I owned F sports version of CT 200h for a year and half, absolutely loved it. I didn't mind about its acceleration, however if you're on highway it will cruise easily at 80 mph without much stress on engine. we did trip to Utah from San Jose, trip was just smooth and tirelessly. if someone is considering this among other cars, I would strongly suggest this.
Bought one solely due to the reliability, drive it for over 2 years and 60'000 miles (100'000 km) and never thought it was a mistake. This car is very well built, has a great quality interior, fantastic audio and good levels of noise. Not as quiet as bigger models when accelerating, but fantastic in town. The only change I did was the tires. I gladly "suffer" a bit of additional fuel consumption, as a price for truly great handling. I put Conti Premium Contact 6 tires on it and it flies thru the corners in a true GTI fashion. As long as it is downhill. :D To be truly a driver's choice it must have been a model-that-never-was - a CT200t (for turbo). With the 242bhp engine from the IS200t / IS300, it would be a fantastic GTI. The suspension and steering are up to the job. Buying the CT was a great decision.
I have a '14 Lexus CT with 200k miles now in 2023. Great car, no regrets. Sleek interior, awesome gas mileage, and much better than the ugly Prius in similar years. I did have to do the head gasket replacement($3k) at 158k miles, and it's been perfect since. From what I hear, that's the only major issue you might run into, and once you have it done they'll go 3-400k+.
I recently bought a CT200h and have to say that it is the best car I have ever owned. I have always driven 'luxury' cars, with my car prior to this being a BMW 7 series. This car handles better, feels more comfortable and is smoother on the road. It doesn't have the same 'speed on demand' as the 7 series, but once you get used to this and think ahead when driving, it really is a joy to drive. Funnily enough, the acceleration and road feel are very similar to my 2.7 Discovery 3.
+Drydown Down hey i am planning to get this car...i am just curious at what speed gas kicks in...like in hyundai sonata hybrid around 60 miles gas would kick in otherwise its all electric
If I were buying a brand new luxury car I would absolutely buy one that was fast. When spending 40k on a car one does not get their money back in fuel economy. However, buying this car used at cloer to 15k with some miles on it, even aware that the engines can have head gasket problems at over 100k miles, this car is reliable and fuel efficient enough to be a real contender.
I don't know what happened but I feel like after being more educated in EVs and Hybrids, I begin to see this car in a new light. I previously went in with the connotation of performance, this car's weakest link. However I ask myself how often to I full throttle from a stop light or use all 300+hp on a IS350? On the other hand, I will always be able to benefit from braking & not full guilty for doing so and enjoy benefits in stop & go traffic with full A/C and EV drive capability during this time. I don't want a Prius: that car makes too much sacrifices (styling, build quality, chassis dynamics, suspension setup, and even weaker performance in the gen.4) in the name of MPG. Yes the Ford C-max is faster but it lacks the reliability of any Toyota or Lexus product. I love the Volt but I'm not sure if I'm ready for plug-in cars. The perfect car would be, ironically, the CT200h F-sport. A car I lambasted a year prior now becomes a very attractive proposition. What a world of difference it makes once your priorities & viewpoints change.
Did you end up getting one? I recently just traded my 428i M sport for the CT. Miss the power/quality from the BMW, but I know I made a wise financial decision.
@@Jacktemps I actually ended up with an Audi A3 Sportback e-tron. Similar kind of car in practice but I liked the Audi more in terms of performance, material use and the fact I can do my daily 8mile commute in pure EV mode.
Coming down from LONDON TO MALTA I have seen 60mph with my lexus CT Sport - against reviews for 40mph - you have to experience this car for a smooth running drive and such economical in Fuel - I had so many other different cars but this is astonishing -
Drove 2016 ct 200h for 2 years and switched over to Lexus nx becasue I needed a bigger cargo space. I absolutely loved the car. Great fuel economy, amazing handling, great reliability. Only downside would be the noise level, but it's still way better than other models like prius. I will miss this car so much.
Alex, your reviews are my first choice to find out how one particular car compares to the market. Also your details on trim prices and value with the competition is very insightful. Thank you for always taking the time to pack all these details in your reviews! I am a fan !
This car is for people that like the idea of a Prius with its green focus, but still want to look good. It's Prius for the driver that doesn't want to look quirky and weird.
Dan Ptaszek I was thinking the same. I think the look of the Lexus is a very attractive sports sedan. They need to make this car with 300hp. It will make for a bad ass stance car
Great review Alex. I received a '14 CT loaner from Lexus last month and also enjoyed driving it but shared many of the negatives that you brought up in this video. Im surprised you didn't bring up the sport mode dial and how it changes throttle behavior. I was (pleasantly) surprised that sport mode actually felt like it made a difference. Initial tip in was much more immediate in the throttle response, and it also felt like the car also gave an initial electric boost at tip in. Of course, it doesn't change the 0-60 time but I still felt a difference
mountainhobo I noticed that the engine did stay on longer instead of getting back into EV mode. However, I did not leave it on the whole time. Just enough to get a sense of what changes it brought to throttle response. As a lexus hybrid driver, I would probably estimate a loss of at least 3mpg
Edward W. Thanks. I might sacrifice that much for better response. Although, I am on my first automatic in ~ 30 years, and even though I like the car, I will go out of my way in the future to get a stick again.
