Toyota gives its newest baby a chance to grow

Amid the hundreds of models - and millions of vehicles - Toyota has built across the decades, it is hard to fathom how the Japanese giant has delivered so many beloved machines without building bad ones. Consider this: Toyota's first foray into the vehicle market was the very first LandCruiser, a nameplate that arrived in 1951 and is still breaking records in its 84th year. Of the company's most popular and successful models, all five remain on the Australian market, most after at least 40 years. The Toyota Corolla has been an Australian rite of passage for almost 60 years; the iconic Hilux has been a favourite of tradies and weekend warriors since its launch in 1968 while passenger staple the Camry was first launched here in 1983 and has become the company's hybrid-specialist in the past few months. And then there's the RAV4, launched as a pint-sized off-roader more than 30 years ago and now the darling of the Uber set, thanks to its hybrid efficiency. What a track record (and off the track record, too). Millions of cars and barely a bust among them. Talk about Toyota toughness. Now another Toyota lucky shooter is taking aim at a different market segment - in the form of a new style of car, the C-HR (Compact High Rider). A funny name and a funny-looking vehicle, too. It's not the most popular in the Toyota range, sitting fairly close to the company's family tree. But more importantly Toyota recently pencilled the car in for a second generation - giving it a thumbs up for another five or six years as the company's baby. That's an impressive feat, considering the first-gen C-HR drew plenty of attention for its wild styling and lack of performance. It's likely the little five-door hatchback will be a bridge between two other model classes - the Corolla Cross and Yaris Cross, which give Toyota a stranglehold on the compact space. It will also provide a stepping stone between these two new entrants and the market-leading RAV4. Tested is the C-HR GXL, a bare-bones version of the imported European-built version of the same machine. While the styling has been toned-down a smidgin, the most important element of this new C-HR happens under the bonnet - a new, fifth-generation version of the Hybrid Synergy Drive engine - another Toyota feature that has graced Aussie roads for more than 25 years. Smoother, quieter and more efficient than the superceded engine, the Hybrid delivers 103kW while sipping barely 4L/100km. That's some economic driving. The road test covered more than 450km and ended with the fuel gauge reading three-quarters full. And that's not even its preferred driving mode - saving even more fuel when the car is in city conditions. Inside, the C-HR is fairly basic but usefully fitted out - with a 12.3-inch touch-screen adding techno cred to an otherwise plain-Jane cockpit. The other attractive feature is the price - with the GXL costing $25,095, which is impressive considering the addition of Hybrid power is a costly exercise with some other models. TOYOTA C-HR GLX HOW BIG? The "C" in its name tells the story - this new Toyota fits nicely into the compact segment. HOW FAST? The 103kW is useful if not exhilarating. But its green credentials are first class. HOW THIRSTY? Toyota has made a virtue of its once-mocked Hybrid Synergy Drive. The test with the fifth iteration version delivered a frugal 4.2L/100km. HOW MUCH? You can get onto the C-HR bandwagon for a tick over $25,000. A European-built, smartly styled model will set you back almost twice as much.