Toyota spent part of this month teasing an all-new C-HR with funkier lines and a cool three-tone color scheme.
Then they told us we can’t have it.
According to a Toyota spokesperson, “Effective following the 2022 model year, Toyota will discontinue sales of the C-HR in the U.S. and Canada.”
The 2022 Toyota C-HR is perhaps the most easily identifiable subcompact SUV for sale in the U.S. Its sharp, sporty styling leans more into sports car cues than SUV style. Toyota says C-HR stands for “Coupe — High-Riding.” The C-HR isn’t a coupe — it has four doors. But it does its best to hide that fact, disguising its rear doors with subtle handles almost at the roofline.
Our reviewer found the car a bit underpowered and said the lack of all-wheel drive might point some buyers toward the Kia Seltos or Honda HR-V instead. But with its dramatic looks and Toyota’s famous reliability, the CH-R is still an intriguing choice.
The spokesperson pointed to the 2023 Corolla Cross and the RAV4 as signs that the company will “remain committed to the compact SUV segment.” But both of those are larger vehicles than the C-HR. The move leaves Toyota without a true subcompact SUV in the U.S.
That may hint at a different strategy, however. Toyota used last month’s Los Angeles Auto Show to reveal a design study for an electric subcompact SUV, unimaginatively called the bZ (“beyond zero”) Compact SUV Concept.
Toyota hasn’t confirmed that the car is heading for production. But they just made room for it in the lineup.
