Toyota kills off the C-HR compact crossover in Canada

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Toyota is ending sales of the compact C-HR crossover in Canada, even as the automaker’s European division prepares for its next generation, and introduces a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version.

In an email to Driving.ca, a Toyota Canada representative said the C-HR will be discontinued once production of the 2022 model year wraps up. He added that “we are constantly evaluating our product lineup and we remain committed to the compact SUV segment,” and options for buyers include the RAV4, the new Corolla Cross, and the upcoming Corolla Cross Hybrid.

The C-HR first went on sale in Canada in 2017, as model year 2018. It sold 4,321 copies in 2017, and 6,819 in 2018, its first full year of sales. Its best year was 2021, when 8,176 were sold. The all-new, 2022 Corolla Cross debuted in mid-2021. While the C-HR sold 2,313 units in the first six months of 2022, the Corolla Cross found 4,173 new owners during the same period.

Unlike the C-HR, which is strictly front-wheel drive (FWD), the Corolla Cross is available in FWD or all-wheel drive (AWD) — and overall, Canadians tend to prefer vehicles that power both sets of wheels. The 2022 C-HR starts at $24,350, while the Corolla Cross begins at $24,890 in FWD, or $26,290 in AWD.

The C-HR initially launched in several global markets starting in 2016, and depending on the market, is offered with available AWD and a hybrid powertrain.

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Toyota in Europe has debuted the C-HR Prologue concept car, styled in the automaker’s design development headquarters in France. Based on the production model, it features larger wheels, shorter overhangs, interlocking-shape grille with slim headlamps, and tri-colour body. The C-HR lineup will still offer a hybrid but add a plug-in version, made with batteries assembled in Europe.

Earlier this year, Toyota unveiled the all-electric BZ Compact SUV Concept at the Los Angeles Auto Show. It’s part of the automaker’s new “Beyond Zero” brand, which includes the all-electric 2023 BZ4X — built in conjunction with Subaru, and slated to go on sale soon in Canada — and apparently one of six BZ models that will be offered in Europe by 2026.