I own a red 2011 and put custom stainless steel chrome trim at the bottom of the doors and on the top of the rear bumper. It makes the details on the car pop! I have 143,000 on it and it still drives like new. I replaced the Michelins with Conti for a softer ride. I love the way it handles and its fuel economy. Great car. I really love it!
It's a very nice Prius. Face the facts, same hybrid powertrain. Nothing to be ashamed of since the Prius hybrid system is the best hybrid system on the face of this planet. I am getting a CT myself very soon.
If you're a thinking man/woman, you know that there's no competition from the likes of Audi or Mercedes. Lexus quality is second to none and that will pay dividends as the car ages. The German competitions will hemorrhage money as they age and are only worth leasing, whereas the Lexus and Acuras are real keepers.
Why couldn't the is250 2014 / 2015 front styling look like this? I love everything about the lexus is250 except the swoosh nike logo on each side of the car
I am such a fan of how these look. I prefer hatchbacks in general, but this is just so sharp in person. I wish they were a little more fun to drive and came with a manual transmission.
Somebody explain to me why anybody would spend extra money on built in navigation systems? My experience is that these devices are inferior to even the cheapest portable unit. Not to hype the manufacturer but most Garmins also provide lifetime map updates: A feature that most dealers charge hundreds of dollars for. Automakers could do us all a big solid by just providing a cubbie and an adjacent USB port.
You can’t use aftermarket headunits in most Lexuses. There is a couple chinese custom made units available to fit into the CT, but they’re buggy and, well, Chinese made. You may have to cut into your dash, again, depending on options and trim. You can jerry rig kenwood or alpine or whatever double din units in if you have a specific spec where the cd player currently is, but you have to do some trim cutting to get it to fit. Lexus just makes it annoyingly difficult to do.
Because only the premium 12 speaker sound system pairs with navigation. Also it's useful for backup camera instead of a tiny screen in your rear view window.
My dad has one of these, I really like it but ai would;kt more softer suspension it’s pretty damn firm! And rear passenger are very cramped apart from that it’s brilliant
Forgot to tell us road comfort and sound proofing; Alex your excellent man. Your so detailed and I'm a FAN! But please never forget to let us know noise level. Live here in Miami, and between 12 months of A/C use, and rough roads and allot of traffic. I appreciate a quiet car. I know this car in particular may not be so quiet, but is it better then the Prius , Mercedes, Audi ? How do you size it up in comfort as Lexus is known for... Best Wishes
Alex, hows the highway road noise of Lexus CT compare to CLA 250 or A3? Also, do you prefer F-sport or normal suspension for high way with bad surface in LA? Thanks. Alex on Autos
The CT is the quietest followed by the A3. Personally I like the F-Sport suspension, its not as firm as other sports packages out there which I think is a good middle of the road option.
Thank you for getting in the back! I have been trying to figure out if this car will fit a 65lb dog without the seats down (short trips only). Since you have first-hand experience with the cargo area, what do you think?
Actually not a bad review. Lots of info and points that were interesting and accurate. I currently own a 2010 Prius which has served me extremely well over the years. I'm looking to upgrade to another hybrid car, but there aren't that many choices out there. Do I buy another Prius or change? I'm thinking that the Lexus is a good move, even though it costs a bit more. Thanks. Great review.
Interesting car because of its potential but doesn't cut it. It's slow, the revs behaved weird when entering the highway (I drove a 2012 model from a colleague one time) . My colleague tried to explain why, but I didn't get it. The centerstack is ergonomic for sure but there's too much plastic between the buttons. Some exclusive material, such as wood, could be fancy to look at. but this black plastic isn't inspiring. Looks more like a Hewlett Packard calculator of some sorts. Nav screen interface is good. Worthy of Lexus for sure. Don't know the 2014 model. What I was missing compared with my Golf, is that extra luxurious sophistication, beyond the decent stitching and details inside. The Volkwagen Golf already is minding details, although it's borderline boring on the inside. From a lexus I expect more when I'd pay €37k. Edit: I addressed the CT200h once again with another colleague as I'm looking for a luxury replacement, and he said something interesting. Some companies compensate you for driven kilometers per month. If you drive a lot and far, such as a consultant like me, you can actually earn money with this car! Now that's an interesting angle isn't it?
Great review again. The CT has been consistently surpassing sales targets of 14K units per year, with actual sales of 17-19K units per year since 2011. One small correction. The CT is not "a good 33% better than the CLA". It's actually 40%. The math is 42 (CT) - 30 (CLA) / 30 (CLA) * 100% = 40%
I will take superior fuel economy over superior driving dynamics. Where I live, even if one is driving an entry level luxury import like the BMW 3 series, the driver would still have to check his or her surrounding constantly because it already lost the edge that it used to have. Time changed. It's not like the late 80s/ early 90s anymore, where hypothetically I am driving an E35 and the other guy is driving a Ford Tempo and I can tell annihilate him. To do so, I would have to break the bank in which case I would rather be on my bike because it's literally no contest in most cases.
I'm not sure if I want one of these or the 4th gen Prius. I currently have a 2016 Toyota Corolla with pretty decent gas but I want amazing gas on my next car. I also plan on keeping my next car longer than 2 years, only reason I'm getting a new one is because my dad wants to buy my car for work. I'm also not sure if the Lexus is as reliable as the Prius.
