Toyota Launches US-Spec 2018 C-HR Compact Crossover

The small crossover that would be a Scion, if the sub-brand were still alive, made its Stateside debut at the LA Auto Show eight months after its launch at Geneva.

Slotting below the RAV-4 and set to take on the likes of Honda's HR-V, the C-HR is essentially the same car as the one sold in the rest of the world. Well, make that almost the same, as in the US it will be solely available with a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four with 144 HP mated to a CVT transmission driving the front wheels.

So, no 1.2 turbo or hybrid for this side of the pond, at least for now. That "compact" label is a bit of a misnomer, too, as actually the C-HR sits between sub-compact and compact crossovers.

The CH-R will be available next spring in two grade levels. The base XLE comes with features like a dual-climate control, a seven-inch touchscreen display and 18-inch alloys as standard, while the XLE Premium adds a blind spot monitor and heated front seats, among others.

Toyota stresses that both trims sport its Safety Sense P driver assist and safety suite that consists of a Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control and Automatic High Beam.