Review – 2011 Lexus CT 200h Is an Expensive 42-MPG Vehicle

Posted by Michael Waterman on December 5th, 2011

2012 Lexus CT 200h

Some things just naturally go together. Chocolate and peanut butter. Bono and The Edge. My fantasy football team and losing records.

Just because you can join two things together doesn’t mean that’s always a good thing as airplanes and airborne illnesses during the winter months clearly demonstrates. And with the 2011 Lexus CT 200h, I wonder if Lexus, Hybrid and Hatchback really work together as well as they should. Sure, it sounds good in theory, but after spending a week driving the CT 200h, I wonder if a better, more natural match might be Scion, Hybrid and Hatchback instead. Let’s look at the pros and cons of this little machine and if you’re looking for more detail, be sure to read our CT 200h review.

Read: 2012 Lexus CT 200h review

Fantastic Reliability and Safety Ratings

Drivers who purchase a Lexus expect the “relentless pursuit of perfection.” When it comes to safety and reliability ratings, they get what they pay for. The CT 200h knocks that reliability fastball out of the park with better-than-average ratings from both Consumer Reports and J.D. Power and Associates. Lexus owners rave about their low-maintenance vehicles and the CT 200h plays right into that script.

Safety ratings are positive as well with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recognizing the CT 200h as a Top Safety Pick. Although the hatch looks, feels and drives small, it’s comforting to know you’re surrounded by eight airbags and a bunch of standard safety features that can help protect you and your passengers in an accident.

2012 Lexus CT 200h

42 MPG Combined Average Fuel Economy

Few will argue with the fact that the automotive world is moving to a kinder, gentler, greener place. Hybrid drivetrains are one positive step in that direction and if you want to achieve maximum fuel efficiency at a relatively affordable price, you can’t beat the Toyota Prius and its 50+ mpg scores in city driving. But hybrid isn’t the only approach as Volkswagen is contributing to green driving through their efficient turbo diesel vehicles. Vehix editors have achieved 42-mpg fuel-economy scores (or better) in the VW Golf TDI and Jetta TDI models.

Of course, you can also look at the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf if you’re willing to pay the upfront premium for impressive fuel economy. It all proves you have plenty of fuel-efficiency options and different brands to consider as you shop.

Read: Nissan Leaf is a New Twist on an Old Idea

Read: 2012 Chevy Volt is Electrifying

The CT 200h is a hybrid that offers three driving modes: Normal, Sport and ECO (and EV mode when you’re driving really slowly). You push a button in the center console to activate the different modes. Very simple and logical. During my week driving the 2011 CT 200h, I averaged just under 40 mpg in mostly freeway driving. I spent the majority of the time in ECO mode trying to maximize fuel economy and while I lagged the combined 42-mpg average, I was generally pleased with the fact I had still had more than half a tank left after covering 170 miles.

Switch on Lexus CT 200h to toggle between ECO and Sport modes

One interesting tidbit about the Sport and Eco modes is that when you’re driving in ECO mode, the display has a blue-ish hue and what is normally the tachometer becomes a dial that demonstrates if you’re in “Power,” “ECO” or “Charge” mode. Power mode means you’re accelerating. Charge mode kicks in during regenerative braking as you coast downhill or on flat pavement and Eco mode is the sweet spot where you’re returning optimal fuel economy.

Toggle the button to Sport mode and the left-hand display transforms into a traditional tachometer with RPMs represented. And the color turns red to, I assume, demonstrate you’re flying down the road in a sporty, fiery manner.

Lexus CT 200h display in ECO mode

Lexus CT 200h in Sport mode (notice the red background colors)

CT 200h is the Least Expensive Lexus You Can Buy

The CT 200h is the least-expensive Lexus you can buy, with a starting price just north of $29,000. That’s $4,000 less than the starting price of the Lexus IS 250 and $7,000 lower than the Lexus volume seller, the ES 350. As a result of that low starting price, it’s pulling new, younger buyers into the Lexus brand for the first time.

