2024 C-HR bounces

[Nigel200]

Anyone noticed these new models bounce slightly when driving on a smooth road between 90 and 100 km/hr? Which get worse at higher speeds. Same for all models in spite of their tyres.

[Louie]

Hi Nigel hmmmm I have not noticed that even though my CHR MK2 Design PHEV is shod with some dreadful tyres namely FALKEN which have a business association with Toyota. They are rumbly and noisy when compared to Michelin Sport where the ride is smoother and quieter however the car ride is not jiggly like my previous dreadful  VW Troc. Your CHR just does not sound right. Perhaps you need to check tyres pressures as they could be overinflated and most of all see if the tyres are correctly balanced etc. I would visit a tyre/wheel specialist to just get some reassurance.

[Nigel200]

Hi Louie

Tyre press is on spec and wheels have been balanced. I test drove two of the dealers demo cars and they exhibit the same issues. Bouncing may be an inaccurate description so you could say that the car(s) have a fine shake between 90-110 km/hr. The tyres were made about 1.5yrs ago so it could be that they've been incorrectly stored and have a flat spot. The tyres are Bridgestone Turanza. Same with the other cars I've tested and their tyres were manufactured at the same time and all in Turkey.

So I take it from your comment that you car doesn't have this issue?

[Louie]

Hi Nigel no certainly not and not a big fan of Bridgestones had them on my Hondas and Kawasakis motorcycles and dumped them shortly after taking possession.

My CHR PHEV Design gets smoother the faster it goes and no sign of any jiggly rides on any road surface unless its very rough road and believe you me the UK is riddled with potholes and broken asphalt etc but generally the car handles it well despite the awful Falkens.  I have in the past taken out demo vehicles and they bear no resemblance to the new vehicle in noise handling etc. My suggestion if this carries on try a new dealership unless the Turks have taken a dislike to the Toyota Corp and are fitting wrong or not the specified suspension highly unlikely in  my humble opinion. The mystery deepens. What exactly is a  CHR Limited equivalent to in the UK market ?

[TonyHSD]

These fine vibrations might not be tyres wheels related. 
What is the chr engine size and transmission, is it a hybrid ? 

[Nigel200]

It's an 1.8 Ltre hybrid. In NZ the Limited model is the second most expensive of this model, with the GR model being the most expensive. The main differences between the two is that the Limited doesn't have the higher hp 2 Ltre motor but does have a glass roof.

[CassUK]

No - not on my new GR Sport (2.0/20” wheels), the ride is excellent despite the variations in UK road surfaces. I haven’t done that many miles yet but have driven the car on different roads including A roads for 50+ miles and the ride is nice and well damped 👍

[forkingabout]

I would suspect a C-HR for the UK market will have the suspension tuned differently compared to a C-HR for the New Zeeland market. 

 

[Louie]

All a bit weird my ex 2023 Excel Hybrid 2l suffered mildly from engine vibration but only at a certain small rev range and that might have been because the car was brand new and was being run in so some engine harshness was expected other than that ride was smooth on most roads. The new MK2 CHR Hybrid PHEV 2L  is even smoother and quieter. 

[TonyHSD]

14 hours ago, Nigel200 said:

It's an 1.8 Ltre hybrid. In NZ the Limited model is the second most expensive of this model, with the GR model being the most expensive. The main differences between the two is that the Limited doesn't have the higher hp 2 Ltre motor but does have a glass roof.

Hi, 

thanks for clarifying that.

The 1.8 hybrids can experience some fine vibrations at certainly rpm and loads , very similar to  these speeds that you have mentioned.
The vibrations comes from the drive train ( engine + transmission) and not from the wheels or the tyres. The reason can be related to the fuel, the egr system or any combination in between. In UK some Corolla owners with 1.8 experience vibrations felt onto accelerator pedal. , these could be well related, the drive trains are same as chr. 
My only suggestion to any owner is not to let dealers unless they are certain to change randomly parts trying to find the problem because likely at the end they will cause more trouble then help. Best solution here is to use as best quality petrol as you can, higher octane and less amount of ethanol.  

Another reason for fine vibrations at these particular speeds can be very typical and it comes from suspension. Usually can happen when driving the car in heavy winds, or bad roads surfaces. It happens just around 60mph mark , if you cruising at 50 or 70 it does not happen.
All these examples can occur on old or even brand new car.  
 

Third possibility of fine vibrations at these speeds is as a result of hybrid system transaxle type and how it works .
 At speeds around 60mph or on some models around 65-70mph  when the car can not maintain ev mode and switches to petrol the engine is at very light load and maintain rpm of 1000 , at this point there are possible vibrations that can occur from the transmission and the planetary gear set as those rotates at different speeds and direction , those can not be cancelled by themselves or the engine mounts and can be felt throughout the car body. , mostly on the accelerator pedal, floor pan and drivers seat. 
All these examples are possible in gen 3, gen4 and gen5 1.8 hybrids with 2zr-fxe engines. 

[Nigel200]

I've driven the same piece of motorway in a late model Corolla hybrid without the same issues I'm experiencing. As the tyres were manufactured in April last year (in Turkey) there is a chance that they were incorrectly stored and as a consequence have been flat spotted. So I'll try to get the dealer to change the tyres with another brand, later manufactured and from another country and see what happens. I'll write up the results once this has occurred.