Toyota C-HR or Toyota Corolla Hatchback? Which model and trim should you buy?

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If you’re shopping for a compact, five-door Toyota between, say, $20,000 and $30,000, your list comes down to two choices: the C-HR and the Corolla Hatchback. Both Japanese-built models might seem technologically similar — enough so that at première vue, it might be difficult to make up your mind. But as you’ll see below, we can simplify that decision.

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Overview

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The Toyota C-HR — with the hyphen after the Compact but before the High Rider — is relatively new to us since its 2018 introduction, arguably as a somewhat late reaction to the flourishing extra-small SUV category . For 2020, the C-HR arrives on our shores in three trims: LE, XLE Premium, and Limited with MSRPs ranging from $23,650 to $28,800, plus $1,840 transport and preparation fees.

Under the hood, you’ll find a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with variable valve timing coupled to a continuously variable transmission. It delivers 144 horsepower and 139 pound-feet of torque, which is on par with competition. Sadly though, unlike its competition, all-wheel-drive isn’t available on the C-HR.

Who are those concurrents? Mainly the Honda HR-V, Mazda’s CX-3 and CX-30 , the Mitsubishi RVR, and the Nissan Kicks . You could also add the Hyundai Kona and Venue, Kia Seltos, Ford EcoSport, Chevrolet Trax and Trailblazer, and the Jeep Renegade/Fiat 500X to that list. Even Kia’s Soul and the Subaru Crosstrek could be considered competitors.

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About the same time as the Toyota C-HR — and for the first time in Toyota’s Canadian history — the Corolla Hatchback landed in our showrooms. The Corolla sedan has been in our market since 1968 (and built in Ontario for the last three decades), but the five-door model experienced a rather bumpy ride through the past half-century. Remember those wagon versions in the 1970s and 80s? Then there was the Matrix between 2002 and 2014, followed by the Scion iM in 2016 — which became the short-lived Corolla iM for the 2017 and 2018 model years.

So, this is really the first time we’re welcoming a true hatchback version of the world’s best-selling automobile of all time. And we do so with a product built in Japan, meaning there’s no truly low-end trim available. The 2020 Corolla hatch starts at $21,050 and tops out at $28,200, plus another $1,670 for freight and PDI.

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Like the C-HR, the Corolla Hatchback has but one engine choice — in this case a more powerful, “Dynamic Force” version of Toyota’s 2.0-litre with 168 horsepower and 151 lb.-ft. of torque. More importantly, this modern engine incorporates a plethora of sophisticated technologies including direct fuel injection, variable valve timing that’s electrically driven on the intake cam, and a CVT that simulates 10 gears.

All of these technologies, along with ultra-low internal friction, give the little 2.0L engine a maximum thermal efficiency of 40 percent — near, if not at the top of all internal combustion engines currently being produced. In other words, the Corolla Hatchback is one of the most fuel-efficient non-hybrids not only on specs sheets, but also in real world-conditions.

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Three reasons you should choose the C-HR

Of Toyota’s actual lineup, the small C-HR is the most unloved vehicle. Dig up reviews on Google written by our North American colleagues, and you’ll find ratings as low as 5.5 or 6 out of 10. It was different for us — due to COVID-19, we found ourselves behind the wheel of a 2020 C-HR for two months, albeit we didn’t drive too far. Past the — let’s be honest — badly tortured design, we found this entry-level Lexus UX clone among the easiest to drive, park, use, and love.

For the cabin à la Corolla. If you flip through our photos below, you’ll see just how identical the Toyota C-HR and the Corolla Hatchback are inside. And therein lies the crossover’s chief assets: everything is logically and ergonomically laid out. We shouldn’t be surprised by these similarities, since the C-HR and Corolla Hatchback are built on the same platform, but rarely do we see such an openly copy/paste job for two vehicles. It goes from the well-shaped front seats to the clean dashboard, surmounted by a well-sized and well-positioned (and intuitive) eight-inch touchscreen.

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Add that the C-HR benefits from the same high-quality interior materials and tight assembly featured in the Corolla, inside and out. You’re also in the second highest-ranked small SUV in J.D. Power’s 2020 Initial Quality , only surpassed by the Kia Soul .

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For the standard — and not nerve-racking — safety features. Toyota is one of the first (only) manufacturers to make its suite of of active safety technologies standard across its line-up, no matter the trim level. It means even the base version of the C-HR benefits from pre-collision, dynamic cruise control, and lane departure assist systems without any extra fees. Bravo.

Admittedly, the customization of these systems is not as extended as with some other brands (Chevrolet to name but one), but Toyota’s advanced driving assists don’t need any adjustments. They are among the least intrusive of the small car market.

For the good fuel economy. While most of its direct competitors average over 8.5 L/100 kilometres under my right foot, the C-HR sipped less than eight. But before praising too much these results, let’s remember the C-HR doesn’t have AWD and in our opinion, its unavailability is the biggest flaw. After all, its TNGA architecture is the same employed by the Lexus UX and Toyota Prius — vehicles that can be optioned with the all-wheel-drive system. The good side of this (sad) medal is that in real driving-world conditions, the C-HR is one of the most fuel-efficient non-diesel, non-hybrid “SUVs”.

