Car and Driver: 2016 Lexus CT200h Quick-Take Review: Let Down by Its Prius Powertrain

Overview: The CT200h is essentially Lexus’s take on the Toyota Prius. (Let’s all forget that the HS250h ever existed, shall we?) The CT has been around in its current form since 2010, meaning it still uses the previous-generation Prius’s basic platform and gasoline-electric powertrain. As the least expensive ticket into the Lexus lineup, this relatively sporty-looking hatch could be construed as a competitor to entry-level luxury cars such as the Mercedes-Benz CLA-class and the Audi A3 (the latter of which also offers a hybrid version, albeit one with a plug). But don’t be fooled by its rakish silhouette. The CT’s hybrid powertrain is focused on one thing and one thing only: fuel economy. It’s rated at a combined 42 mpg by the EPA, several mpg below the current Prius’s numbers but still well ahead of most other compact luxury cars. The CT also has the distinction of being one of the few remaining hatchbacks (we mean real hatchbacks, not those poseur higher-riding hatchbacks now called crossovers) to wear a luxury badge. With the trend toward crossovers stronger than ever, we wouldn’t be surprised if the next-generation CT, due within a year or so, gets more butch styling and a raised ride height to appeal to the multitude of shoppers who are enticed by the perception of ruggedness and practicality offered by an SUV. READ MORE ››

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