So I have a CT loaner with 512 miles on it....
#4
Moderator
Nice that you got a CT for a loaner. Look forward to your review on it.
You'll find that it's alot smaller and not too fast as it's tuned more for mpg's. I already have over 13K miles on mine and I noticed after 10K miles I got even better mpg's. Currently I'm averaging 42.6 mpg's and I know I can get it even higher. You'll notice littler quirks such as the brakes. When you press them to decelerate you'll notice some whirring noices that are normal due to the regenerative braking system. I don't notice it as much only when the music is off.
As for the exterior. I love it's design. Cool, sharp and swift lines. Hip, current and contemporary as a hatchback can be. Lexus did a great job and hope Lexus continues to spawn other variants. I'm thinking CT 200h and CT 300h. We do have the CT 250h F-Sport and the CT 250h F-Sport Special Edition.
I know the CT 250h is an entry level luxury hatchback and it's great for what it is. It's my daily driver however my girlfriend drives it more than I do and she knows the navigation and bells and whistles more than I do...
You'll find that it's alot smaller and not too fast as it's tuned more for mpg's. I already have over 13K miles on mine and I noticed after 10K miles I got even better mpg's. Currently I'm averaging 42.6 mpg's and I know I can get it even higher. You'll notice littler quirks such as the brakes. When you press them to decelerate you'll notice some whirring noices that are normal due to the regenerative braking system. I don't notice it as much only when the music is off.
As for the exterior. I love it's design. Cool, sharp and swift lines. Hip, current and contemporary as a hatchback can be. Lexus did a great job and hope Lexus continues to spawn other variants. I'm thinking CT 200h and CT 300h. We do have the CT 250h F-Sport and the CT 250h F-Sport Special Edition.
I know the CT 250h is an entry level luxury hatchback and it's great for what it is. It's my daily driver however my girlfriend drives it more than I do and she knows the navigation and bells and whistles more than I do...
#5
Lexus Connoisseur
I'm thinking CT 200h and CT 300h. We do have the CT 250h F-Sport and the CT 250h F-Sport Special Edition.
I know the CT 250h is an entry level luxury hatchback and it's great for what it is. It's my daily driver however my girlfriend drives it more than I do and she knows the navigation and bells and whistles more than I do...
I know the CT 250h is an entry level luxury hatchback and it's great for what it is. It's my daily driver however my girlfriend drives it more than I do and she knows the navigation and bells and whistles more than I do...
Last edited by Trexus; 10-26-11 at 07:28 AM.
#6
Moderator
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#10
Driver School Candidate
Snow not bad, I currently still have the 17" OEM All Season Tires on the CT.
I'm sure it will be better with snow tires but I'm mostly concerned with 20-30 cm (8-12") of snow and losing traction due to the depth of snow. With the bottom of the CT covered it will act as a sleigh and lift the CT decrease traction = getting stuck
I'm sure it will be better with snow tires but I'm mostly concerned with 20-30 cm (8-12") of snow and losing traction due to the depth of snow. With the bottom of the CT covered it will act as a sleigh and lift the CT decrease traction = getting stuck
#11
Guest
Posts: n/a
Since the car has been reviewed many times I will post up some quick thoughts and summaries. I am not going to be a magazine dumbass and explain how I looped the freeway in record time while sliding on the exit ramp and give it a bad score b/c it wasn't as sporty as a Porsche GT3
1. It is small, and being 6"5 245 (yes I gained 10 lbs lol) I fit fine but its clearly cozy and the seats are very cozy but I love them. Its a Lexus you don't sit ON but IN...they hold you in place on the road and the new GS has much better seats so Lexus is learning. I was a passenger in a F-sport recently and it was kinda lame to have non power adjustments. I bet in the MMC they add power . Overall my wife and I traveled fine in it and it was more than enough room for us and some shopping.
2. There is a remarkable difference between sport and normal. It is like night (red) and day (blue). Since the CT has 138hp I kept it in sport most of the time since it was much more responsive to inputs. MPG did not suffer that much so its worth it. I do like using the EV mode around and it seems to drive quite sometime in EV mode before needing to recharge. In comparison my GS 450h wouldn't last 1/4 of the distance.
3. I find the ride kind of harsh. Its not a deal breaker but Lexus went sporty and its also kind of harsh to me riding no better than my GS 450h with 20" Vossen Wheels. This does not ride like a traditional Lexus at all. What is great is the car is still very quiet and the interior didn't rattle once.
4. The interior is superb especially the quality of the dash which is better than my GS 450h. Soft touch, rich plastics and everything felt great. The steering wheel felt great. The iPod/MPG connection was easy to use and to control the iPhone through the radio was great (no NAV). The rear is cramped but this car is smaller than a Prius so don't expect any miracles. The center armrest is horrid to me though, reminds me of the old IS 300 armrest which they ADDED in 2002 since the 2001 didn't have one. Its just not very comfy.
