Ct Car Shows

Lexus CT hybrid is costly nonconformist

The Lexus, while more luxurious and spacious, runs the risk of having the same problem. Like I did with the CR-Z, I laud the effort of Toyota's luxury division to stray from the hybrid mold. But also like that other car, I'm just not convinced the edge in mileage achieved is worth the tradeoffs inherent in this vehicle, or that those extra mpg's justify its asking price (the car starts at just shy of $30,000. My feature-laden model provided by Lexus rang in at $38,239).

Beyond the hard stats, for even basic commuting satisfaction I found I had to leave the car in sport mode. Normal lagged a bit, and the most fuel-conscious Econ mode made the CT feel even more hesitant still. (Like the Prius, the car also has an all-electric mode, in which it can propel itself for very short distances solely on battery power. I guess this could come in handy if you run out of gas and are within a mile of a gas station.)

At least the car is comfortable. And chock full of amenities, as it should be for a vehicle wearing the Lexus badge. This one sported a moonroof, heated leather seats, automatic climate control, push-button start-stop and navigation system with a rear-view camera. But here's the thing: You can find a whole lot of those features in a Prius, which offers more room and more mpgs in the process.

Of course, a Prius doesn't look nearly as cool at the CT. This car is small and sporty-looking. At first glance, it reminded me of a Mazda3 hatchback – that had been smooshed. It has curves and small bulges in all the right areas to give it a hip, athletic appearance. The color of my test model, however, was a matter of perspective and controversy. Some were drawn to its hue of Daybreak Yellow Mica like a moth to light. Others had an opposite feeling, with at least one co-worker saying it looked like baby barf. Use your own judgment should you buy one of these – and be sure to look at it when sunshine is available.

Inside, the car was plushly appointed in the aforementioned leather and soft surfaces. The most prominent feature, other than the navigation screen that rises forth out of the dash, is the mouse-like button used for features such input commands for said nav system. The button is touchy, but worked OK for me. I found it easier to use than the controller in the last Audi I tested, but not by much.

Once in gear, the front-wheel-drive, continuously variable transmission-driven car was fairly smoothly, the 1.

Bethany Ct. Car Show! - Blazer Forum - Chevy Blazer Forums

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