Good review. I have a 2013 Autobahn DSG VW GTI. The GTI is fun but it squeaks a lot on rough roads. Using lots of cruise control I get 27 MPG in mostly city driving. But I'm ready to walk away. For my next car I want a fun, luxury vehicle that is practical (hatch) and decent MPG. I was looking at a 2015 4 cyc Outback, how you review it soon. How is the road noise on this CT vs the Mk 6 GTI?
Another great review. The CT is a weird but interesting car. From my point of view though, ANY auto journalism that concentrates on handling is misguided. Nobody actually cares about handling, though few admit it. How often do you approach a 30mph corner at 90mph? It's the same as top speed. Who really cares about top speed. I care about acceleration, but to me the difference between a 5 second and a 4.5 second car is minute. What? So I can get arrested a half second sooner. Alex's mountain commute road should be the place where you'd want a Porsche or a Vette, but ANY of those sports cars will shatter the speed limit on that road, and be recklessly unsafe. Want to be the jackass that plows into a minivan full of kids on a residential road? Me neither. Looked at from the perspective of how often you use it, ALL cars handle equally well. Anyone that really cares about handling should be on a track. Otherwise, it's just useless bragging rights.
***** Hyperboles don't help. Going 90 into a 30 mph turn does not measure handling but sanity. It is also not about breaking speed limit. I care about handling.
mountainhobo Just for fun, name me one car that "handles" unacceptably badly. Does something like a Z06 handle, or is it too race for street use. See what I'm driving at? For me, handling is like stereo watts, anything over enough is essentially pointless (yes, headroom..whoopie). Range is another useless spec; 2 people in the world care about range. I guess I'm saying that "responsiveness" would be a better descriptor than handling. For that, lock-to-lock is a better spec to go by than adhesion on a skidpad, don't you think?
***** > See what I'm driving at? Not a clue. Z06? This is about a hatchback. > Range is another useless spec; 2 people in the world care about range. Make it one in that case. I used to own a car (a compact) that would go for about 300 miles between refueling. Trust me, on longer trips in California you have to plan your pit stops carefully with that kind of range. > I guess I'm saying that "responsiveness" would be a better descriptor than handling Descriptor for what? Handling is a rather commonly used word. Responsiveness usually refers to acceleration under different conditions and speeds, so two different animals. See here, from Wikipedia - "Throttle response or vehicle responsiveness is a measure of how quickly a vehicle's prime mover, such as an internal combustion engine, can increase its power output in response to a driver's request for acceleration" > For that, lock-to-lock is a better spec to go by than adhesion on a skidpad, don't you think? Adhesion on a skidpad? We are still talking about a fuel-sipping hatchback, right?
mountainhobo This clash illustrates what I'm talking about when car guys talk about "handling", and particularly when journalists talk about handling. We appear to have different definitions. I am fairly certain that an engineer would quantify handling as lateral grip expressed in G, and bump steer (where the car changes direction because of bumps to the suspension). But I think you and might talk about handling, but what we really mean is NVH (noise, vibration, or harshness) or what we might call "comfort". Alex makes a clear distinction when he talks about comfort. I have a 96 Roadmaster wagon that has piss poor handling, but supremely excellent comfort. So I'm curious….what exactly do you mean when you describe handling? What cars would you describe as good or bad regarding handling?
I guess it just look that way. While you were talking I noticed a stop painted on the ground. (Stop ahead) and then u just seem to edit forward. Probably wrong though. To be honest I have driven all three vehicles u speak of in the review and I just can't see people cross shopping the Audi and Mercedes vs this Lexus. I honestly outright dislike the MB and would just no bye either. Funny thing is I have seen the MB and asked if it was fwd or rear and both times the driver said RWD. I know this is clique for people who like to drive,but still funny.
I'll go for accord hybrid although they are not on the cross shop list. But Price wise, you can get a bigger, faster, and better MPG in the accord hybrid.
Comparing Vehicles you missed -2014 Mazda 3 Hatch -2014/2015 Mercedes Benz GLA I looked at this CT 200h and didn't have enough cargo space comparing the Mazda.
I didn't miss them per se, according to both Mazda and Lexus the Mazda3 is not cross shopped with the CT. I can see why someone would, but supposedly it is not really on the cross comparison list. The cross shop list includes the A3, CLA, S60, ILX, TL, the Prius and for reasons I cannot explain, the BMW 2-Series and X1.
Why wouldn't they offer a sedan version in the US? Americans find hatchbacks bleh and opt for SUVs instead or a sedan. A sedan version would look better and be lighter getting better mpg and the chrome around the windows could be made to look more aerodynamic like on the es/is, oh well
Americans are secretly in love with hatchbacks. SUV's are basically hatchbacks with a higher ride. Just look at Subaru Crosstrek, it's basically a raised Impreza. Obviously we all have our opinions but I think hatchbacks look way better. Sedan Fiesta is so ugly, along with a sedan Focus and sedan Mazda 3. Imagine seeing a VW Golf sedan? Dear Jesus that would be an abomination even Satan himself would reject.
mamba109 I agree with the most parts, but IMO the Mazda sedan (only in the case of the newest generation) looks better than the Mazda hatchback. I find the new hatchback looks like a duck beak or a baseball cap :)
Looking at fuelly results, the CT200h is about 1.5 mpg better than a Fusion hybrid and 2ish better than the CMax. That's around 50-60 dollars/year over 15,000 miles. For me, I'd rather have the Fords for that small penalty. I'd take a Volt too (and save lots of money vs all of the above). Just my humble opinion.
