2011 Lexus CT 200h first drive car review: a new compact hybrid from Lexus

As a compact 5-door hatchback, the 2011 Lexus CT 200h would be something new for Toyota's luxury brand, but as a Luxury compact 5-door hatchback dedicated hybrid vehicle, it's not just something new for Lexus, but a world-wide one of a kind, at least for a volume model from a major manufacturer.

Lexus builds other hybrids--Lexus GS 450h, Lexus LS 600h L, and Lexus RX 400h-- and even another compact hybrid, the Lexus HS 250h, but that hatch makes the CT 200h unique. The Lexus HS 250h, using the EPA's standards, is in fact classified as a compact, as is the Lexus CT. But the HS 250h is significantly larger than the CT 200h, fourteen inches longer with a half-foot more wheelbase. However it's a conventional three box design, and as such, a Lexus spokesman hypothesizes, has been a sales disappointment for Lexus. Unlike the Toyota Prius, the Lexus HS 2250h has traditional three-box styling and goes largely unnoticed and undersells. At least that's the official line.

View slideshow: 2011 Lexus CT 200h in pictures

The 2011 Lexus CT 200h should stand out in profile thanks to its distinctive A-shaped C-pillar and lack of trunk, and from behind by, well, its lack of trunk. At the other end, the CT 200h displays what Lexus calls "powerful new Lexus frontal design." The new Lexus face decreases the height of the main grille, blacking out the crossbars, and extends the sides of the inverted trapezoidal shape down through the front bumper. Overall it's crisper and makes the current theme look chubby in comparison.

Under the hood Underneath the sharply creased hood, the Lexus CT 200th is the same engine used in the Toyota Prius, including the latest exhaust heat recovery system, along with improvements in the Toyota/Lexus Hybrid Drive system to reduce NVH (noise, vibration and harshness). The 1.8-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine is by itself is rated at 98 horsepower with 105 lb-ft of torque but together with the 80 horsepower electric motor reaches a peak total output of 134 horsepower. Foot to the floor, the 2011 Lexus CT goes from 0 to 60 mph in 9.8 seconds and has a top speed of 112 mph.

The Lexus CT 200h has the familiar Toyota/Lexus Hybrid Drive system, though now in its second generation. It's significantly updated, according to Lexus: "A highly-advanced, internal gear machining process offers enhanced planetary ring gear precision, minimizing transmission noise. The lubrication system has been designed to reduce oil agitation losses and transaxle component friction has been significantly reduced through the adoption of tapered bearings instead of ball bearings."

If babied, the drive system is able to operate on electric power alone to about 23 miles per hour. Using battery power alone , the CT can go about one mile. Of course, that requires driving on level ground, with no stopping and no faster than 23 miles per hour on level ground.

Modes, we got modes Controls for the CT 200h include, in addition to the electric-only mode (going too fast will kick it into gas/electric operation), a sport mode. Sport shows up with "red haze" illumination on the instrument panel and the energy consumption gauges turns into a tachometer. Sport also turns down the boost on the electric power steering for increased road feel cranking up throttle response. The ECO mode does largely the opposite, requiring more gas pedal movement for the same acceleration. It was described as similar to a "snow mode", and although a heavy foot will override it, in real world, the greater required pedal movement results in better fuel mileage.

Lexus brags about the chassis stiffness of the new hatchback and indeed even added a shock tower strut that bridges from one side of the engine compartment to the other. That horizontal bar, however, adds a tuned damper that absorbs chassis vibration for a smoother, quieter ride. Lexus claims the CT 200h has sporty handling, aided in part by the hybrid drive's under-floor batteries lowering the center of gravity which helps keep the CT level when cornering.

Zigzag testing Our initial drive on Florida's straight roads with square corners kept us from experiencing this part of the Lexus CT's personality. That's unfortunate, as Lexus hypes the hybrid's sporty handling. However our zigzag test, where we scientifically swing the steering wheel back and forth, confirmed the firmer steering response in sport mode and a generally planted feel overall.

Not surprisingly, the drivetrain felt much like that of a Prius. The gasoline engine applies power through a continuously variable transmission and that has all the benefits in fuel economy of such a gearless box, but the lack of direct connection to the ground and the slipping clutch feel send sportiness packing. We'll need to try the Lexus CT 200h later on winding roads for a more complete evaluation. Stay tuned.

The 2011 Lexus CT 200h is still a Lexus, however, and as such the CT has to deliver on creature comforts. We're pleased to report that the Lexus CT controls road noise, even on coarse pavement, particularly well for this size and price class. The front seats live up to the sporty assignment, well bolstered on both seat bottom and seat back, and we think they would be comfortable for all day in the hybrid saddle. The back seat is snug on leg room, though rear headroom will be adequate for most despite the tapering roofline of the CT 200h.

The 2011 Lexus CT 200h has the odd electronic drive selector of the Toyota/Lexus Hybrid Drive system, mounted high on the center stack that flows back into a wide console that steals knee room from the front passenger.

Feels like Lexus The leather seating of our test drive car had simple rather than French stitching, and although the dash was soft touch along with most of the door panels, the upper part was hard plastic. Overall, however, the interior had the look and feel of a car in the Lexus family.

As a hybrid, however, one expects not only Lexus comfort but also exceptional fuel mileage. The EPA rates the 2011 Lexus CT 200h at 43 city and 40 highway miles per gallon fuel consumption. Our drives were necessarily limited but we recorded 39.0 mpg on a route with mixed freeway and suburban surface roads. In slow speed and stop and go driving, we recorded an outstanding 52.5 mpg, and that with driving normally without no hypermiling tricks.

While Lexus' experience with the Lexus HS 250h has been, as one Lexus spokesman said, "interesting," Lexus hasn't set expectations for the 2011 Lexus CT 200h very high. At the current time--meaning as long as current relatively reasonable gas prices continue--there's "not a lot of market," and Lexus expects sales of about 1,500 per month. Lexus anticipates, however, that 60 percent of sales will be to 30 to 40 year old post-Baby Boom, Gen X and Gen Y buyers with a household income of around $100,000. More importantly, 60 percent are expected to be "conquest", buying a Lexus for the first time.

Lexus concedes that an important draw to the 2011 Lexus CT 200h is simply that it's a hybrid and that it will look green in its owner's driveway. Impress the neighbors, you know. Of course operating costs have been shown to be an attractant to hybrid ownership. Factoring into the latter will be price, which hasn't been set yet but Lexus representatives say price should be just under $30,000 when the CT 200h arrives in March as the newest--in a number of ways--Lexus on the block.

2012 Lexus key specifications

Body style/layout:5-door sedan, front engine/front-wheel drive

Engine