Forecasting the future of the CT

not surprised, toyota really dropped the ball on this one.

 

I looked into it both times I was Prius shopping. Never could make sense of it. Smaller than a Prius C, worse fuel economy than a C or Prius, not significantly faster, nor significantly more luxurious than a loaded liftback. I'm not actually sure why it ever existed.

 

i did the same, and felt the same way. i thought it was just going to be a quieter, more comfortable, smoother version of the prius. instead, it turned out to be the sporty version.
the looks are better, but that doesn't sell cars anymore.

 

"Looks better"? Must be a matter of taste. To me, it mostly looks like a Prius C with lowering springs and fancy wheels.

I had a friend who wanted a CT200h until she tried a Prius loaded with every option.

 

definitely personal taste. i like the straight roof to the hatch over the jellybean shape.

 

My wife has a 2013 CT200h, bought pre-owned, that had 9,700 miles on it! Great little car. She's getting a lot more MPG's than it is supposed to offer. Helps to have had her learn how to properly drive the Gen3 for 8 years first. The 2014 had that newer and uglier large Lexus style grille and we both disliked that look, so a 2013 was in order with a "normal" looking front end. The pic in the linked article for the next CT (if it exists) shows and even larger and even uglier open maw grille, if that's possible. No way will she be upgrading to that design disaster.

Sorry to be down on the grille thing, as I know that's a personal taste sort of thing. You like it or you hate it. Either way, I don't see a revised CT offering anything to the Lexus line that a crossover can't deliver, hybrid or not. The sales were dropping very quickly with the CT and they killed it for that reason. Bad decision for some I guess. We kind of like the CT hybrid model we have as it is more like a micro crossover.

 

"Absolutely" is such an interesting word...

According to the EPA website, the CT has 86 ft^3 of interior volume vs. the C with 87 ft^3

Luggage volume is 14 ft^3 for the CT and 17 ft^3 for the C.

One of these things is smaller than the other, and it's not the Prius C.

 

It has so many conflicting (and completely superfluous) identity clues; it's an identity crisis, lol. I'm close to clinically depressed, with the current directions in design and styling.

 

In the US, the only A3 hatch available is the PHEV, which isn't near the top of alternate fuel car sales.

A sedan CT might work next to the UX in NA, but would likely just be the ICE version with our gas prices. People considering a Corolla might upgrade if they get a performance boost.

Small luxury cars are an easier sell in other markets, and CT could be better equipped there for a higher price.

Its attraction in NA was mostly 'not a Prius' while still a Toyota. It also had a few years lead time on the Prius c.

We have learned in another thread that the Toyota grills aren't for aesthetics, for saving wildlife.

Total volume is only part of picture. The other, and possibly more important, is where that space is at. For example, rear legroom is nice, but not if it reduces the room up front.

Not related, but seat comfort is a major consideration. I hope Toyota doesn't cut corners of Lexus seats.

 

I read that. And the poor lynx, or whatever it was. Yikes!

 

That was the black part of the grille so the ugly design has no purpose.

 

Ugly design rarely has a purpose. See Citroen.

Actually, some of their newer cars aren't that bad.

 

backup camera not being standard was their biggest mistake with this car. it clearly needs one.

the CT and IS had too much overlap. the CT is not a performance car; 45 profile tires was a mistake as well. they could have increased margins with steel wheels too but that maybe would have impacted sales negatively too.

IMO the IS250 should have been nixed instead, but what do I know I just own one...