New CHR rear window without wash wipe is unsafe

[Granny Lindsay]

I've had my new CHR nearly a fortnight and every time I go out it rains and I cannot see out of the back. I knew that the new model didn't have a wash wipe but believed the blurb, which says the angle of the rear windscreen means that the rain will run off - it doesn't, you have to switch the 'defogger' on and wait. Has anyone had any success with Rain x or other equivalent products? I've complained to Toyota about the poor - and to me unsafe - design, which didn't go too well when I also pointed out that the car has so many built in safety features it never stops beeping.

Comments welcome

[FROSTYBALLS]

16 minutes ago, Granny Lindsay said:

which didn't go too well when I also pointed out that the car has so many built in safety features it never stops beeping.

Which is now common to other models and manufacturers, not just the C-HR and Toyota.

Get used to it.

[CassUK]

I’ve got no issue with this and have to reverse from my drive every time I use the car. Plenty rain about now and cooler damp/freezing weather wont be far away 🤔

Personally I find the Rear View Camera/360 Monitor and rear Intelligent Braking Sensors give me a better view and reassurance when manoeuvring and when driving I don’t feel that it is essential to have a rear wiper. I’ve not travelled many long journeys yet but I’m betting that the glass won’t get coated with moisture/dirt/salt like my last VW Touareg.

I have all my glass coated with Gtechniq G1 and that definitely helps the water run off - the beading on my front screen and side windows is excellent 👍

[AndyRC]

Being fortunate in having the digital rear view mirror , with a washer for the camera , I never have to look out of the rear window. I’ve used the car in all weathers day and night and I’d never want to go back to a conventional rear view set up. Unfortunately non of this helps unless your car has this feature but it’s another reason we opted for the PE. 

[forkingabout]

When the MG4 was originally launched it never had a rear wash wipe fitted, complaints from owners soon saw MG introduce a rear wash wipe to the MG4 when they upgraded the standard equipment on the whole range.

Wouldn't be surprised if Toyota do similar when the C-HR reaches it's mid life facelift. 

 

[Louie]

Never had an issue with vision out of the rear window regardless of weather. The demister has its work cut out but then it does its job quickly and rather well. We shall see how all this works in ice/ snow. I always use a scraper in the winter if the weather is particularly bad so I would be surprised if this turned into a real issue.

[First_Toyota]

I’d certainly prefer to have a rear wiper but, having had a CH-R loan car for a week in some pretty wet weather prior to my own car being ready, I can’t say it’s caused me any anxiety. I definitely wouldn’t call it ‘unsafe.’

Water on the rear windscreen seems to dissipate quickly above about 30mph.

[Louie]

Ed don't know what the fuss is about I have had mine since beginning of August and car has been driven in all weather without any problems with the screen.

[PAISLEY1903]

100% when driving up to 40mph its rubbish. I used glass cleaner then rainex and its made a huge difference 

[Chas G]

You could improve the situation by using some Auto Glym windscreen polish on the back window.  

[Red_Corolla]

Is it getting coated by a blanket of spray, or is it just the usual drops of water which do not prevent you from seeing out?

I've done plenty of miles driving one of the many, many vehicles on the road without a rear window. As long as there's a mirror on both sides, you always know what's behind. The window is a convenience rather than essential, therefore I find it a bit childish to call the lack of a rear wiper unsafe. It's a potential for improvement, at the most.

[TonyHSD]

This new ch-r rear window it’s not different from rear windows on any saloon cars like bmw 5 series or Mercedes’ e class for example and no one that has come from any of those will ever complain or noticed no rear wiper but because previous generation ch-r has a rear wiper and the car it’s not a saloon type most owners has something to say about it. 
The reality is that even saloon cars will benefit from having a wiper on the back window , as mentioned above , improved visibility, but it will look out of place , similar to some Japanese imported Mitsubishi Lancer evolution with factory fitted rear wipers . 👍

[Mark_P]

I've used the Glaco Window Coating https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=SOFT99

It might be a bit more expensive but I think you'll be happy with this

[piorunz]

I did not know that CH-R does not have rear wiper 🤣 I am still yet to decide on which Toyota to buy, if any. That's a bad decision. What a terrible tradeoff, removal of rear wiper save them pennies, but give users a lot of pain in return.

[Mark_P]

I've just watched this video reviewing different rain repellent products. 

Good test but my god, the voice is annoying.  

 

Edited October 22 by Mark_P
grammar

[Markz]

I was initially thinking the “missing” rear wiper would be a problem but have mostly found it’s ok and that the screen clears by itself without RainX or similar being applied.
I have found an exception, though. After leaving the car in an airport car park for a week (no Battery problems btw) the screen was covered in dust and this did obscure the view out back. The demister helped but it still needed a wash once I was back home.
Perhaps RainX would help that situation and I will give that a try but I agree that for the price of the car Toyota could have added a rear wiper and perhaps spent a little less on the infernal, annoying and sometimes dangerous, distracting “safety” alerts.

[Haliotis]

My CHR does have a rear wiper, and I find it a necessary accessory.  Rain may run off when the screen is really clean, but this isn’t the case when dust settles on a damp screen.  Proprietary compounds that help to keep the rear screen clear may be of some help, but the vehicle should be equipped so that the job is done without such additions.

My rear camera does not have its own wash/wipe, and occasionally it gets misted over due to weather conditions.

Any vehicle should be equipped to deal with keeping the screens clear in all weather conditions.

[First_Toyota]

1 hour ago, Markz said:

perhaps spent a little less on the infernal, annoying and sometimes dangerous, distracting “safety” alerts.

Unfortunately those alerts exist because of legislation - for all manufacturers. Not much that Toyota can do on that score…🤨

To the wider point though, I wonder whether this is a cost saving exercise, or a weight/emissions saving exercise or a bit of both. Does anybody know?

I looked at a £50k+ Hyundai IONIC5 some months ago. No rear wiper there either!