@@socalfritos9452 very true, but in this case it's not a caddy to vet comparison. It's a slow hybrid with excelent fuel economy and reliability. It's basically a fancy prius, i.e. a Lexus prius. Great car!
Nice review. You made the most of what appears to be a very unappealingly slow car. Better handling aside, I don't want to pay more for a car that's slower than a Prius.
Why do people who pay this much for a car care about fuel economy... Don't say the environment because your buying a new car.... please explain this to me
I'm never sure. I can see it more in this category because it does reduce the cost of operation vs the Germans and 1100-1500 less per year in expense could make the difference between affording the car and not.
Alex on Autos I've been thinking about this more and your definitely right. Being the cheapest new Lexus I think the hybrid/fuel economy is about maintaining face. It carries the status of the brand with low operation costs and a veneer of environmentalism instead of "low end" luxury. If it wasn't a hybrid and was say 29 grand with the 4-Cyl 178 hp engine it would be a better deal faster and more fun but then it would just be known as the fake worse Lexus. Thoughts?
1337flight I some ways yes, but then again Lexus is just playing along with everyone else. After all sales of the A3 and CLA are excellent and nobody seems to mind the "cheap luxury" sales pitch.
I bought my CT200h used...and I love it more than any car I've ever owned or driven. It's quick enough, great fuel economy, sporty-ish, small enough for solo driver & big enough for occasional tall people and their luggage. I literally have no complaints, best car I've ever driven, period. If speed is your thing, move along to a non-hybrid. Otherwise, this Lexus is the bestest!!
+gameblessed the 2011-2013 models don't have that "Black Widow" grille. Thanks god. The interior is almost identical, though, aside from a few color options, and the engine and drivetrain are completely identical. Save yourself $10k-$15k and buy used. I love my 2012
+Sadpants McGee I purchased 2013 used, my first hybrid. My partner thought the gas pump was broken when he was filling up the car, turns out 20$ of premium fills the entire tank after 300 miles.
gameblessed Why are you putting premium in a hybrid? You're literally paying extra for shittier gas that offers you no benefit and may even hurt your car due to the larger quantity of ethanol.
I owned F sports version of CT 200h for a year and half, absolutely loved it. I didn't mind about its acceleration, however if you're on highway it will cruise easily at 80 mph without much stress on engine. we did trip to Utah from San Jose, trip was just smooth and tirelessly. if someone is considering this among other cars, I would strongly suggest this.
Why did you get rid of it?
@@Stripesheal18 I assume he upgraded... We also had more than 1 CTs over the years, but moved on to a Tesla now
My dad just picked his up last week! I have a video on it if you want to see the 2019 model
@@thomastalks3841 link to the 2019 post ?
@@OctogonOxygen024816 Sure here is one of them:
th-cam.com/video/C9RgRkwqUO0/w-d-xo.html
Bought one solely due to the reliability, drive it for over 2 years and 60'000 miles (100'000 km) and never thought it was a mistake. This car is very well built, has a great quality interior, fantastic audio and good levels of noise. Not as quiet as bigger models when accelerating, but fantastic in town. The only change I did was the tires. I gladly "suffer" a bit of additional fuel consumption, as a price for truly great handling. I put Conti Premium Contact 6 tires on it and it flies thru the corners in a true GTI fashion. As long as it is downhill. :D
To be truly a driver's choice it must have been a model-that-never-was - a CT200t (for turbo). With the 242bhp engine from the IS200t / IS300, it would be a fantastic GTI. The suspension and steering are up to the job.
Buying the CT was a great decision.
I have a '14 Lexus CT with 200k miles now in 2023. Great car, no regrets. Sleek interior, awesome gas mileage, and much better than the ugly Prius in similar years. I did have to do the head gasket replacement($3k) at 158k miles, and it's been perfect since. From what I hear, that's the only major issue you might run into, and once you have it done they'll go 3-400k+.
I recently bought a CT200h and have to say that it is the best car I have ever owned. I have always driven 'luxury' cars, with my car prior to this being a BMW 7 series. This car handles better, feels more comfortable and is smoother on the road. It doesn't have the same 'speed on demand' as the 7 series, but once you get used to this and think ahead when driving, it really is a joy to drive. Funnily enough, the acceleration and road feel are very similar to my 2.7 Discovery 3.
+Drydown Down
hey i am planning to get this car...i am just curious at what speed gas kicks in...like in hyundai sonata hybrid around 60 miles gas would kick in otherwise its all electric
If I were buying a brand new luxury car I would absolutely buy one that was fast. When spending 40k on a car one does not get their money back in fuel economy. However, buying this car used at cloer to 15k with some miles on it, even aware that the engines can have head gasket problems at over 100k miles, this car is reliable and fuel efficient enough to be a real contender.
I'm not too crazy about hybrids or Lexus, but I like this car.
I don't know what happened but I feel like after being more educated in EVs and Hybrids, I begin to see this car in a new light. I previously went in with the connotation of performance, this car's weakest link. However I ask myself how often to I full throttle from a stop light or use all 300+hp on a IS350?