5. Brakes were fantastic. Handling was fantastic for a Lexus, loved the low seating position. It was confident most of the time but again the electric steering can sometimes feel sightly loose until it seems to adjust. All Lexus seem to have that issue even the IS F (but not the LFA)
6. It was so easy to parallel park as its so small. The standard rear mirror cam helps as well with the superb lines to help you turn and park. Great job Lexus.
7. MPG.....Very very VERY IMPRESSED!! I could not get below 42 MPG even driving hard. I chilled out and got 45 MPG easily for a day. MPG is just out of this world. I assume a 500 mile tank is possible. Its great to see a hybrid get the MPG it claims.
Overall I was again happy to drive the CT. It is a fitting entry level Lexus and doesn't have any cheap feel at all, even as it is not as luxurious or big as the other models. It does NOT feel like a Prius at all or like a Toyota but like a proper Lexus, if Lexus did a small hybrid hatch.
Which it did and is succeeding at. I'll post pics soon.
Mike
1. It is small, and being 6"5 245 (yes I gained 10 lbs lol) I fit fine but its clearly cozy and the seats are very cozy but I love them. Its a Lexus you don't sit ON but IN...they hold you in place on the road and the new GS has much better seats so Lexus is learning. I was a passenger in a F-sport recently and it was kinda lame to have non power adjustments. I bet in the MMC they add power . Overall my wife and I traveled fine in it and it was more than enough room for us and some shopping.
2. There is a remarkable difference between sport and normal. It is like night (red) and day (blue). Since the CT has 138hp I kept it in sport most of the time since it was much more responsive to inputs. MPG did not suffer that much so its worth it. I do like using the EV mode around and it seems to drive quite sometime in EV mode before needing to recharge. In comparison my GS 450h wouldn't last 1/4 of the distance.
3. I find the ride kind of harsh. Its not a deal breaker but Lexus went sporty and its also kind of harsh to me riding no better than my GS 450h with 20" Vossen Wheels. This does not ride like a traditional Lexus at all. What is great is the car is still very quiet and the interior didn't rattle once.
4. The interior is superb especially the quality of the dash which is better than my GS 450h. Soft touch, rich plastics and everything felt great. The steering wheel felt great. The iPod/MPG connection was easy to use and to control the iPhone through the radio was great (no NAV). The rear is cramped but this car is smaller than a Prius so don't expect any miracles. The center armrest is horrid to me though, reminds me of the old IS 300 armrest which they ADDED in 2002 since the 2001 didn't have one. Its just not very comfy.
5. Brakes were fantastic. Handling was fantastic for a Lexus, loved the low seating position. It was confident most of the time but again the electric steering can sometimes feel sightly loose until it seems to adjust. All Lexus seem to have that issue even the IS F (but not the LFA)
6. It was so easy to parallel park as its so small. The standard rear mirror cam helps as well with the superb lines to help you turn and park. Great job Lexus.
7. MPG.....Very very VERY IMPRESSED!! I could not get below 42 MPG even driving hard. I chilled out and got 45 MPG easily for a day. MPG is just out of this world. I assume a 500 mile tank is possible. Its great to see a hybrid get the MPG it claims.
Overall I was again happy to drive the CT. It is a fitting entry level Lexus and doesn't have any cheap feel at all, even as it is not as luxurious or big as the other models. It does NOT feel like a Prius at all or like a Toyota but like a proper Lexus, if Lexus did a small hybrid hatch.
Which it did and is succeeding at. I'll post pics soon.
Mike
Last edited by DaveGS4; 11-22-11 at 06:58 PM. Reason: changes as discussed
#14
Moderator
Thanks for the write-up Mike. It's great to read a review that isn't biased towards a high performance car and based the review on what the car is intended for. The CT 200h is an entry level luxury hatchback hybrid.
I recently took a trip to Vegas and I had four adults in my CTh and one of my biggest gripes is that there are no cupholders in the back seats! I had to hold my own cup while others used the only two cupholders in the front seat. Lexus is going to have to work on that. Other than that I got superior MPG's (averaging 42.7 mpg's) and loved the navigation, quiet ride, radar cruise control and XM.
I recently took a trip to Vegas and I had four adults in my CTh and one of my biggest gripes is that there are no cupholders in the back seats! I had to hold my own cup while others used the only two cupholders in the front seat. Lexus is going to have to work on that. Other than that I got superior MPG's (averaging 42.7 mpg's) and loved the navigation, quiet ride, radar cruise control and XM.
Last edited by Trexus; 12-05-11 at 11:03 AM.
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