BMW has M Sport to its M, and Hyundai has N Line to its N. Now comes Toyota’s GR Sport.
GR Sport models offer sportier styling and mechanical tweaks and draw inspiration from Toyota’s hot GR models, and the C-HR will be the first model to get the GR Sport treatment locally.
The 2021 Toyota C-HR GR Sport is based on the entry-level GXL’s specification level but adds the hybrid powertrain optional in the Koba.
The C-HR GR Sport hybrid will be priced from $37,665 before on-road costs, and is on sale now.
Styling enhancements include a unique front bumper, grille, and headlights for a more aggressive look, plus unique interior trim and front sport seats.
The GR Sport rides on 19-inch alloy wheels with low profile tyres, larger than the 18-inch wheels in the top-spec Koba.
While it doesn’t have any extra power, the C-HR GR Sport has a sportier suspension tune.
It’ll be available in a range of eight colours. Crystal Pearl, Hornet Yellow and Feverish Red will be available with a black roof.
The GR Sport uses the C-HR’s most powerful engine, previously reserved for the top-spec Koba.
It’s a 1.8-litre hybrid four-cylinder with 90kW of power, mated to an e-CVT transmission and front-wheel drive.
Toyota offers an all-wheel drive C-HR but it’s only available with the 85kW 1.2-litre turbo four-cylinder.
As on the GXL, standard equipment includes an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and satellite navigation, as well as LED headlights and fog lights with adaptive high beam, adaptive cruise control, keyless entry and start, dual-zone climate control and a six-speaker sound system.
Standard safety equipment includes autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and daytime cyclist detection, as well as blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-tracing assist, lane-departure warning and traffic sign recognition.
The GR Sport misses out on the Koba’s extra niceties like leather-accented upholstery, heated front seats and surround-view camera as well as its rear autonomous emergency braking.
For a full breakdown of the C-HR range, check out our pricing and specs article.
Though the C-HR is the first Toyota to get the GR Sport treatment in Australia, the company has offered a wide range of GR Sport models in the Japanese market since 2017.
In addition to the C-HR, there are GR Sport versions of all members of the Prius family, plus the Noah and Voxy MPVs and the rebadged Daihatsu Copen.
