2011 Lexus CT200h Hybrid

In Europe, where the price of gasoline roughly mirrors that of champagne, compact luxury cars are one of the biggest segments of the market. In the U.S., however, the Audi A3, the BMW 1-series, and the Volvo C30 will be lucky to break 23,000 combined sales in 2010. Lexus’s goal in the U.S. is to move 1000 CT200h’s a month, thereby increasing sales in the compact luxury segment by more than half.

The CT200h is based on the MC platform, which also underpins the Lexus HS250h hybrid, the Scion tC, and the Toyota Corolla. Like the HS, this car has a trailing-arm multilink rear suspension—instead of the torsion beam used by the Corolla—to better package the nickel-metal hydride battery pack and allow a lower load floor. Struts are used upfront. Lexus uses so-called performance dampers—braces that have a damper within them—between the front strut towers and spanning the trailing edges of the body to stiffen the structure and reduce vibration.

The CT has a version of the Prius powertrain underhood that mates a 1.8-liter four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle gasoline engine that produces 98 hp with an 80-hp electric motor for a combined output of 134. The only transmission available is a CVT; it directs the push to the front wheels. This lowly amount of power has to haul roughly 3200 pounds, so this vehicle is slow. Figure on the amble to 60 mph taking 10 seconds flat, or a tick and a half slower than we recorded in an A3 TDI. The trade-off is excellent mileage, with EPA ratings of 42 mpg city/41 highway compared with the Audi’s 30/42 figures.

Safety in Number (of Airbags)

The car’s interior is nicely appointed, although we don’t care for the standard NuLuxe faux-leather upholstery. And—as is the norm in this size class—rear-seat space is tight for six-footers. But the controls are cleanly laid out, and amenities such as dual-zone automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, Bluetooth phone and audio, and pushbutton start are standard. There are eight standard airbags, including knee bags for the driver and front passenger.

Radar cruise control with a pre-collision system is among the options, along with a power sunroof, LED headlights, heated front seats, and a backup camera that sends images to a monitor in the rearview mirror. There are four options packages: a premium audio system bundled with the sunroof and a garage-door opener; the same grouping plus the backup camera or a navigation system; and a leather-seating package that incorporates driver-seat memory and rain-sensing wipers.

Low Expectations Fulfilled

Like the Prius, the CT200h has an electric-only operating mode, EV, but it is pure gimmick. EV operation is theoretically possible for up to one mile at speeds up to 28 mph, but anything more than the lightest pedal pressure refires the gas engine. In the real world, the CT200h offers three driving modes: Eco has a very lazy throttle map, normal is slightly less lethargic, and sport is, well, still sluggish. The steering effort is higher in sport mode, which is good, because it’s light and inert in the other settings. We think the CT has a nicely balanced chassis, although it is difficult to tell because the stability control kills the fun before any mirth has a chance to materialize, and there’s little power with which to modulate the car’s cornering attitude.

The CT’s strengths are those associated with Lexuses and hybrids in general: a well-controlled ride, a quiet powertrain (provided you’re not caning it), muted wind and road noise, and excellent gas mileage. Plus, the CT200h is very nicely screwed together. However, when the CT goes on sale in February, its base price is likely to be around $31,500, higher than those of its three main rivals. Given the Lexus’s sloth and dull personality, we’d take one of the European cars—or even the much cheaper, mechanically similar, and more efficient Prius—instead.