The 2021 Toyota C-HR needs to be seen to be believed; the driving’s forgettable.
Pros Grabby looks Standard safety tech Rides well Decent value
Cons It’s courageous, for sure Rear seat’s dark, cramped Power’s low Meh mpg
Toyota's smallest SUV receives a boost to its safety cred for 2021 with an updated suite of driver-assistance features. Standard across the lineup is Toyota's Safety Sense 2.0 active safety system, which includes automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist with road-edge detection, traffic-sign recognition, automatic high-beam headlamps, and adaptive cruise control with lane-trace assist—which keeps it centered in the lane..
Pros Funk-tastic styling, nicely outfitted cabin, standard safety tech.
Cons Slothful acceleration, tight rear seat space, limited cargo room.
New Nightshade Edition available.Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 suite of safety features and driver aids now standard on all trims.
Pros Sporty handling makes it fun to zip around turns Comes standard with plenty of features, including safety tech Swoopy styling helps it stand out
Cons Unlike most rivals, it doesn't offer all-wheel drive Even in this slow class, acceleration is lethargic Pervasive road and engine noise in the cabin Minimal cargo space, even for its small segment
Turbocharged four-cylinder engine added to the lineup.Apple CarPlay and Android Auto now standard.12-speaker Bose stereo available with Premium Package only.
PROS Upscale interior design and build quality Advanced safety features come standard Poised handling and refined ride quality
CONS Transmission can be slow to downshift Significant rear blind spots Below-average fuel economy
For the CX-30's sophomore year, Mazda's made virtually no changes to it other than making Apple CarPlay and Android Auto both standard features. Mazda also announced the addition of an optional turbocharged 2.5-liter engine that makes 250-hp.
PROS Eager driving dynamics, near-luxury interior trimmings, plenty of standard tech goodies.
CONS Could stand a few more horsepower, offers little added practicality over the Mazda 3 hatchback, occasional transmission stumbles.
The 2021 Mazda CX-30 is great-looking, spacious, and more polished and fun-to-drive than other compact competitors, but it’s a step behind in value and features.
PROS Great proportions and styling Polished powertrain Standard active-safety suite Spacious interior layout.
CONS More expensive than alternatives Frustrating options packages Lacks a touchscreen