2012 Audi A3 vs 2012 Lexus CT - The Car Connection

2012 Audi A3

2012 Lexus CT

Select style

4-Door HB Manual FrontTrak 2.0T Premium

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
A3 4-Door HB Manual FrontTrak 2.0T Premium	21	30	$25,361	$27,270
A3 4-Door HB Manual FrontTrak 2.0T Premium Plus	21	30	$25,361	$27,270
A3 4-Door HB Manual FrontTrak PZEV 2.0T Premium	21	30	$25,361	$27,270
A3 4-Door HB Manual FrontTrak PZEV 2.0T Premium Plus	21	30	$25,361	$27,270
A3 4-Door HB S tronic FrontTrak 2.0 TDI Premium	30	42	$28,133	$30,250
A3 4-Door HB S tronic FrontTrak 2.0 TDI Premium Plus	30	42	$28,133	$30,250
A3 4-Door HB S tronic FrontTrak 2.0T Premium	22	28	$26,737	$28,750
A3 4-Door HB S tronic FrontTrak 2.0T Premium Plus	22	28	$26,737	$28,750
A3 4-Door HB S tronic FrontTrak PZEV 2.0T Premium	22	28	$26,737	$28,750
A3 4-Door HB S tronic FrontTrak PZEV 2.0T Premium Plus	22	28	$26,737	$28,750
A3 4-Door HB S tronic quattro 2.0T Premium	21	28	$28,691	$30,850
A3 4-Door HB S tronic quattro 2.0T Premium Plus	21	28	$28,691	$30,850

Select style

FWD 4-Door Hybrid

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
CT 200h FWD 4-Door Hybrid	43	40	$27,633	$29,120
CT 200h FWD 4-Door Hybrid Premium	43	40	$30,133	$31,750

Show Only Differences

Pricing

Invoice Price

$25,361

$27,633

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price

$27,270

$29,120

Monthly Payment Estimate

$455 / month

$485 / month

The Car Connection's Take

TCC Rating

8.0

Read Our Full Review

7.8

Read Our Full Review

TCC’s Bottom Line

The fashionable, versatile 2012 Audi A3 is as deft for the city commute as it is at ease on the highway.

The 2012 Lexus CT 200h is a surprisingly stylish, fun, and unexpected car, blending Lexus levels of refinement with superb hybrid gas mileage. It's the sole compact luxury hybrid hatch, but it offers good value and a new way of driving green.

TCC Likes

Excellent S tronic transmission
Versatile layout
Handling and roadholding

Sporty style approaches hot-hatch design
Good roadholding
Low, sporty driving position

TCC Dislikes

Road noise
Bluetooth is a pricey option
$40k loaded

Some cabin details not quite Lexus-y
High load floor
Acceleration can be poky outside Sport mode

Fuel Economy

City

21 mpg

43 mpg

Highway

30 mpg

40 mpg

Vehicle

EPA Classification

Small Station Wagons

Compact

Number of Passenger Doors

Interior Dimensions

Second Leg Room (in)

34.8

32.8

Front Head Room (in)

39.3

38.3

Second Hip Room (in)

- TBD -

51.8

Front Shoulder Room (in)

54.4

54.0

Passenger Volume (ft³)

89.0

86.1

Second Head Room (in)

36.9

37.0

Second Shoulder Room (in)

52.8

52.6

Front Leg Room (in)

41.2

42.1

Passenger Capacity

Front Hip Room (in)

- TBD -

53.1

Exterior Dimensions

Liftover Height (in)

- TBD -

27.4

Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)

78.5

69.5

Track Width, Front (in)

60.3

60.0

Min Ground Clearance (in)

4.3

5.7

Length, Overall (in)

169.0

170.1

Height, Overall (in)

56.0

56.7

Track Width, Rear (in)

59.3

59.8

Wheelbase (in)

101.5

102.4

Cargo Area Dimensions

Cargo Volume with Rear Seat Down (ft³)

39.0

- TBD -

Cargo Volume with Rear Seat Up (ft³)

19.5

14.3

Brakes

Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)

Disc - Front (Yes or )

Yes

Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

12.3 x - TBD -

10.0 x - TBD -

Drum - Rear (Yes or )

Brake ABS System

4-Wheel

Disc - Rear (Yes or )

Yes

Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

11.0 x - TBD -

Brake Type

Pwr

Fuel Tank

Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)

14.5

11.9

Steering

Lock to Lock Turns (Steering)

- TBD -

2.7

Turning Diameter - Wall to Wall (ft)

- TBD -

36.8

Steering Ratio (:1), Overall

16.2

14.6

Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)

35.1

34.2

Steering Type

Pwr Rack & Pinion

Tires

Rear Tire Size

P225/45R17

P215/45R17

Rear Tire Order Code

Front Tire Size

P225/45R17

P215/45R17

Spare Tire Size

Compact

T125/70D17

Front Tire Order Code

Spare Tire Order Code

Trailering

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

Weight Information

Base Curb Weight (lbs)

3219

3206

Wheels

Front Wheel Material

Aluminum

Spare Wheel Material

Steel

Front Wheel Size (in)

17 x 7.5

17 x 7.0

Spare Wheel Size (in)

Compact

Rear Wheel Material

Aluminum

Rear Wheel Size (in)

17 x 7.5

17 x 7.0

Cooling System

Total Cooling System Capacity (qts)

9.1

- TBD -

Electrical

Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)

- TBD -

Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)

140

- TBD -

Engine

Fuel System

Direct Injection

Electronic Fuel Injection

SAE Net Torque @ RPM

207 @ 1800-5000

142 @ 4000

Engine Order Code

Displacement

2.0L/121

1.8L/110

SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM

200 @ 5100-6000

134 Combined

Engine Type

Turbocharged Gas I4

Gas/Electric I4

Mileage

Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)

Transmission

Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)

3.94/3.09

3.27

Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)

1.10

Trans Description Cont.

Manual

Continuously Variable Ratio

Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.93

First Gear Ratio (:1)

3.36

- TBD -

Clutch Size (in)

- TBD -

Third Gear Ratio (:1)

1.47

Trans Type

Drivetrain

Front Wheel Drive

Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)

1.11

Trans Description Cont. Again

Reverse Ratio (:1)

3.99

- TBD -

Second Gear Ratio (:1)

2.09

Trans Order Code

Summary

Body Style

Hatchback

4 Door Hatchback

Vehicle Name

Audi A3

Lexus CT 200h

Suspension

Suspension Type - Front

MacPherson Strut

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Rear (in)

- TBD -

Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)

Shock Absorber Diameter - Front (mm)

- TBD -

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Front (in)

- TBD -

Suspension Type - Rear

Four Link

Independent

Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)

Shock Absorber Diameter - Rear (mm)

- TBD -

Emissions

Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year

7.8

4.4

EPA Greenhouse Gas Score

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