The CT 200h launched in March of 2011 and the initial sales plan was to move 1,000 vehicles each month. Lexus is just above that target, having sold 12,122 vehicles through November 2011.

“Our main goal is to draw a younger buyer into Lexus,” says Bill Kwong of Lexus. “The CT 200h is doing exactly what our chief engineer designed it to do since it’s very sporty, very youthful and fun to drive and it’s bringing in customers that are around 40-years old. That’s really low for a luxury brand.”

Indeed, with the average Lexus buyer pushing 60-years old, a 40-year-old buyer is exactly what Lexus wants to grow their audience.

“More than half of our buyers are first-time buyers into Lexus,” Kwong continues. “So the CT is bringing new buyers into the brand as well as bringing younger buyers who would have never considered a Lexus.”

That’s all true and pricing is the best and worst part of this vehicle, depending on your perspective. More about that in a moment, but first soak in a few more photos and imagine how much you would be willing to pay for this Lexus.

2012 Lexus CT 200h

One Big Drawback: It Doesn’t Feel Like a Lexus

You already know that the CT 200h starts just over $29,000. My test car sported $4,000 in upgrades, which pushed the price above $35,000. For that kind of money, you expect a plush interior and lots of standard gadgets like Bluetooth audio, cruise control, power windows and available leather and soft-touch materials everywhere. Expectation meets reality here. The problem is that you can get nearly all of those same features on much less expensive yet very well-equipped vehicles like the Mazda3 or Ford Focus or Chevy Cruze ECO even if those less-expensive cars have more hard plastic than a 1950s G.I. Joe toolbox.

Make no mistake; the CT 200h is “nicer” than all of those cars and it tops each of them in combined fuel-economy scores, including the impressive Chevy Cruze ECO that returns 42 mpg on the highway. But even with every option added to a Cruze, you’re still looking at a vehicle that costs nearly $12,000 less than the CT 200h. Since the engine has about the same horses (134 in the CT 200h vs. 138 hp in the Cruze ECO) and fuel economy scores are essentially the same, many buyers may question whether the upgrade to the Lexus is worthwhile.

Read: 5 Reasons to Drive the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze ECO

In the CT200h’s defense, the NuLuxe faux-leather seats are more comfortable than anything you’ll find in a Mazda, Ford or Chevy. And yes, much more comfortable than even the best seats in any Scion I’ve ever driven. Both the front and passenger seats are electrically controlled and the driver’s seat features adjustable lumbar support and is easily manipulated to find a comfortable driving position.

It took about 5 minutes to program my iPhone so both Bluetooth audio and wireless phone calls worked without a hitch. Ford’s SYNC system is faster to program, but once my phone was connected, I could easily toggle between satellite radio, my iTunes playlists and streaming audio through Pandora and MOG. The voice recognition system worked well, too. So as far as tech features go, the Lexus met my expectations. Then again, so do many less-expensive cars as well.

But regardless of how well the tech features work and the leather looks, you never really get the sense that you’re sitting in the cockpit of a luxury car or at least a car that is made by a luxury carmaker. It still feels just a touch, well, budget. Lexus vehicles, particularly the higher-end models boast better leather, better interior finishes and a quieter cabin. The CT 200h is very nice. But it really is just that: nice, not spectacular and I have to wonder if CT 200h buyers are over-paying for nice-but-not-spectacular features.

The Vehix View

Should you place the Lexus CT 200h on your must-drive list? Perhaps if you want a hybrid and you really want to drive a Lexus. But as Vehix editor Chris Wardlaw writes, “By packaging great fuel economy and impressive safety into a useful and stylish hatchback that should prove durable over the long haul, the new entry-level Lexus CT 200h appears to offer just about everything except luxury or value. In our opinion, this car should have been a flagship Scion instead of an entry-level Lexus.” I absolutely agree.