2021 Toyota C-HR Is The First GR Sport Model Offered In Australia

Toyota has popped its GR Sport cherry in Australia by launching the new C-HR sports-flavored small crossover. Similar to Hyundai’s new ‘N Line’ as well as a swath of German proposals in all categories such as Audi’s ‘S Line’, GR Sport focuses on sporty aesthetics and chassis improvements without touching the powertrain.

Inspired by the brand’s full-blown GR cars, the C-HR from Toyota’s growing sports division boasts a squared front bumper with an aerodynamic lip, more aggressive lower grille, revised fog lamps positioned further down and thick horizontal bar.

It rides on 19-inch alloy wheels, shod in 225/45 tires, and features white brake calipers with the GR logos at the front, GR emblems on the grille, front quarter panels and tailgate, LED exterior lighting and piano black finish for the door garnishes, side mirror caps and rear lip spoiler.

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The sporty makeover continues inside, with black leather upholstery, dark silver trim, piano black highlights, GR-branded push-start button and body-hugging front seats. An 8-inch infotainment system, 4.2-inch multi-color display, sat-nav, dual-zone climate control, six-speaker audio, auto-dimming rearview mirror, electric parking brake, rain-sensing wipers and keyless entry and start all come as standard.

The on-board safety gear includes the pre-collision system with nighttime and daytime pedestrian and daytime cyclist detection, emergency steering, lane tracing with steering support and road-sign recognition. The blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and reversing camera are also on deck.

Same engine, tweaked suspension and steering

The GR Sport builds on the C-HR GXL with power coming from the same 90kW (128hp) hybrid unit that pairs a 1.8-liter naturally-aspirated four to an electric motor. The C-HR GR Sport features a revised suspension that has lowered the ground clearance by 15 mm (0.6 in), tuned shock absorber damping force, coil-spring rates and stabilizer bars and new center brace that improves the rigidity and provides a more direct steering response.

The hybrid model is available in five exterior colors, including the option of a black roof, and is already on sale Down Under, priced from AU$37,665 (US$27,798), a AU$2,600 (US$1,919) premium over the regular variant.