2013 Lexus CT Hybrid Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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It’s a Lexus, so it needs to be quality. It’s designed like a hot hatch, so it needs to be fast. And it’s a hybrid, so it needs to be efficient.
One out of 3 ain’t bad.
There was a time when Luxury, Sport and Economy were three different categories of cars. Today, we meld them together in order to come up with a whole that is actually less than the sum of its parts. The CT 200h offers you a compromise of traditional Lexus luxury, economy borrowed from the Prius and a sporty look that isn’t backed up in performance.
That’s right, the CT 200h utilizes the same familiar hybrid drivetrain as the Prius, packed into a shorter, lower container for some extra sportiness. That means a 1.8-liter engine with all the fancy tech Toyota provides, like variable valve timing and the 4 modular settings that take you from Eco to Sport. The engine is mated to a pair of permanent-magnet synchronous electric motors for a total of 134 hp. Here an all-electric mode is also available, which allows for travel at speeds up to 28 mpg for over a mile with the gasoline engine disengaged.
While EPA ratings are 43 mpg city/40 highway, that’s not enough to win recognition in anything other than the single-car category in which the CT 200h competes. More than that, the sportiness doesn’t deliver, either, as clicking the switch over to Sport means it’ll still take you nearly 10 seconds to hit 60 mph. That hasn’t been sporty in about half a century. Sport will also give full electric assist at partial throttle and tighten the steering as well as morphing the power-use gauge into a tach.
Yes, the CT 200h handles better than the Corolla/tC platform on which it’s based, helped by elements not found on either, like a lateral damper system and the aforementioned tightened steering ratio, but despite supportive seats, a low stance and a wide, thick steering wheel, the CT 200h never manages to feel truly sporty. The steering is still sloppy, the engine is still sluggish.
Yes, it’s true that it’s more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow, but that’s assuming either is fun to drive. New aerodynamic panels on a Prius don’t make it dynamic to drive.
That brings us to luxury. Many early adopters complained about a lack of luxury materials in the cabin. Fit and finish were fine, but oversights like a non-padded elbow rest on the door made for some serious sore spots. Lexus has fixed that, but the cheap materials still hang about, hidden and ready to jump out at you just as you start thinking to yourself, “Why did I spend so much money on this car?” At least some attempts have been made, and even ecology makes an appearance here, as the CT 200h boasts industry exclusive bamboo and resin speakers, plus some 30% plant-based plastic parts.
However, the CT 200h acts like the compact crossover it is in all situations. Things are tight inside, whether you’re a passenger or cargo, and never more so than for rear occupants. And don’t get your hopes up about rear visibility—it was an afterthought at best.
In all, the CT 200h attempts much but accomplishes little. It’s another victim of this mad dash for efficiency, or more specifically the mad dash to make money on the fashion thereof. Best to leave it alone before the industry leaves it behind.
User reviews for 2013 Lexus CT Hybrid
Write a review2013 Lexus CT Hybrid Pricing
Trims & specs
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Dual front knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: diversity · Voice recognition audio system · USB auxiliary audio input · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · AM/FM radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · Total Number of Speakers: 6
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 10.0 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 11.0 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Shift knob trim: chrome · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Assist handle: front · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: front · Multi-function remote: proximity entry system · One-touch windows: 4 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: accessory hook · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 10
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 3.27
Engine
Electric Motor Battery Type: nickel-metal hydride · Electric Motor HP: 80 · Electric Motor Power Output (Kilowatts): 60 · Electric Motor Torque: 153 · Hybrid Gas Engine HP: 98 · Hybrid Gas Engine HP@RPM: 5200 · Hybrid Gas Engine Torque: 105 · Hybrid gas Engine Torque@RPM: 4000
Exterior Features
Door handle color: body-color · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: chrome surround · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear spoiler: roofline spoiler · Rear spoiler color: body-color · Rear trunk/liftgate: liftgate · Window trim: chrome
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
Hybrid
Starter Type: motor/generator
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: maintenance reminder
Lights
Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps · Headlights: Halogen · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: integrated turn signals · Inside rearview mirror: manual day/night
Passenger Seat
Power adjustments: 4
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Roof
Moonroof: one-touch open/close
Safety
Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: front · Impact absorbing seats: dual front
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front and rear · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: flat · Upholstery: leatherette
Security
Power door locks: anti-lockout
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside · Size: temporary
Spare Wheel
Rim Type: steel
Steering
Steering ratio: 14.6 · Turns lock-to-lock: 2.7
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): rear
Telematics
Phone: voice activated · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent · Liftgate window: fixed · Power windows: with safety reverse · Rear wiper: with washer