On the other hand, I will always be able to benefit from braking & not full guilty for doing so and enjoy benefits in stop & go traffic with full A/C and EV drive capability during this time. I don't want a Prius: that car makes too much sacrifices (styling, build quality, chassis dynamics, suspension setup, and even weaker performance in the gen.4) in the name of MPG. Yes the Ford C-max is faster but it lacks the reliability of any Toyota or Lexus product. I love the Volt but I'm not sure if I'm ready for plug-in cars.
The perfect car would be, ironically, the CT200h F-sport. A car I lambasted a year prior now becomes a very attractive proposition. What a world of difference it makes once your priorities & viewpoints change.
o
I am too. I used to want really fast cars. Now I really appreciate the benefits of a hybrid system
Very nice. You got wiser as you age.
Did you end up getting one? I recently just traded my 428i M sport for the CT. Miss the power/quality from the BMW, but I know I made a wise financial decision.
@@Jacktemps I actually ended up with an Audi A3 Sportback e-tron. Similar kind of car in practice but I liked the Audi more in terms of performance, material use and the fact I can do my daily 8mile commute in pure EV mode.
Coming down from LONDON TO MALTA I have seen 60mph with my lexus CT Sport - against reviews for 40mph - you have to experience this car for a smooth running drive and such economical in Fuel - I had so many other different cars but this is astonishing -
its a perfect car for what it is, mpg goodness and luxury! good and informative review my friend
Drove 2016 ct 200h for 2 years and switched over to Lexus nx becasue I needed a bigger cargo space. I absolutely loved the car. Great fuel economy, amazing handling, great reliability. Only downside would be the noise level, but it's still way better than other models like prius. I will miss this car so much.
Alex, your reviews are my first choice to find out how one particular car compares to the market. Also your details on trim prices and value with the competition is very insightful. Thank you for always taking the time to pack all these details in your reviews! I am a fan !
তুমি কি দেখেছ কভু জিবনের পরাজয়। দুখের দহনে করুন রোদনে তিকে তিলে তার ক্ষয় তিলে তিলে তার ক্ষয়
I want one of these for City driving in L.A.! Probably gonna try and find a Certified Pre-Owned for around $20k, though.
This car is for people that like the idea of a Prius with its green focus, but still want to look good. It's Prius for the driver that doesn't want to look quirky and weird.
It's such a good looking car, I just wish it had a manual transmission and turbocharged 4 cylinder engine options.
Dan Ptaszek I was thinking the same. I think the look of the Lexus is a very attractive sports sedan. They need to make this car with 300hp. It will make for a bad ass stance car
Great review Alex. I received a '14 CT loaner from Lexus last month and also enjoyed driving it but shared many of the negatives that you brought up in this video. Im surprised you didn't bring up the sport mode dial and how it changes throttle behavior. I was (pleasantly) surprised that sport mode actually felt like it made a difference. Initial tip in was much more immediate in the throttle response, and it also felt like the car also gave an initial electric boost at tip in. Of course, it doesn't change the 0-60 time but I still felt a difference
And how did the sport mode impact fuel economy?
mountainhobo I noticed that the engine did stay on longer instead of getting back into EV mode. However, I did not leave it on the whole time. Just enough to get a sense of what changes it brought to throttle response. As a lexus hybrid driver, I would probably estimate a loss of at least 3mpg
Edward W. Thanks. I might sacrifice that much for better response. Although, I am on my first automatic in ~ 30 years, and even though I like the car, I will go out of my way in the future to get a stick again.
I own a red 2011 and put custom stainless steel chrome trim at the bottom of the doors and on the top of the rear bumper. It makes the details on the car pop! I have 143,000 on it and it still drives like new. I replaced the Michelins with Conti for a softer ride. I love the way it handles and its fuel economy. Great car. I really love it!
Any problems with the car so far? How many miles on it now?
Can you show your chrome mod thingy?
Very attractive cat. I hope they make a high powered version in the future because this car looks an aftermarket mod dream
It's a very nice Prius. Face the facts, same hybrid powertrain. Nothing to be ashamed of since the Prius hybrid system is the best hybrid system on the face of this planet. I am getting a CT myself very soon.
If you're a thinking man/woman, you know that there's no competition from the likes of Audi or Mercedes. Lexus quality is second to none and that will pay dividends as the car ages. The German competitions will hemorrhage money as they age and are only worth leasing, whereas the Lexus and Acuras are real keepers.
People don’t understand Japanese vehicles!
Thanks for the review! Am considering buying one today and this review helped a lot.
Dan Carrison did you buy one?
Great review, only issue is that Fsport has actual sport shocks, springs and therefore handling aspect of the review is not exactly correct.
One of the best reviews. Tnks. Content and high production values. Yes!
excellent comprehensive review. thanks!
Why couldn't the is250 2014 / 2015 front styling look like this? I love everything about the lexus is250 except the swoosh nike logo on each side of the car
I am such a fan of how these look. I prefer hatchbacks in general, but this is just so sharp in person. I wish they were a little more fun to drive and came with a manual transmission.
One of the Best and True Review!!!
Thx for the hard work!