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Which C-HR trim should you choose?

Up to last year, you didn’t have a choice. The small crossover was only offered in one trim, and at a tad below $25,000. But for 2020, the C-HR gains two trims, a lower-priced LE that’s starts at $23,650, and the Limited for $28,800.

You won’t want it the LE. It lacks such basics (for our climate) such as heated front seats. As for the Limited, it gains leatherette seating, an eight-way-powered driver seat, and adaptive front lightning system. But $28,800 is a lot for a small, entry-level vehicle without the safety — or the resale value — of AWD. Beside, you’d be less than $10,000 from the closely related UX sibling with its luxury extras.

Instead, we recommend the $26,200 XLE Premium, not only with heated front seats, but also a heated steering wheel, smart key access and push button start, 18-inch wheels, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alert. But then, for about the same amount of money, you could consider the “lower-rider” Corolla.

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Compare the Corolla Hatchback and the C-HR side-by-side right here

Three reasons you should choose the Corolla instead

For the manual transmission. In North America, where manual transmissions are facing extinction — less than two per cent of our 2019 vehicles were offered with the “stick shift” — it’s a surprise that not only Toyota sticks with it, but that it’s offered with almost all Corolla Hatchback trims. Indeed, you can get the most fully loaded five-door Corolla and still be among those (few) trying to #SaveTheManuals.

Even more daring, this six-speed manual has an “intelligent” mode, featuring downshift rev-matching. Sadly, it’s not enough to make Toyota’s manual the slickest-shifting unit to drive. Indeed, for pure precision, you’d be better off considering a Mazda. That said, with a flexible engagement point and easy-to-operate shifter, this transmission is perfect for your teenager who wants to learn something about to become a thing of the past.

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Just know that the onboard computer will then register an increase of combined fuel consumption up to 1 L/100 kilometres than if you had chosen the CVT, at least according to Natural Ressources Canada. And that brings us to our next point…

For even better fuel economy. Although the Corolla’s four-cylinder features 17 per cent more power and 9 per cent more torque than the C-HR, its fuel consumption is lower. Much lower. In fact, the Corolla Hatchback’s efficiency is remarkably low, even for a compact car equipped with a CVT transmission. On a 550-kilometre drive “at cruise speed” between Toronto and Montreal — with A/C blasting — our Corolla tester registered a steady 6.5 L/100 kilometres.

If you drive the national average of about 20,000 kilometres per year, the Corolla will consume some $4,000 less gas over a decade than the C-HR. And unlike the crossover, the Corolla does feature a hybrid variant for even better fuel economy, albeit only as a sedan.

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For its better manners and looks — but not so much the practicality. That huge Adirondack chair bought at Canadian Tire? Oops, it doesn’t fit in the Corolla hatch. It has one third less cargo space behind front seats than for the C-HR, and more importantly, a smaller tailgate opening.

But before rushing away from the Corolla and into the C-HR, know that when the rear seats are occupied, both vehicles are not significantly apart in terms of cargo space — the Corolla has 481 litres available with the seats up, versus 538 for the C-HR. Also know that for 2021, a new feature — the Enhanced Cargo Space — will lower the rear floor of the Corolla’s cargo area and add an extra 147 liters. On the other hand, your spare tire then becomes a tire repair kit.

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Overall, the stylish and handsome hatchback design will get you (much) more positive comments than the C-HR’s odd silhouette. The most enthusiastic comment we heard was — and we’re not making this up — “What? This is a Toyota? A Corolla, on top of that? Wow!”

It also has a sportier chassis package. The Corolla rides 20 millimetres lower and benefits from fine-tunings to the (shared) multi-link rear suspension setup. Add those extra 24 horsepower and that manual transmission, and those looking for a sportier ride should definitely opt for the Corolla over the C-HR.

Which Corolla trim should you choose?

You don’t have to climb too high up the ladder to get what you need in a Corolla Hatchback. As we wrote earlier, the five-door version of the compact car doesn’t have a low-end trim, so even with the base S ($21,050), you’ll get the push button start/smart key system, automatic climate control, LED headlamps, and évidemment , Toyota’s Safety Sense 2.0 suite of active safety features mentioned above. If you don’t care about having a manual, an extra $1,000 will give you the (better) fuel economy of the CVT. It’s among the well-disciplined units on the market.

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That said, don’t refrain yourself for choosing higher trims of the Corolla Hatchback, since all of them offer of good value. The $23,160 SE will put you in heated front seats, while the SE Upgrade ($24,960) will “upgrade” your wheels to 18-inch, give you the comfort of a heated steering and the practicality of the (well-positioned) wireless cell phone charger. At this level, for even nicer visuals, you’ll also be able to get a two-tone livery (with a black roof) for $540.

If you’re patient enough, you even can wait for the Special Edition model , coming at the end of summer with an exclusive body kit and finished in an exclusive Supersonic Red colour. Only 200 units of this $28,935 model will be offered in Canada this year.

Conclusion

As much as we appreciated the C-HR more than some of our compatriots, unless you really need its extra cargo room or like its funky froggy styling, the Corolla Hatchback is simply too good a car to ignore. The fact that it is one of the few compact cars still offering a manual transmission on almost all trims is just the icing on the cake.

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