
For five of its seven years on sale, there were no other compact luxury hybrid hatchbacks to be direct competitors to the Lexus CT 200h.
Then, last year, the Audi A3 e-tron plug-in hybrid arrived, with not only a German brand but a feature the CT doesn't have: a plug to let it run solely on grid electricity for 15 miles or so.
The Audi hatchback has been a strong seller for the brand, though hardly in the CT's numbers.
But it likely appeals to a more tech-forward audience than the littlest Lexus, even though the CT is intended to attract new, younger buyers to Lexus.
The well-known Toyota Prius hatchback is a far better car in its latest generation, and it too has a plug-in version, not to mention considerably higher fuel economy and a much better driving experience.
The Mercedes-Benz GLA is a luxury hatchback too (even if its optional AWD lets Mercedes dub it a crossover), but there's no hybrid or high-fuel-economy version.
On the sportier side are the Mazda CX-3, which has a similarly tight rear seat to the CT, and the Volkswagen Golf GTI, always a blast to drive and now larger inside than the CT, but with much lower fuel economy.
Finally, the aging Ford C-Max is a five-door compact hybrid tall hatchback, with a number of luxury features in its high-end Titanium model and a plug-in Energi version too.
Visiting a Ford dealer, however, won't be anything like to the cosseting luxury Lexus experience.
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Quick Specs | ||
The unexpectedly sporty character of the 2017 Lexus CT 200h may attract new buyers in the growing segment of luxury compacts, meaning its high fuel economy isn't its only allure. |
The 2017 Mazda CX-3 keeps the most attractive features from last year: its price and its handling. |
The 2017 Toyota Prius closes the gap between "driving a hybrid" and "driving a normal car," even though it still looks like nothing else on the road. |
MSRP From | ||
$31,250 | $19,960 | $23,475 |
Gas Mileage | ||
43 MPG City / 40 MPG Hwy | 27 MPG City / 34 MPG Hwy | 54 MPG City / 53 MPG Hwy |
Engine | ||
Gas/Electric I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | Gas/Electric I-4 |
EPA Class | ||
Compact Cars | Compact Cars | Midsize Cars |
Style Name | ||
CT 200h F Sport FWD | Sport FWD | One (SE) |
Drivetrain | ||
Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
Passenger Capacity | ||
5 | 5 | 5 |
Passenger Doors | ||
N/A | N/A | N/A |
Body Style | ||
Hatchback | Sport Utility | Hatchback |
Transmission | ||
CVT w/OD | Automatic w/OD | CVT w/OD |
Detailed Spec Comparison | ||
2017 Lexus CT vs. 2017 Mazda CX-3 | 2017 Lexus CT vs. 2017 Toyota Prius |