Alex is the MKBHD of cars
Somebody explain to me why anybody would spend extra money on built in navigation systems? My experience is that these devices are inferior to even the cheapest portable unit. Not to hype the manufacturer but most Garmins also provide lifetime map updates: A feature that most dealers charge hundreds of dollars for. Automakers could do us all a big solid by just providing a cubbie and an adjacent USB port.
You can’t use aftermarket headunits in most Lexuses. There is a couple chinese custom made units available to fit into the CT, but they’re buggy and, well, Chinese made. You may have to cut into your dash, again, depending on options and trim.
You can jerry rig kenwood or alpine or whatever double din units in if you have a specific spec where the cd player currently is, but you have to do some trim cutting to get it to fit. Lexus just makes it annoyingly difficult to do.
Because only the premium 12 speaker sound system pairs with navigation. Also it's useful for backup camera instead of a tiny screen in your rear view window.
Awesome review
Good comprehensive review.
Alex, have you thought of comparing the CT200h and the Audi A3 TDI now that the TDI is out?
Antenox I'm trying to get my hands on the TDI A3, I'll keep it in mind.
Love this car!!
Alex...waiting on this for a while now...
Thanks again...
My dad has one of these, I really like it but ai would;kt more softer suspension it’s pretty damn firm! And rear passenger are very cramped apart from that it’s brilliant
Great review, Alex
beautiful car, might be my next buy.
In sport mode the CT is damn quick!
a Rothko so is the Prius...but I don't like priussy.
"damn quick" and "prius powertrain" what???
Lately I only drive in B mode. My mpg went from 40 to 44. B mode also saves your brakes.
cn u xplan what b mode for? tq...
Hasnol Fazillah it’s an engine brake that also charges the battery. Aside from the added mpg it also saves the brakes.
Good to know! My mpg is at 45 now...can't wait to try this and see if it improves
@@MayorOfAmerica Did your MPG improve in B mode?
Excellent video
Forgot to tell us road comfort and sound proofing; Alex your excellent man. Your so detailed and I'm a FAN! But please never forget to let us know noise level. Live here in Miami, and between 12 months of A/C use, and rough roads and allot of traffic. I appreciate a quiet car. I know this car in particular may not be so quiet, but is it better then the Prius , Mercedes, Audi ? How do you size it up in comfort as Lexus is known for... Best Wishes
Most fun cars lexus and toyota have ever produced are this and the gs450 hybrid? I think you're forgetting about the Toyota Supra and the Lexus LFA
Alex, hows the highway road noise of Lexus CT compare to CLA 250 or A3? Also, do you prefer F-sport or normal suspension for high way with bad surface in LA? Thanks. Alex on Autos
The CT is the quietest followed by the A3. Personally I like the F-Sport suspension, its not as firm as other sports packages out there which I think is a good middle of the road option.
Alex on Autos Thanks, I will consider both CT and A3.
The lack of that rear seat center arm rest thing on this car is really bugging me.
Thank you for getting in the back! I have been trying to figure out if this car will fit a 65lb dog without the seats down (short trips only). Since you have first-hand experience with the cargo area, what do you think?
Did you get one, and if so, does your dog fit?
very nice review... good job...
also, very nice review. very professional
Actually not a bad review. Lots of info and points that were interesting and accurate. I currently own a 2010 Prius which has served me extremely well over the years. I'm looking to upgrade to another hybrid car, but there aren't that many choices out there. Do I buy another Prius or change? I'm thinking that the Lexus is a good move, even though it costs a bit more. Thanks. Great review.
I want one, but I don't like the engine, cvt and hybrid. Please Lexus make one model with more power and 6 speed automatic transmission. Thx.
then just get a is250 haha
I knew I liked this guy. I spotted that Taco Bell cup
Alright, alex. One of these with 40k mi or a 2018 Toyota iM?
im on the same boat.
If the price is similar, you'd be a fool to get the Corolla.
9.7 acceleration for a hybrid is pretty good. The cvt sedans nowadays are about that range. I would give it 5/10 is a poor score
Where can I find one of those in Manitoba?
Interesting car because of its potential but doesn't cut it. It's slow, the revs behaved weird when entering the highway (I drove a 2012 model from a colleague one time) . My colleague tried to explain why, but I didn't get it. The centerstack is ergonomic for sure but there's too much plastic between the buttons. Some exclusive material, such as wood, could be fancy to look at. but this black plastic isn't inspiring. Looks more like a Hewlett Packard calculator of some sorts. Nav screen interface is good. Worthy of Lexus for sure. Don't know the 2014 model.
What I was missing compared with my Golf, is that extra luxurious sophistication, beyond the decent stitching and details inside. The Volkwagen Golf already is minding details, although it's borderline boring on the inside. From a lexus I expect more when I'd pay €37k.
Edit:
I addressed the CT200h once again with another colleague as I'm looking for a luxury replacement, and he said something interesting. Some companies compensate you for driven kilometers per month. If you drive a lot and far, such as a consultant like me, you can actually earn money with this car! Now that's an interesting angle isn't it?
Great review again. The CT has been consistently surpassing sales targets of 14K units per year, with actual sales of 17-19K units per year since 2011.
