2013 Lexus CT Hybrid 200h F Sport Review By John Heilig

2013 Lexus CT 200h

THE AUTO PAGE
By JOHN HEILIG

SPECIFICATIONS

Model: 2013 Lexus CT Hybrid 200h F Sport

Engine: 1.8-liter inline 4

Horsepower/Torque: 98 hp @ 5,200 rpm/105 lb.-ft. @ 4,000 rpm (134 hp total)

Transmission: Electronic CVT

Wheelbase: 102.4 in.

Length/Width/Height: 170.1 x 69.5 x 56.7 in.

Tires: P215/45R17

Cargo volume: 14.3 cu. ft.

Fuel economy: 43mpg city/40 mpg highway/37.7 mpg test

Fuel capacity: 11.9 gal.

Curb weight: 3,196 lbs.

Sticker: $37,870 (includes $895 delivery charge, $5,125 in options)

The Bottom Line: While I like the Lexus CT Hybrid 200h and applaud its combination of economy and decent performance, I feel it is too insubstantial to wear a Lexus badge. There's a tinniness to some of the components that you don't expect from a Lexus.

Toyota and Lexus have been going all out to hybridize almost every vehicle in their lines. In a sense, this is a good thing, because manufacturers are being forced by the government to extract every tenth of a mile per gallon they can to keep up with Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) regulations.

And so we have the Lexus CT200h, a unique animal in the Lexus lineup. Like the Prius on which it is loosely based, the CT200h is an honest hybrid, with a small 1.8-liter four cylinder gasoline engine augmented by an electric motor to deliver a total of 134 horsepower. Since the Ct only weighs 3,196 pounds, this is enough power for the car.

My complaint is not with the car, but with the badging. It isn't a Lexus, from whom we have learned to expect fairly substantial vehicles, even if some of them are clearly Toyota-based. In order to save weight and gain economy, the CT is far tinnier than I would hope for. Don't misunderstand; I like the CT. I just don't think it should be a Lexus.

Our tester was the F Sport version, which means it had 17-inch alloy wheels, a mesh lower and upper grille, larger rear spoiler, aluminum sport pedals, perforated leather trimmed steering wheel, sport tuned suspension and a few other things that add up to a $1,000 option. I can't really see the need for any of this, and isn't an F-Sport hybrid sort of an oxymoron? I drove a "standard" CT a few months ago and found its performance all that I would want.

As an economy car, the CT is pretty good. We averaged 37.3 mpg during our run that had few highway miles. With more highway miles I think it could have exceeded 40 mpg.

The CT is a good rider, despite its small size. The front seats are comfortable. The rears, however have tight legroom.

As always, I was grateful for a good trunk. Still, I had to lower the rear seat backs to get my golf bag in the trunk. There's also a small storage area under the cargo floor, but it's situated toward the front of the car where it's hard to reach. Also, when I put grocery bags in there the cargo floor piece didn't fold right.

Push the start/stop button and you get the standard silent treatment from the powerplant. the CT has an interesting shift pattern to the dash-mounted shifter. "Rest" is to the right. To shift into reverse you move the lever to the left and up. To reach drive you push to the left and down. Go to rest and shift down to "B" and then push the park button and then shut the engine off. It's a but more complicated than some shifters, but you have to think and that's a good thing, as Martha Stewart would say.

Handling of the CT is very good. After all, it is a small car and light.

The CT has a clear instrument panel with the hybrid stuff on the left where there would normally be a tachometer. There's a standard speedometer on the right with an information panel in the center.

I liked the fact that you can lower the audio/navigation screen if you don't want the distraction. However, when you shift into reverse it pops up because it also is the screen for the rear view camera. We found the navigation system easy to program and follow.

There are two cup holders on the center console, but water bottles in them can sometimes get in the way if you want to make infotainment choices with the very convenient mouse-like controller.

The Lexus CT200h has a lot going for it. With a Toyota or Scion badge on the front it would be fine. But with the Lexus badge, it was almost a disappointment.