In the entry-level premium segment, there are plenty of options. You've got the Audi A3, BMW 1-Series, MINI Cooper, Volkswagen GTI, amongst others.
But now there is a new choice, the Lexus CT200h. Unlike the other guys, it's a hybrid. Designed to be the anti-hybrid, the CT is meant to bring some sportiness to the table. With cars like Honda's CR-Z trying to do the same thing, we're a little skeptical about the whole sport-hybrid-thing. Although 00R received some initial impressions of the CT200h, it looks like The Truth About Cars has something a bit more concrete.
With that said, we suggest you take look at TTAC's full review by clicking "Read Article," then weigh in down below.
Is Lexus' CT200h the car that will bring SPORT into the hybrid world?
A Lexus without wood is like Dolly Parton without tits. The music of the experience takes your breath away and yet… you just feel something is missing. Is it the smile? The wig? When I looked at the press release clippings of the Lexus CT200h, I had trouble with the entire car. You want a sporty hybrid with the acceleration of a 15-year-old Camry to compete with the Audi A3 and BMW 1-Series? I know Toyota wants to build more hybrids. But as the owner of two hybrids, I thought this car would represent a Cimmaron moment for hybrids and the Lexus brand. Then I saw it in person. Perception and reality battled it out, and this is what I found.
When an enthusiast looks at the exterior of the CT200h, one word comes to mind: Scion. This car has the design of an expensive, sporty Scion with absolutely none of the ostentation and presence of a traditional Lexus. There is a bit of chrome on the grille, the usual circular L logo, and an awful lot of LED’s on the tail. It does have a presence about it… but it’s more of a youthful vehicle than anything Toyota has ever released under the Lexus brand...
[Source: The Truth About Cars]
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