Greetings, recently begun searching for a reliable car for my wife to commute to work!

The information on this forum has been so helpful. I have narrowed it down to a 2014-2015 CT200h or the IS350. While I know these are different cars, we would be happy with both, and don't mind either settling for more fun or more fuel economy, depending on what would be more reliable. From my research neither seem to have any major issues to be concerned about. I am leaning towards the CT 200h for the fuel economy and a ~$5,000 less purchase price, just not sure about the complexity of the hybrid system in the 200h.

If reliability was the only consideration would the CT 200h be the better choice?

Thanks so much in advance for your insights!

 

Well, the CTs can be subject to head gasket failure in much later miles; lots of posts here in the stickied forum:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ct-...sket-info.html

Essentially, it's all about keeping your intake plenum and EGR cooler cleaned. Lots of youtube guidance available on this. 2015 is purported to have received a redesigned head gasket to aid with this. Also, 2015 got revised piston rings (oil consumption on higher mileage Priuses and CT's)

The hybrid system really doesn't add much to the plate in terms of maintenance. It's a toyota, it just works. There's some here that have had to do replacement/refurbed batteries...sometimes the issue can simply be attributed to corroded bus bars between the cells...lots of youtube content covering this in the context 3rd gen Priuses. Cells can be had off ebay if you know what you're doing around high voltage. You should also clean the high voltage battery fan every 2 or so years, again, not bad to do.

Personally, I have a '15 CT with 200,000 kms and I love it. Had to do a water pump (those fail, but it's not bad to replace), suspension and bushings all around, but really not much else to speak of (aside from the intake/egr servicing). Haven't even had to do brakes for 100,000kms. Love the amount of room to haul stuff, being a hatch (though smaller than my previous Mazda 3 wagon)

All things considered, if I had to do it again, I probably would have just got a non-hybrid Camry. You'll usually do about 5-6.5 L/100km in a CT (depending on climate and right-foot tendencies), so why add the potential hybrid complexity for the sake of an extra buck or two for fuel per 100/kms? (Cue the s h i t storm of comments). I should add that the CT is painfully slow when trying to accelerate.

With an IS, you're signing up for premium fuel, more on brakes and tires and worse mileage (plus whatever known issues that are enumerated over in that forum).

Good luck!

 

Thanks so much for all the info, super helpful! Good to know, will narrow down the search to post 2015 to be on the safe side.