• Lexus CT 200h. Trendy young couples who want to own a hybrid, but find the usual suspects too sedate for their tastes should consider the CT 200h. This compact four-door hatchback hybrid comes wrapped in attractively sleek bodywork and rides on a sport-tuned four-wheel independent suspension that rewards enthusiastic drivers with playful handling abilities. A 1.8-liter gasoline engine teams with an electric motor-generator and a self-charging battery pack to deliver a sufficient 138 horsepower with fuel economy that’s EPA-rated at a frugal 43-city/40-highway mpg. Selectable driving modes can accentuate either more economical or sportier driving characteristics as desired. Myriad safety equipment and luxury features are standard, and there’s enough cargo room with the rear seats folded flat accommodate a major Ikea or Costco shopping excursion. MSRP: $29,120–$30,900.