One small correction. The CT is not "a good 33% better than the CLA". It's actually 40%. The math is 42 (CT) - 30 (CLA) / 30 (CLA) * 100% = 40%
Nice review
I will take superior fuel economy over superior driving dynamics. Where I live, even if one is driving an entry level luxury import like the BMW 3 series, the driver would still have to check his or her surrounding constantly because it already lost the edge that it used to have. Time changed. It's not like the late 80s/ early 90s anymore, where hypothetically I am driving an E35 and the other guy is driving a Ford Tempo and I can tell annihilate him. To do so, I would have to break the bank in which case I would rather be on my bike because it's literally no contest in most cases.
LETS SEE THE 2015 HYUNDAI GENESIS SEDAN LONG AND IN DEPTH THAT IS WHAT EVERYONE IS WAITING FOR
What about the sunglasses dude?
Gr8 review m8 I r8 8/8
I'm not sure if I want one of these or the 4th gen Prius. I currently have a 2016 Toyota Corolla with pretty decent gas but I want amazing gas on my next car. I also plan on keeping my next car longer than 2 years, only reason I'm getting a new one is because my dad wants to buy my car for work. I'm also not sure if the Lexus is as reliable as the Prius.
Good review. I have a 2013 Autobahn DSG VW GTI. The GTI is fun but it squeaks a lot on rough roads. Using lots of cruise control I get 27 MPG in mostly city driving. But I'm ready to walk away. For my next car I want a fun, luxury vehicle that is practical (hatch) and decent MPG. I was looking at a 2015 4 cyc Outback, how you review it soon. How is the road noise on this CT vs the Mk 6 GTI?
Another great review. The CT is a weird but interesting car. From my point of view though, ANY auto journalism that concentrates on handling is misguided. Nobody actually cares about handling, though few admit it. How often do you approach a 30mph corner at 90mph? It's the same as top speed. Who really cares about top speed. I care about acceleration, but to me the difference between a 5 second and a 4.5 second car is minute. What? So I can get arrested a half second sooner.
Alex's mountain commute road should be the place where you'd want a Porsche or a Vette, but ANY of those sports cars will shatter the speed limit on that road, and be recklessly unsafe. Want to be the jackass that plows into a minivan full of kids on a residential road? Me neither. Looked at from the perspective of how often you use it, ALL cars handle equally well.
Anyone that really cares about handling should be on a track. Otherwise, it's just useless bragging rights.
Possibly, yet easily half the questions I get start with "which handles better..." so I just give the viewers what they ask for :-)
***** Hyperboles don't help. Going 90 into a 30 mph turn does not measure handling but sanity. It is also not about breaking speed limit. I care about handling.
mountainhobo Just for fun, name me one car that "handles" unacceptably badly. Does something like a Z06 handle, or is it too race for street use. See what I'm driving at? For me, handling is like stereo watts, anything over enough is essentially pointless (yes, headroom..whoopie). Range is another useless spec; 2 people in the world care about range.
I guess I'm saying that "responsiveness" would be a better descriptor than handling. For that, lock-to-lock is a better spec to go by than adhesion on a skidpad, don't you think?
*****
> See what I'm driving at?
Not a clue. Z06? This is about a hatchback.
> Range is another useless spec; 2 people in the world care about range.
Make it one in that case. I used to own a car (a compact) that would go for about 300 miles between refueling. Trust me, on longer trips in California you have to plan your pit stops carefully with that kind of range.
> I guess I'm saying that "responsiveness" would be a better descriptor than handling
Descriptor for what? Handling is a rather commonly used word. Responsiveness usually refers to acceleration under different conditions and speeds, so two different animals. See here, from Wikipedia - "Throttle response or vehicle responsiveness is a measure of how quickly a vehicle's prime mover, such as an internal combustion engine, can increase its power output in response to a driver's request for acceleration"
> For that, lock-to-lock is a better spec to go by than adhesion on a skidpad, don't you think?
Adhesion on a skidpad? We are still talking about a fuel-sipping hatchback, right?
mountainhobo This clash illustrates what I'm talking about when car guys talk about "handling", and particularly when journalists talk about handling. We appear to have different definitions.
I am fairly certain that an engineer would quantify handling as lateral grip expressed in G, and bump steer (where the car changes direction because of bumps to the suspension).
But I think you and might talk about handling, but what we really mean is NVH (noise, vibration, or harshness) or what we might call "comfort". Alex makes a clear distinction when he talks about comfort. I have a 96 Roadmaster wagon that has piss poor handling, but supremely excellent comfort.
So I'm curious….what exactly do you mean when you describe handling? What cars would you describe as good or bad regarding handling?
Did u run a stop sign?
Not that I know of.
I guess it just look that way. While you were talking I noticed a stop painted on the ground. (Stop ahead) and then u just seem to edit forward. Probably wrong though.
To be honest I have driven all three vehicles u speak of in the review and I just can't see people cross shopping the Audi and Mercedes vs this Lexus. I honestly outright dislike the MB and would just no bye either. Funny thing is I have seen the MB and asked if it was fwd or rear and both times the driver said RWD. I know this is clique for people who like to drive,but still funny.
Keith Taylor
Personally I love it when you ask that same question and they say "both"...
I'll go for accord hybrid although they are not on the cross shop list. But Price wise, you can get a bigger, faster, and better MPG in the accord hybrid.
The back is nice
Comparing Vehicles you missed
-2014 Mazda 3 Hatch
-2014/2015 Mercedes Benz GLA
I looked at this CT 200h and didn't have enough cargo space comparing the Mazda.
