Looking for a fun, compact hybrid with a bit of luxury thrown in? Well add the Lexus CT 200h to your test drive list.
Looking for a fun, compact hybrid with a bit of luxury thrown in? Well add the Lexus CT 200h to your test drive list. The CT 200h arrived on the market in 2011 and is still the only compact luxury hybrid on the market and even though it shares a lot in common with the not so fun Prius, the CT 200h has a character that is all its own.
The CT 200h is only offered with one powertrain, a 1.8L four-cylinder that’s mated to an electric motor for a total combined output of 134 horsepower. 134 horsepower may not seem like that much, well it isn’t, but somehow the CT 200h still manages to feel a bit light on its feet around town. A 0-60 mph time of 9.8 seconds is also not great, but hey at least it’s rated at 43 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway. I averaged 35 mpg during my week with the CT 200h.
Related: 2015 Lexus NX 300h Hybrid [REVIEW]
The CT 200h has three different drive modes: Eco, Normal and Sport. As expected, the Sport mode will give you the best acceleration, but turn the knob for the other two modes and the CT becomes a lot less fun. I mostly drove it in Sport mode. Around town the CT hugs the road better than the Prius thanks to its firmer suspension and there’s even a bit of road feel from the electric power steering.
There are a few negatives, which are mainly due to the CT’s age. The CT doesn’t have a powerful lithium-ion battery, like the newer hybrids and instead makes due with a 1.4 kWH nickel-metal-hydride battery that isn’t strong enough to allow the CT to drive faster than 25 mph in electric mode. There’s an EV button, but even that can’t keep it in electric mode very long. Also push the pedal to the floor and you’re greeted with an engine drone that is anything but sporty.
Inside the CT’s interior feels a bit snug, but it’s still comfortable. Four passengers will easily fit and even with its low roofline, the rear seat is a bit more spacious than the NX Hybrid I recently tested. Compared to the Prius, the CT’s interior is covered in higher quality materials.
The CT 200h received a refresh last year, which included the addition of the Lexus spindle grille, but a total redo isn’t expected until the 2017 or 2018 model year. One rumor is that the next CT will be offered as a four-door sedan as well, which will give Lexus a rival to other entry-level models, like the Mercedes-Benz CLA and Audi A3.
The Lexus CT 200h starts at $33,125, but the CT 200h F-Sport you see here starts at $34,855. With the Navigation and Premium packages included, the final price of the CT 200h F-Sport will set you back $38,695.
