Lexus CT 200h History
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The Lexus CT 200h is both the smallest car in the luxury make's lineup and the most fuel-efficient. Surprisingly, it's also one of the most fun to drive.
As the second dedicated hybrid (a car with no gasoline equivalent) from Lexus, the CT 200h is almost in a category of one: how many other compact luxury hybrid hatchbacks can you name? It's smaller and more expensive than the renowned Toyota Prius, and offers luxury features you won't find on any other small hybrid.
And it's meant to attract newer, younger, greener buyers from Gen X and Gen Y to the Lexus brand. The EPA rates the CT 200h at 43 mpg city, 40 mpg highway, and 42 mpg combined, and we found it to deliver 40 mpg in real-world use.
Likely competitors run the gamut, from the most luxurious Prius or Honda Civic Hybrid sedan to the Audi A3 TDI clean-diesel hatchback. The CT may also compete with the highest-end versions of the Volkswagen Golf TDI diesel or even the high-end conventional Ford Focus hatchback.
Unlike the distinctive Prius, the Lexus CT 200h attracts little attention on the street. Its somewhat squat styling fits within the standard hatchback mold, and few people will peg it as a Lexus.
Under the hood, the CT is powered by the same 98-horsepower, 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine and a pair of motor-generators used in the Prius, providing a total of 134 horsepower between them. Energy is stored in a nickel-metal-hydride battery pack located under the load deck behind the rear seat, which raises the load floor to less than a foot below the security cover.
Drivers can select from three drive modes--Normal, Eco, and Sport--with Eco being borderline painful and Sport by far the most fun. In Sport mode, the car's steering feel and throttle mapping change to a more performance orientation, giving more electric assist under acceleration. The blue power gauge in the instrument panel also morphs into a red-hued tachometer, a neat "surprise and delight" feature.
For a compact hybrid, the CT 200h has good roadholding, though its only real competitors are the much cheaper Toyota Prius C and the Honda Civic Hybrid sedan. The interior is wide and surprisingly roomy, though all passengers sit low--especially on the short seat cushion in the rear--and the view out the slit-like rear window is minimal.
The CT 200h has a long list of luxury features, but it still doesn't feel as effortlessly luxurious as larger Lexus sedans. Standard features include keyless ignition, full iPod integration, Bluetooth for audio streaming and hands-free calling, and satellite radio. The options list is equally long, with LED headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, and an extensive line of dealer-installed F-Sport performance and appearance accessories.
While the CT is base-priced in the very low $30,000 range, the long options list can take buyers up to almost $40,000 if they have a heavy hand.
