Toyota confirms athletic 2021 C-HR GR Sport Australian price and specs

John Law

Contributor

Toyota Australia has confirmed the C-HR GR Sport will start from $37,665, with more modifications underneath than first expected.

Toyota Australia has revealed pricing for the C-HR GR Sport. Priced from $37,665 before on-roads costs, with this unique, sporty variant hitting showrooms imminently.

The GR Sport C-HR is based on the entry-level GXL specification. This is usually available only with an 85kW/185Nm 1.2-litre turbo petrol and CVT ‘box, though the GR Sport is, perhaps oddly, hybrid only.

Toyota CH-R GR Sport 2021 front — *Toyota has launched their new C-HR GR Sport with a price of $37,665 before on-roads costs*

GR Sport will be a sportier alternative in theory, with 1.8-litre petrol and series-parallel hybrid powertrain kicking out 90kW of power, with no combined torque figure quoted. This reasonable power figure is sent to the front wheels exclusively by a CVT automatic gearbox.

In this trim, the GR Sport gets a bespoke front bumper reminiscent of the punchy GR Yaris, an attractive set of motorsport-esque five double-spoke 19-inch alloys, unique headlights, GR badges and the black garnishes on mirrors and spoiler.

Toyota CH-R GR Sport 2021 side — *The CH-R GR Sport using the 1.8-litre petrol engine strapped to a hybrid motor for a maximum output of 90kW of power*

Despite this not being a full-fledged performance model, Toyota has tweaked a few features for the GR-Sport. Unique GR Sport brake calipers join 15mm lower suspension, retuned steering and extra bracing under the car.

The cabin boasts zesty touches with GR adornments like GR push-button start, darker bezel surrounds, and leather-accented seats with Suedecloth inserts for better corner support. Overall it’s an excellent little package, but without any true sporting intentions.

Toyota CH-R GR Sport 2021 interior — *The CH-R GR Sport gains leather-accented seats with Suedecloth inserts*

As for creature comforts, Toyota has included an eight-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, six-speaker sound system, front and rear parking sensors and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.

Safety technology was bumped recently for the whole C-HR range, and that means the GR Sport, too. This variant gets AEB with junction assist, pedestrian and cyclist detection, traffic sign recognition, lane-trace assist, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control.

Think of this as a new competitor for the likes of the Ford Puma ST-Line. Priced from $37,665 before on-roads, the new sport GR Sport is $475 dearer than the otherwise better equipped front-wheel-drive C-HR Koba, though.

Toyota CH-R GR Sport 2021 rear — *Toyota has given the CH-R GR Sport a 15mm lower stance and increased chassis stiffness*

Buyers will do well to remember that the Koba packs finer filtration for the aircon system, Sat Nav, leather-accented, heated seats with electric adjustment for less money than the GR Sport, however.

Pictured here in Hornet Yellow with contrasting black roof though, it’s hard to deny the added athleticism of the GR Sport variant.

If you care about the image of athleticism – and to be fair the GR Sport does that convincingly – then this might be the C-HR for you. However, you can drive your dollar further in Toyota’s small SUV range, and the Koba Hybris is what we would recommend for most buyers.

C-HR GR Sport is available to order now for $37,665 plus on-road costs.