- hatchback 112,866
- 935 below average
- 13,988 fair
- Raleigh, NC
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- autoshopper.com
- 935 below average hatchback 112,866 gasoline automatic
2012 lexus ct 200h review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. The ct 200h gets great gas mileage, achieving an epa-estimated 43 mpg city, 40 mpg highway. the 2012 lexus ct 200h f sport has slightly firmer shocks, but after that it's aesthetic: black leather, dark racy 17-inch alloy wheels, mesh grilles, big rear spoiler, aluminum pedals, perforated leather steering wheel, titanium-gray metal instrument panel trim, and f sport badging. the ct 200h is 4 inches shorter than the prius, or the same overall length as the audi a3 wagon. Its shape looks more european than japanese, and its profile from all angles is very similar to that of the audi. The coefficient of drag is a low 0. 29, as much of the aero design was determined by wind tunnel testing. borne of a hatchback, the ct 200h looks like no other lexus, from the sides and rear. The details of the design, trim and wheels are flawless. inside, the cabin is cozy with a comfortable driver's seat. Everything is easy to reach. Rear-seat legroom is tight. Cargo space is about the same as a compact sedan, small for a hatch. The view rearward is restricted, and we recommend the optional rearview camera that comes with the navigation system. fuel economy is an epa-estimated 43 mpg city, 40 mpg highway. We weren't able to achieve that, however, never reaching 38 mpg. with the prius powertrain, the ct 200h makes 98 horsepower from the 1. 8-liter atkinson cycle gas engine and 80 hp 60 (kw) from the generator, for a total of 134 hp, not much. Its 0-60 mph acceleration time of 9. 8 seconds is the same lethargic pace as that of the prius. It corners so well that a driver might be lured into treating the car in a sporty manner, but the small engine and electronically controlled continuously variable transmission cannot respond to that urge. Don't count on going anywhere in ev, the all-electric mode: we couldn't cross the street from the bank to the grocery store in ev mode. we were surprised and delighted to discover the ct 200h handles so well, and the 2012 f sport goes even better. In any model, the cornering is spirited and secure. This lexus has impressive balance, with a low center of gravity and centralized moment of inertia. The ct 200h is very maneuverable, able to make a u-turn in just 34. 2 feet. The brakes are firm, too. The optional leather package 1,330) features perforated leather-trimmed seats, memory for driver seat, rain-sensing wipers, auto-dimming outside mirrors with memory. Options include auto-leveling led headlights with washers 1,215) and the premium audio package 1,125) with 6-disc cd and 10 speakers. the navigation package 2,445) includes hdd navigation system, rearview camera, enhanced bluetooth, lexus enform with destination assistance, lexus insider, remote touch navigation controller, voice-command recognition, xm navtraffic and weather and sports and stocks, and deletes the standard compass. the f sport package 1,000) features special suspension tuning, black nuluxe upholstery, dark graphite 17-inch alloy wheels, mesh grilles, big rear spoiler, aluminum pedals, perforated leather steering wheel, titanium-gray metal instrument panel trim, and special badging. F sport is also available with leather 2,330). safety features include frontal airbags, side and knee airbags in front, full-length curtain airbags, electronic stability control, anti-lock brakes with brake assist, traction control, whiplash injury lessening seats, safety connect with automatic collision notification, stolen vehicle location, emergency assist button and enhanced roadside assistance. Optional safety features include the rearview camera and the pre-collision system with dynamic cruise control. walkaroundthe lexus ct 200h looks like no other lexus. Some would call this five-door a long hatchback, but it's more like a small wagon. Its overall length is the same as the audi a3 wagon, and its profile from all angles is very similar. The radio antenna adds to the coolness by being located there, rear center. It says hybrid on the side, in discreet but clear chrome letters. the only lexus badge is in front, inside the dark grille pushed forward of the headlamps, and its chrome badge. Lexus describes the nose much more vividly than we might: the grille incorporates a deeper, more sculpted interpretation of the l-finesse signature arrowhead motif, they say. The upper and lower grilles combine to form a unique spindle shape, bringing both bold simplicity and elegant dynamism to the very apex of the vehicle. the coefficient of drag is a low 0. 29, as much of the aero design was decided by wind tunnel testing, a program called computerized fluid dynamics. More attention to detail: there are no less than nine tweaks under the car, to smooth the airflow. the details are superb. Handsome 10-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels, impressive headlights either with single halogen or twin led low beams, led drls, black lower airdam, tidy foglights, compact aerodynamic sideview mirrors, a neat chrome outline around the windows, black b-pillar to blend with tinted glass, body-colored door handles, wide rear door openings, led taillights with horizontal red brake-light stripes that curve around the edge of the car and up. But no such luck. we wanted to shoot the dinging bell that told us we were in reverse, as if we were a forklift or ups truck, worse, because those heavy-equipment warnings are understandable for the safety of others, not for the driver whom lexus must presume is brainless. The dinging warning is actually a hazard, not a safety feature, because it interrupts the driver's concentration at a time when he or she needs it: backing up. if lexus wants to make reverse safer, they should relocate the lens for the backup camera so it's not blurred by wet weather. If kia can do it with the soul that's half the price of the ct 200h, then lexus should be able to. We were testing a soul at the same time, and the backup camera's view was clear. lexus calls the cockpit airy and spacious, but we'd call it cozy and snug. The steering wheel is a bit flat-bottomed, giving slightly more knee room when climbing in and out, and the driver's seat slides way back, although the driver's right knee is crowded against the center stack tunnel. The ct 200h f sport we drove had a plastic cellphone holder near the shift lever, which restricted hand access to the two small dials for the heated front seats. It was a clear afterthought because of this awkward location, which seems un-lexus-like. However, it appears that the problem only exists on models with the optional navigation system, as the cellphone slot is in a different place as standard equipment. Models without navigation use a thinner center console with cupholders fore and aft rather than side-by-side. The forward ends of door pockets are slim, while the back part is shaped for a bot.
13,988 Raleigh, NCRaleigh, NC at autoshopper.com