Farewell CT200h! (Photos)
With Lexus discontinuing the most affordable luxury hybrid on the market there are some that are rejoicing but also a group that is immensely saddened at what could have been.
1. We barely knew ye
Oh, CT200h, you didn't hit the marks that the suit and ties at Toyota wanted you to, but there are lovers of all things on wheels that enjoyed your quirky crossover demeanor. The powers that be have had enough of the unimpressive sales numbers and recently gave the car its domestic walking papers. To put those numbers into perspective, the CT200h moved only 8,903 units last year while competitors like the Merc CLA did 25,792 and the Audi A3 did 31,538. However, the car, much like Celine Dion's love, will go on... overseas.
>>Join the conversation about CT200h going the way of the dodo right here in the Club Lexus Forum!
2. Aggressively milquetoast
Based on the Prius, Lexus designed the CT to be a sporty hatchback that sipped fuel while letting you enjoy the feeling of being swaddled in cowhide. Unfortunately, Toyota didn't keep up with other hybrids coming from other brands and even worse the latest Prius that it was based on trounces the CT in the department as well. What Lexus did do with the CT was give it an external refresh last year that was optioned with sleek F Sport packaging and a whiff of hot hatch hoonery.
>>Join the conversation about CT200h going the way of the dodo right here in the Club Lexus Forum!
3. A decent cabin
The CT interior was great but in a market where you are going up against the likes of the 3 Series, A3, and CLA you've really got your work cut out for you. Lexus fought back against the competition with unique offerings like bamboo-fiber loudspeakers and an infotainment setup that featured a hockey puck toggle. There is also a pretty reasonable hands-free system that may not have been up to the lofty heights of someone spending that kind of coin on a luxury car but it did exactly what you need it to do.
>>Join the conversation about CT200h going the way of the dodo right here in the Club Lexus Forum!
4. Who's driving the car?
Since the CT200h was a luxury rehash of the Prius it carried over the CVT that system that was like a big invisible wooden block always dragging behind the car. For those unfamiliar, the CVT (continuously variable transmission) cuts out multiple gears and instead varies the torque on tap depending on how the engine is running at that moment. Basically, there is no shifting going on which was great for fuel rates but leaves a lot of enthusiasts wondering what to do as they feel completely disconnected from the car. Having this transmission paired up with the anemic 1.8-liter four-cylinder from the Prius made the car capable enough in the city but a complete bore out on open roads.
>>Join the conversation about CT200h going the way of the dodo right here in the Club Lexus Forum!
5. Maybe one day we will see it again
With the CT setting off into the sunset from our shores there is a gap in the hybrid lineup that Lexus will be filling with the newly greenlit UX. Until that quirky crossover comes to market, the NX will be the cheapest way to go to get some Lexus hybrid sweetness for yourself at $36,000. But if you act now you can get a deeply discounted CT before they make like David Banner and roll out into the sunset. For all the crap I've given it in the previous slides, I like the CT, and who knows, if I can find a deep enough discount maybe I'll buy one also.
>>Join the conversation about CT200h going the way of the dodo right here in the Club Lexus Forum!
For help with servicing your car, check out the how-to section of ClubLexus.com.