I didn't miss them per se, according to both Mazda and Lexus the Mazda3 is not cross shopped with the CT. I can see why someone would, but supposedly it is not really on the cross comparison list. The cross shop list includes the A3, CLA, S60, ILX, TL, the Prius and for reasons I cannot explain, the BMW 2-Series and X1.
Alex on Autos So if it was your money fully loaded Mazda3 Hatchback (2.0) or Base-ish CT200h? In a overall comparing of the 2 cars.
Noé Miranda
Personally, I'd probably get the Mazda3 2.0. I'd be willing to give up the fuel economy for the added oomph.
+Noé Miranda a base lexus is like a loaded prius
Run and buy a 2018 Corolla iM while you still can! It’s obviously this car value packaged!
Why wouldn't they offer a sedan version in the US? Americans find hatchbacks bleh and opt for SUVs instead or a sedan. A sedan version would look better and be lighter getting better mpg and the chrome around the windows could be made to look more aerodynamic like on the es/is, oh well
Americans are secretly in love with hatchbacks. SUV's are basically hatchbacks with a higher ride. Just look at Subaru Crosstrek, it's basically a raised Impreza.
Obviously we all have our opinions but I think hatchbacks look way better. Sedan Fiesta is so ugly, along with a sedan Focus and sedan Mazda 3. Imagine seeing a VW Golf sedan? Dear Jesus that would be an abomination even Satan himself would reject.
mamba109 I agree with the most parts, but IMO the Mazda sedan (only in the case of the newest generation) looks better than the Mazda hatchback. I find the new hatchback looks like a duck beak or a baseball cap :)
Lexus tried the HS which was sedan only and had a larger motor but worse fuel economy and it sold even fewer cars.
Looking at fuelly results, the CT200h is about 1.5 mpg better than a Fusion hybrid and 2ish better than the CMax. That's around 50-60 dollars/year over 15,000 miles. For me, I'd rather have the Fords for that small penalty. I'd take a Volt too (and save lots of money vs all of the above). Just my humble opinion.
Great review
best car in the world
"It's not a Lexus Prius."
"Shares the same drivetrain and transmission as the Prius."
It's a Lexus Prius. Not bashing, just saying. I own a Prius.
Jesse Proctor Just because the CTS-V shares the same motor and transmission as the corvette zo6, doesn't make the caddy a corvette lol
@@socalfritos9452 very true, but in this case it's not a caddy to vet comparison. It's a slow hybrid with excelent fuel economy and reliability. It's basically a fancy prius, i.e. a Lexus prius. Great car!
It's actually a Corolla hatch with a Prius gen 3 engine.
Put it Prius’s engine in the way of making Lexus hybrid
The cla is not attractive you damn fish, the CT looks way better! Anyway, once this gets the turbo engine the sales will increase even more.
Nice review. You made the most of what appears to be a very unappealingly slow car. Better handling aside, I don't want to pay more for a car that's slower than a Prius.
Even less total HP than the Subaru XV Hybrid. Too bad it's not even half as sporty as it looks.
Why do people who pay this much for a car care about fuel economy... Don't say the environment because your buying a new car.... please explain this to me
I'm never sure. I can see it more in this category because it does reduce the cost of operation vs the Germans and 1100-1500 less per year in expense could make the difference between affording the car and not.
Alex on Autos I've been thinking about this more and your definitely right. Being the cheapest new Lexus I think the hybrid/fuel economy is about maintaining face. It carries the status of the brand with low operation costs and a veneer of environmentalism instead of "low end" luxury. If it wasn't a hybrid and was say 29 grand with the 4-Cyl 178 hp engine it would be a better deal faster and more fun but then it would just be known as the fake worse Lexus. Thoughts?
1337flight I some ways yes, but then again Lexus is just playing along with everyone else. After all sales of the A3 and CLA are excellent and nobody seems to mind the "cheap luxury" sales pitch.
I bought my CT200h used...and I love it more than any car I've ever owned or driven. It's quick enough, great fuel economy, sporty-ish, small enough for solo driver & big enough for occasional tall people and their luggage. I literally have no complaints, best car I've ever driven, period. If speed is your thing, move along to a non-hybrid. Otherwise, this Lexus is the bestest!!
@@MayorOfAmerica how many miles are on the car? any problems so far?
Lexus is ultra reliable where as the German cars are far from reliable..
compaired to cars worth how much more just stupid come on really ?
$40,000 in debt for what. Not worth it in my eyes.
im1greatman You can get a 2014 or later model for 15-18K now. Pretty good deal if you buy used, but at almost 40K new... I’m not sure.
Buy second hand, always pay cash.
Same engine as a prius but only half as ugly.
It's grill is hideous... Lol. That's a fact not based on opinion. There's something called, "principles of design."
+gameblessed the 2011-2013 models don't have that "Black Widow" grille. Thanks god. The interior is almost identical, though, aside from a few color options, and the engine and drivetrain are completely identical. Save yourself $10k-$15k and buy used. I love my 2012
+Sadpants McGee I purchased 2013 used, my first hybrid. My partner thought the gas pump was broken when he was filling up the car, turns out 20$ of premium fills the entire tank after 300 miles.
gameblessed Why are you putting premium in a hybrid? You're literally paying extra for shittier gas that offers you no benefit and may even hurt your car due to the larger quantity of ethanol.