2011 Lexus CT 200h: A Prius In Lexus Clothing

Yep, limited selection. I was almost ready to try the C-Max, until they decided not to bring the version with the sliding door. Can't quite bring myself to go all electric, though the Tesla Model S is mighty tempting (totally unjustifiable from a budget standpoint, given how few miles I drive these days). I'm hoping for a plug in CT or the rumored smaller Lexus SUV (again hard to cost justify if you want it fully loaded).

I really like the Prius dynamic radar cruise control / PCS, so I'm waiting to see if it will be offered on the Prius plug in. It doesn't help that Toyota is making it difficult to buy unless you live on the East or West coasts. The ride issue is also giving me pause.

 

This is spot-on and my perception of the car as well, except for me that 'numbness' feels more like Lexus plush. Whatever, it's all perception. Remember that your Prius V has those nice 17" wheels and lower profile more aggressive tires, and I'm guessing (I've only driven our IV with the stock 15" wheels) that also improves handling particularly at the limit on curves. The Prius also looks twice as good with the larger wheels and tires, which has aggravated me no end (why should I have to spend $35K to get a car that looks nice) but ultimately I threw in the towel and figured 15" tires/snow tires are cheaper anyway. Now I have the CT to look at and I don't care.

The CT really does rock. Very excited about and pleased with the car.

 

Yes it does! I forgot to say those CT seats may be worth the Lexus premium all by themselves.

 

The CT seats are very nice, great side bolstering, the power seat is great (they really should offer that on the Prius IV and V on the driver's side, what could it add, 20 lbs and $30?). The CT really strikes me as a bargain in many respects, more bang for the buck than a Prius, which surprised me. When you park these two cars in my garage the Prius looks like a huge car, you can see the CT is a lower, sportier car, and you can see the similarities but also the striking differences. They are both superb vehicles, real home runs in their own right. Man that Prius is huge inside, the only car on the market that captures that small outside-big inside theme that well is the Honda Fit.

I love Honda products (remember we came out of two Acuras we had put a total of 230,000 miles on with zero mechanical or reliability issues over 7 years), they really do set a standard for reliability. But the Prius and the CT seem classier and on a slightly higher level of quality, which is a bit mind blowing since Honda sets that quality bar awfully high.

In the end recent Acura design motifs drove me away (they all look like Transformers toys these days) and Honda's cars like the new Accord, Insight, Civic pale in comparison to cars like the Prius and the CT. I test drove an Insight and in comparison the Prius felt like a Lexus, i.e., a car that felt $10,000+ better but only cost a few thousand more. The Prius was so much better than the Insight in so many ways it was a no-brainer, the only hard part was deciding we wanted leather and navigation enough to step up to an MSRP of $31K. But that extra $5K and the extras make the car feel far more luxurious, we just lot the car.

 

All that being said, I watched a number of You Tube video reviews of the CT from around the world (Europe and the US) and the opinions on the car are quite divergent, it's like a love/hate reaction to some extent. I guess I can understand that. I love the car, but then I think I come at it with appropriate expectations, I just want a Prius with some style that's fun to drive and adds a dash of luxury and the CT does deliver all that for about the same price as an optioned up Prius.

 

I have a Prius and my brother has the Lexus CT. The CT seems to feel a lot more composed through the corners, in sport mode when the steering tightens, it feels just great! I wish my prius could feel like that in the corners. but my prius is a lot more useful having a larger hatch.

 

Although I couldn't find a picture anywhere, I'll bet the CT200h looks great when a dealer chrome's the manufacturer wheels. I see lots of other Lexus models where dealers have chromed the manufacturer wheels and the cars look GREAT !!!! If anyone has a photo of a CT200h with chromed wheels, PLEASE post it!

 

They probably wanted more distance from the Mazda5. The biggie is that mini-van can be as bad as wagon for marketing. Sliding doors would have given it more differentiation from the Prius wagon.

I think they drove many away. Honda has just been slipping in general. They need to get back to reliable, efficient vehicles that can also be fun to drive.

 

And would be very useful for people with dogs or young children.

 

Are the sliding doors only available on the C-Max with the third row seat? Ford has been bad in the past with having NA models diverge from the global versions, and not doing so seems to be an unspoken promise with their refocusing on global platforms.

There maybe a style issue. Mini-vans hide the sliding door rail at the base of the rear window. The Mazda5 and C-max don't, and, except for dark paint colors, the rail sticks out on the rear quarter panel.

 

Yes, that is what happened here. Apparently they decided to only have it on the 3rd row seat version, which is no longer coming to N.A., at least for now.

 

I want to see that CT in the next 'Fast and Furious' movie, and they have to have a scene where two middle aged idiots like me hyper mile for slips.

Took the long way home tonight on the twisty roads. That CT is a total blast to drive. Enough power for me. Handles/feels GREAT. Loving this car.

 

"The Slow and the Conservative"

I hope James Bond's next car is a Fisker Karma, Porsche 918 Spyder Hybrid, or Tesla Model S. Or, maybe all three get featured in the movie.

 

It's actually far more accurate to say it's a completely different car that shares a very similar drivetrain. Similar, not identical. But close enough on the drivetrain side. The rest of the car couldn't be more different.

 

:lol:

Tesla Model S. I think Q can do more with it IMHO.

 

Uh no. But I somehow another "Meet The Parents" sequel pops into my head. Or even a movie with Steve Carell and Ben Stiller in a race match involving this car.

Seems like it would be the perfect country road car. Still seriously thinking of this car as my next one. Have to take a test drive.

 

Like lithium ion battery mines.