He: The baby SUV segment has been rapidly expanding in recent years with the likes of the Mazda CX-3 and Honda HR-V. Now the biggest player in town has entered the fray. Toyota's new C-HR is a bold entry too, with dramatic styling that certainly stands out from the pack, Dani.

She: You're not wrong there, Steve. I first noticed the C-HR in a showroom and it stood out a mile away. I was on the other side of a very busy road and there was no escaping it. It's quite polarizing and a bit too futuristic for me but I applaud Toyota's attempt to step outside from its usual conservative comfort zone. Do you like the design?

He: I don't love it but I don't hate it either. What I am impressed by is how well they've managed to package the cabin. With the swoopy roofline and waistline that tapers steeply up at the rear the exterior design creates the impression that the rear seats will be a squeeze. In reality, there is good room in the back seats, it's still a bit tight for adults but this is a compact SUV. I'd go as far as saying it's near the best in this class.

She: I like the cabin more than the body as well. The perforated leather seats, soft dash and diamond-pattern design inside the doors all have lovely finishes and look high-end. The lights in the cup holders and puddle lights look pretty funky at night but I was really disappointed with the 6.1-inch touchscreen. It not only looks outdated but isn't supported by Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

He: Yeah, that's particularly disappointing for a car obviously aimed at a youthful audience with a love of smartphone connectivity.

What did you think of the drive? The C-HR is the first Toyota to get a small capacity turbocharged engine. It's a little 1.2-litre unit that produces 85kW and 185Nm, which is adequate but not exactly overwhelming inside the C-HR.

She: For me the engine was pretty underwhelming, which is disappointing because it actually handles really well on the road. It just feels like it needs more power. I know it's a small SUV but when you step inside something that looks more like a rally car, you expect a gutsier performance. It will take you just under 11.5 seconds to get from 0-100km/h in the CH-R. That's half a second less than if you're in a Toyota Yaris or Kia Picanto. So it was a bit of an anticlimax. What I do really like about the Koba is the advanced driver safety features, however they're also crucial given the restricted over the shoulder and rear access vision.

He: Yes, Toyota has equipped the C-HR, and particularly the Koba, well. Autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and blind spot warning are all standard. The Koba gets 18-inch alloys, keyless entry and ignition, leather accented seats and an air-conditioning system that Toyota claims purifies the air. But it comes at a cost because $35,290 is a big price for such a small car.

She: I think it's on the expensive side and I'd want a bigger, meatier, engine for that amount of money. If you're going to talk-the-talk, then you have to walk-the-walk and performance wise, it misses the mark for me. There are a lot of good features about the C-HR but overall it risks falling into the over-styled and underpowered category.

He: A bit more grunt would be nice and the looks won't appeal to everyone. But I like the way the C-HR drives, how well it's packaged and in the lower-grade models it offers better value. I'd skip some of the luxuries on the Koba and go for a cheaper model because Toyota has arrived on the baby SUV scene with an appealing proposition.

2017 Toyota C-HR AWD Koba price and specifications

Price: From $35,290 plus on-road costs

Engine: 1.2-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol

Power: 85kW at 5200-5600rpm

Torque: 185Nm at 1500-4000rpm

Transmission: CVT automatic, all-wheel drive

Fuel use: 6.5L/100km

• For more information, visit our Toyota showroom.