When I put it out on Twitter that I was driving the Lexus CT200h, several of my tweeps expressed lament. However, I have to admit I'm not quite sure why.
To be sure, this car is a tad quirky with a small identity crisis. It's not quite sublime luxury but not really un-lux. It's a hybrid, but it has a sporty edge. It's compact, but has a hatchback with a good amount of space. It's a little bit of a lot of things but not completely any one thing altogether.
Case in point: The hybrid powertrain combined with the the F-Sport badging. Huh?
During the test period, I drove like I normally drive, which is somewhere between speed demon and jack rabbit. Yet, I still ended my test period with 38 mpg. While that doesn't quite stand up to the EPA estimates of 43 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway, I thought that was pretty good for someone who wasn't trying at all to be fuel efficient.
The CT200h is just 2 model years old, but it's somehow getting a little long in its life cycle. When it first came out in 2010, I thought it was a great idea. It was stylish, creative, functional and well-priced. With a base price around $30K, it makes a luxury hybrid accessible to a new generation of car buyers. And the compact size and hatchback cargo compartment, make it appealing to a younger urban driver.
Here as a 2013 model, I still like this petite Lexus. But, it's a little less shiny-happy than it was. And I blame the Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid for that. While the Jetta Hybrid isn't offered as a hatchback, it is a compact car with a nice base price that will appeal to a younger urban driver. And, though it isn't inherently luxurious, you can add a lot of up-level features and end up with a well-stocked, attractive car for just under $30K. Combine that with the fact that this is hands-down the best hybrid I've ever driven, and the bright light that was the CT200h is looking a little dim these days.
The first point of contention goes back to that 38 mpg that I got in combined driving. When I took the Jetta Hybrid for a spin through hilly country, I was averaging around 46 mpg. And, while I was trying a little bit so I could beat my driving partner's mpg score, old habits are hard to break, and I did have spurts of aggressive driving.
The second point of contention: The super smooth transition between hybrid and gasoline motivation in the Jetta Hybrid. While the CT200h transition isn't exactly clunky, it is noticeable.
The third and final point of contention revolves around the 1.4-liter, 170-horsepower turbocharged engine in the Jetta Hybrid. Wow about sums it up. It's fast. It's fun. And it's still amazingly fuel efficient. In comparison, the 1.8-liter, 134-horsepower engine in the CT200h seems a bit sluggish.
One huge point in favor of the CT200h, however, is the hatchback and flexible rear cargo space. During the test week, I got a frantic text: What R U driving this week? No one ever asks that for curiosity's sake. Turns out, a friend had bought two nightstands at West Elm, then realized (after the credit transaction) that she had no way to get them home. With rear seats folded flat in the CT200h, both large boxes fit. Barely. But they fit. With the Jetta Hybrid's awkwardly configured 11.3 cubic-feet of cargo space, you'll be hard pressed to fit luggage for a family road trip let alone anything resembling a night stand.
There aren't currently any other luxury hatchback hybrids on the road. Huge point in favor of the CT200h.
The tester, as I stated previously, was an F-Sport model with a sport-tuned suspension, aluminum pedals and leather seats. It added the Premium Package, Seat Comfort Package, backup monitor, Lexus Enform, NavTraffic, NavWeather and a few other options for an as-tested price of $38,525.
I don't mean to give the CT200h a hard knock, I actually really like it for its fuel efficiency and flexibility. The seats are comfortable, the ride is sporty, and I love the hatchback styling. It's fun to drive and completely functional at the same time.
Because of it's "identity crisis," the CT200h is unique. Plus you don't see a lot of them on the road in Chicago. And, unless Audi comes out with an A3 hybrid, CT200h won't have a true competitor in the luxury field.
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