Winter in the countryside, with fresh white powder, ski days, and hot cocoa by a fireplace, is a pleasure. Winter in the city, with muddy slush, traffic due to weather conditions, and slippery sidewalks, is…something you just survive until spring arrives. There are a few creature comforts city dwellers need to make winter in a metropolitan less miserable:
- A working thermostat
- A windproof/waterproof coat and
- A vehicle that feels like an escape from it all, like the 2022 Toyota C-HR.
There are plenty of great winter cars out there with features like four-wheel drive and roof racks for your skis. They’re built for life on the outskirts, and they don’t just feel like it – they look like it. However, if you live in a cosmopolitan area that gets the four seasons, you probably want something that isn’t so rugged. You want winter capabilities with a cosmopolitan look and feel. You want to turn heads when you pull up to the valet at a gala, but you also want to know your car has your back when the roads get wet. That’s where this crossover shines. Let’s look at some of the features of the 2022 Toyota C-HR that make it ideal for winter in the city.
Heated Exterior Folding Mirrors
Drivers who spend a lot of time on busy city streets and highways rely on their side-view mirrors to know when it’s safe to change lanes. In congested areas, there is almost always someone coming up in your blind spot or speeding up to pass you. Freezing temperatures can mean that frost or ice on your side-view mirrors block your view, making it dangerous to change lanes. If you have to park outdoors, this condition is almost inevitable. The 2022 Toyota C-HR solves this issue with its heated exterior folding mirrors that will melt moisture away before it can freeze, so your mirrors are always clear.
The heated feature is what makes these mirrors winter-ready, and the folding feature is what makes them city-ready. Parking spots are notoriously tight in metropolitan areas. You’re lucky to have six inches between your vehicle and the one next to yours. If a less-than-courteous driver pulls up next to you, they might skim your side-view mirrors. Folding mirrors tuck away to prevent mishaps like these. They’re also great for the narrow parking spots that come with many city apartments – if they come with one at all.
Puddle Lamps to Keep You Clean
City dwellers face one regular dilemma: their lives call for elegant attire, but the weather has other plans for them. Everyone has had the experience of stepping out of their car and into a puddle, splashing dirty city water onto their shoes and pants. The 2022 Toyota C-HR comes equipped with puddle lamps that illuminate the space below your car doors when the doors are unlocked. This helps you know when it’s safe to step out and when it’s not. Nobody wants to arrive at an event with water stains on their trousers.
Rear Cross Traffic Alert
Backing out of a parking spot or your driveway in a major city is always a risk. Doing so when rain, snow, or fog obstructs your view is even more dangerous. And in a city environment, you can almost always count on someone speeding up behind you – someone who might also struggle to see you in poor weather conditions. The rear cross traffic alert system of this vehicle will notify you of oncoming traffic approaching the back of your vehicle when you have it in reverse. So even when you can’t see oncoming cars, and they can’t see you, your car will notify you of the hazard.
Heated Leather Trim Steering Wheel and Front Seat Options
Cold hands mean stiff hands, and those make it harder to safely maneuver a steering wheel. Unless you wear your gloves while driving, keeping your fingers toasty in most cars can be tricky. The 2022 Toyota C-HR comes with the option for a heated leather trim steering wheel. This gives it an elegant aesthetic with a function that will keep your hands comfortable and nimble for steering through winter roads. The vehicle also comes with the option of heated front seats so you and your passenger can quickly warm up after getting in from the cold.
Alexa Compatibility to Prevent Winter Frustrations
The 2022 Toyota C-HR is compatible with Alexa through the Toyota+Alexa app. This allows you to do several things from your car that will make life easier when you get home. For example, the more advanced version of the Toyota+Alexa app allows you to control smart home devices, so you can set the thermostat to your desired temperature before you walk in the front door. This is very convenient on winter days when you want to come home to a warm place but don’t want to leave the heater running all day. You can also use the app to check the weather and make decisions about your day’s plans accordingly. Consider pre-heating your smart oven to get it ready for dinner. Or, if you don’t feel like cooking, you can use the app to order food. Everything feels a little more difficult in the winter but being able to streamline your life using the Alexa app in your car makes it a bit easier.
Roadside Assistance
It’s never fun when your car has a problem or you get in an accident. It derails your entire day and can have costly consequences. But it’s even more miserable in the winter when you’re stuck on the side of the road, possibly in rain, sleet, or snow. In fact, the slippery conditions of the road during the winter can increase the chances of something else happening. The 2022 Toyota C-HR is equipped with 24-hour roadside assistance. If you have an issue, your vehicle’s system will quickly connect you to the appropriate professional to assist you. Help will be on the way, even if your phone dies and you can’t make a call. When temperatures are freezing, this can be a life-saving feature.
Styled for the City. Ready for a Winter Getaway
The crossover design and elegant silhouette of this car make it ideal for daily life in the city but also ready for winter excursions when you decide to get away. Its eye-catching body lines give it an elevated cosmopolitan aesthetic that makes it look right at home at upscale events. In the back, it has a hatchback that’s perfect for loading up luggage, ski gear, or passengers for a few days in the country. It can seamlessly transition from your weekday commuter car to your weekend adventure car. Even if you spend most of your time in the city, when you do feel like breaking away, it’s nice to have a car that can also handle the outskirts of the city.
Winter in the City Can Be Ugly Without the Right Car
Winter in the city is not as crisp and charming as it’s made out to be in movies. It’s not a white wonderland with paved sidewalks and snow-kissed trees. It’s a lot of sludge, mud, and traffic. It’s all of the inconveniences of city life, plus cold weather. Solving the issue of finding a vehicle that’s sophisticated enough for a cosmopolitan environment but functional enough for winter roads isn’t easy. Not many cars combine features that make both city living and winter weather more tolerable. If you get the four seasons and are in a metropolitan area, a car that’s built for both can make all the difference. The 2022 Toyota C-HR is one such car.
