Selwyn Times: April 08, 2020

14 Wednesday April 8 2020
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Hybrids expand
Toyota C-HR range
THE FIRST experience I
ever had with a hybrid was
a disaster.
That was when hybrids
were in their infancy and
the evaluation car twice
needed a computer reset,
much like you had to do
with Windows 95.
In both instances the car
was parked up a driveway,
once at home, the other
rather embarrassingly in
an acquaintance’s driveway.
Thankfully, the helpful
technicians at the local
dealership came to my
rescue.
Hybrids have now
developed to the point
where that scenario has
long since disappeared,
today they are reliable and
immensely capable, almost
to the point where you
could say I’m hooked.
A lot of that comment
comes from a succession
of hybrids that have landed
here in the last 10 years.
My most recent hybrid
drive was in Toyota’s
cheeky, small sport utility
vehicle, the C-HR.
Interestingly, I
hopped straight out of
a conventional petrolpowered
C-HR and
straight into the hybrid, a
newcomer to the petrol/
electric market.
I’m not saying the
conventional C-HR isn’t up
to task, quite the opposite
in fact, the 1.2-litre four
potter is one of the sweetest
engines in any of today’s
SUV market, but the hybrid
with its Prius/Corolla
sourced 1.8-litre fourcylinder
driveline is a class
above.
The C-HR hybrid is all
new but, as I’ve alluded to,
the C-HR itself has been with
us for around three years
and it has captured a fairly
healthy number of sales.
The range is now quite
expansive, there are five
models, three conventional
and two petrol/electric,
starting at $32,990 and
ending at $37,990 for
the Limited specification
variant this evaluation
focuses on.
For interest’s sake, a base
specification hybrid comes
in at $34,990.
These are tempting
prices, and if you look at
the cost of hybrids over
the years, as economies
of scale come into play
there is genuine value to be
had, and there is the belief
environmental advantages
can be gained.
As you would expect
from something wearing a
Limited badge, the CH-R in
this form has a lot of hightech
features, especially for
safety; the Toyota Safety
Sense suite of electronic
goodies is fitted, and it will
APPEAL: The C-HR hybrid is available in two
specifications from $34,990.
go a long way to keeping
you, as a driver, out of
trouble in the first instance.
Other features for
comfort and convenience
include full leather trim,
satellite navigation, keyless
entry and ignition, and
Apple CarPlay and Android
Auto.
As mentioned, the
• Price – Toyota C-HR
hybrid Limited,
$37,990
• Dimensions –
Length, 4385mm;
width, 1795mm;
height, 1565mm
• Configuration –
Four-cylinder, frontwheel-drive,
1798cc,
90kW, 142Nm,
continuously variable
automatic.
• Performance –
0-100km/h, 10.5sec
• Fuel usage –
4.3l/100km
driveline is based on
Prius mechanicals. Toyota
rates the power outputs
at 142Nm and 72kW,
topping out at 90kW when
maximum energy is being
developed from the electric
motor.
The C-HR in this form
feels energetic, and a lot
of that has to do with the
generation of torque from
the electric components.
Sure, it isn’t blisteringly fast,
but it will reach 100km/h
from a standstill in around
10.5sec and is quite
composed in a highway
overtake, taking 6.8sec to
meet a 80km/h to 120km/h
time.
On the subject of
figures, you wouldn’t be
considering a hybrid unless
you expected some healthy
fuel usage returns. Under
evaluation conditions
the C-HR returned a
6.2l/100km dash display
readout with 4.6l/100km
showing instantaneously at
100km/h.
These figures correlate
well with Toyota’s
4.3l/100km claim.
The C-HR is also quite
dynamic when it comes to
tackling the long highway
journey, and when the long
straights of Canterbury
run out. One of the reasons
is the fitting of excellent
Michelin tyres; measuring
225/55 x18in, there is quite
a bit of rubber on the road
that offers direct feedback of
how they are working with
the surface and that, in turn,
is delivered to the driver
who feels fully involved with
the steering process.
Secondly, the C-HR
is state-of-the-art in the
chassis department, there
is a four-wheel-drive
model (petrol only) which
means that there has to be
a fully independent rear
suspension set-up.
The hybrid drives
through a continuously
variable automatic
transmission to the front
wheels, but the point I’m
making is that it reaps the
benefits of independent
wheel articulation, and
consequently it feels stable,
agile and balanced.
I pushed hard into
the corners near the
Waimakariri River gorge
bridge, and the C-HR
felt stable and well attached
to the road. All of that
with the knowledge that
the spring and damper
rates are structured so
that the ride is well
cushioned and occupant
comfort hasn’t been
jeopardised.
As a concept, the C-HR is
hard to define, I call it a
small sport utility vehicle,
Toyota’s definition is that of
high rider coupe. However,
with its bold styling it is
a vehicle that will appeal
to a wide cross-section of
buyers.
For me, I like its presence
and I enjoyed its driving
dynamics. It serves to prove
you can have a little bit of
fun in a new car purchase,
but at the same time
knowing your wallet won’t
take a pounding come fillup
time.
Classifieds
Church Notices
Key to the bible
We near the end of Gentile mis-rule over the
World’s affairs; Jesus’ return, Armageddon,
and his re-establishment of the Kingdom of
God on this earth, after a global upheaval.
He tells us the signs that history will be
repeated.
Read Luke’s gospel, chapter 17 verses 26 to 32.
Noah’s era was infamous for corruption and
violence (Genesis 6 vs 11 to 13).
Lot’s age for gross immorality, (Genesis 19).
Passions inflamed appropriately,
God incinerated them.
Note:
Shameless NZ is on the Pacific Rim of Fire.
Be warned.
Find out more: www.keytothebible.org
The Christadelphians
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Email: info@keytothebible.org
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