2011 Lexus CT 200h: First Look

Lyndon Conrad Bell

Contributing Writer

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365 views Nov 8, 2010

2011 Lexus CT 200h

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Diving into the corner at speed, the Lexus CT 200h turns in willingly, offering no resistance whatsoever to the maneuver. Body remaining perfectly flat, the Lexus grips heroically and we sail th rough the curve with gleeful abandon. When it comes to carving corners, this new Lexus has serious chops.

Problem is most people buying it will probably never do that. Instead, most drivers, as they attempt to merge onto the freeway for the first time, are going to wonder why it takes so long to accelerate out of the path of that oncoming semi.

2011 Lexus CT 200h

Enlarge Photo

In their zeal to make the second dedicated hybrid in their lineup more youth-oriented, Lexus engineers concentrated heavily on the suspension, and came up with a beautifully handling automobile—one capable of putting the Lexus IS to the test. However, their next move, pulling the drivetrain out of the already marginally performing Toyota Prius and consigning it to haul around an additional 100 pounds of Lexus was clearly a mistake.

The proof?

We recorded an unofficial 10-second 0-60 with an average-sized adult female passenger aboard. Put a family of four and their appurtenant gear in the CT 200h and you’ll undoubtedly find yourself in the 11 to 12 second range. Of course, given the car is aimed at younger single folk, it will more likely be a carload of twenty- or thirty-somethings on their way to that hip new Asian fusion restaurant. Either way, the driver has to plan any move well ahead of time that could be accomplished without a thought in a car with more brisk acceleration.

To their credit, Lexus officials admit this is an issue. However, they hope one would focus instead on the fact this is the lowest priced Lexus ever, as well as the most fuel-efficient. So the question really becomes, what price are you willing to pay to get to 40 miles per gallon?