
What’s New for 2021
For 2021, Toyota added a Nightshade Edition with black 18-inch alloy wheels, black lug nuts, black door handles, a black chin spoiler, and black badges. The change with the greatest practical effect was safety: Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 became standard on all trims, adding daytime cyclist detection, low-light pedestrian detection, emergency steering assist, and intersection support to the existing suite. Carryover colors included Blizzard Pearl, Blue Eclipse Metallic, Magnetic Gray Metallic, Black Sand Pearl, and Silver Knockout Metallic.
Interior
The C-HR seats five and uses a driver-focused dashboard with an 8-inch touchscreen that supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Standard equipment includes dual-zone automatic climate control, a 60/40-split folding rear seat, and satellite radio with a trial subscription. Higher trims add leather upholstery, heated front seats, a power driver’s seat, and ambient lighting. The fastback roofline and thick rear pillars reduce rear visibility compared with boxier rivals, and the rear seat feels more enclosed as a result.
Exterior and Dimensions
The C-HR measures 172.6 inches long, 70.7 inches wide, and 61.6 inches tall, riding on a 103.9-inch wheelbase. Its sculpted bodywork, hidden rear door handles, and sloping roofline give it a coupe-like profile that distinguishes it from conventional subcompact SUVs. Toyota fits LED headlights and taillights, and the Nightshade Edition adds dark trim throughout. The C-HR was offered with front-wheel drive only in the United States, with no all-wheel-drive option.
Powertrain and Efficiency
The U.S. C-HR uses a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 144 horsepower and 139 lb-ft of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission. The EPA rates it at 29 mpg combined (27 city/31 highway). Toyota sold hybrid versions of the C-HR in Europe and Japan, but the hybrid was never offered in North America, where the model remained front-wheel drive only. Car and Driver recorded 28 mpg in its own testing, close to the EPA figure.
Safety Equipment
The 2021 C-HR carries 10 airbags and standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, which includes pre-collision warning with automatic braking, full-speed adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert with steering assist, lane tracing assist, and automatic high beams. Blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert is standard on most trims and available on the base LE. The new-for-2021 emergency steering assist can add a small corrective steering input when it detects an obstacle, while intersection support watches for cross traffic and oncoming vehicles.
Cargo and Practicality
The C-HR provides about 37 cubic feet of maximum cargo space with the rear seats folded, according to Kelley Blue Book. That is less than many boxy subcompact SUVs because of the sloping roofline. The rear seat folds in a 60/40 split, and higher trims add a power liftgate and a cargo cover. Passenger space in front is generous for the class, while rear headroom and visibility are the main compromises tied to the design.
Colors and Styling
Toyota offered the 2021 C-HR in Blizzard Pearl, Blue Eclipse Metallic, Magnetic Gray Metallic, Black Sand Pearl, and Silver Knockout Metallic, with two-tone roof options on some trims. The Nightshade Edition was available in Black Sand Pearl, Blizzard Pearl with a black roof, Magnetic Gray Metallic with a black roof, and Supersonic Red with black, all using black wheels and trim. The distinctive look was a central selling point for a model that had few direct rivals with the same coupe-crossover blend.
Release Date and Pricing
Toyota announced the 2021 C-HR in September 2020, and the model went on sale that fall. Pricing started around $21,695 for the LE, with the Nightshade Edition and Limited positioned higher in the range. Toyota also confirmed that the C-HR would be discontinued in the United States and Canada after the 2022 model year, with the Corolla Cross and RAV4 taking its place, so no later U.S. model years of the first-generation C-HR exist.
How It Compares
The C-HR competes with subcompact crossovers such as the Honda HR-V, Jeep Renegade, and Chevrolet Trax. Unlike several of those rivals, it offered no all-wheel-drive option and no hybrid in the United States, which limited its appeal in cold-weather markets. Its strengths were distinctive styling, a standard active-safety suite, and a comfortable ride, while its weaknesses were modest power, reduced outward visibility, and less cargo space than boxy competitors.
