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Lexus CT200h Review and Concept

he 2011 Lexus CT 200h borrows the basics from the 2011 Prius, combines a 98-horsepower, 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with a 650-volt (battery peak 36-hp) electric motor system, altogether making 134 horsepower, but mates it with slightly different electronic controls that make the powertrain feel a bit sportier. A Sport mode changes the feel of the steering and allows the systems full 650 volts of assist at partial throttle. Overall, while the CT doesnt drive quite like lux hot hatches like the Audi A3 or Volvo C30, its hands down the sportiest-handling compact hybrid. And it looks like it will deliver the sort of fuel economy that no-compromises Gen X and Gen Y buyers expect—likely well above the 40-mpg mark for many drivers.

Just as in the Prius, the hybrid powertrain combines a 98-horsepower, 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with a 650-volt (battery peak 36-hp) electric motor system, altogether making 134 horsepower, and as you nudge the little Prius-style shift lever over and down to D and get underway, it doesnt feel particularly energetic or pulse-raising. Learn to ignore the little Eco gauge and the not at all sporty protestations of the engine and put your right foot into it a little more, and its more promising.

Below the sound system theres a dial. Twist it to the left and you enter Eco mode, which has muted throttle responses and limits drive voltage (except under full throttle) to 500 volts. Press the controller to return to Normal, or if youre the target customer for the CT youll probably like Sport mode, which reduces power-steering assist, provides a more aggressive tip in and throttle calibration, and brings a peak electric-motor boost of 650 volts even at partial throttle. If youre going to Sport, from Eco or Norm, the projected face of the analog Eco gauge at the left of the gauge cluster changes and it becomes a tachometer; and just to remind you, the color projected down onto the gauge cluster changes from blue to red.

The CT is about four inches shorter in wheelbase than the Prius and about five and nearly six inches shorter overall, but somehow Lexus has delivered a surprisingly roomy interior, thanks to a very well thought out seating position. In the CT 200h, you sit low, which not only brings a feeling of more space but a sportier driving feel. Just as in other hatches, you can fold the back seats flat for more cargo space.

The new front-wheel-drive Lexus CT 200h, which is scheduled to hit dealer showrooms in late February, is a terrific upscale alternative to the Toyota (TM) Prius. This all-new model has two big selling points: A relatively low price—its the least expensive model in Lexus lineup, with a starting price of $29,995—and an average fuel economy rating of 42 miles per gallon.

Its no BMW (BMW:GR), but the CT 200h offers a nicer cabin and greater driving panache than high-mileage competitors such as the Prius and Honda (HMC) Insight. If your priority is the greatest possible fuel economy the Prius is still the best buy on the market, as far as Im concerned. If youre willing to pay a bit more for nicer styling and better handling, the CT 200h is well worth a look.

Lexus new entry-level hybrid has the same power plant and drive train as the Prius, an 80-horsepower electric motor and 98-hp gasoline engine that generate a combined 134 hp. The transmission is a fuel-efficient, continuously variable automatic. Thats where the similarities end. GET MONEY