We already knew Toyota Motor Corporation’s products, including its hybrid cars, enjoy a strong following. Today, research firm J.D. Power and Associates added another award to further solidify its reputation.

For the fourth consecutive year, Lexus ranked highest in customer satisfaction among luxury brands in the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Customer Service Index (CSI) Study. Lexus achieved an overall CSI score of 861 on a 1,000-point scale, 15 points above the segment average, and the highest numerical score in the study, regardless of segment.

Lexus performed particularly well in three of the five measures: service initiation, service facility and service quality.

The 2012 CSI Study is based on responses from owners and lessees of 2007 to 2011 model-year vehicles. The study was fielded from October through December 2011. Lexus ranked highest in the J.D. Power and Associates Customer Satisfaction with Dealer Service (CSI) Study from 1991-1995, 1997-2001, 2006, and 2009-2012.

This announcement comes a month after J.D. Power and Associates 2012 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study ranked Lexus highest in vehicle dependability among all nameplates in 2012. In this same study, Toyota Motor Corporation’s Prius hybrid won the top spot for the compact car segment.

It is not surprising, in the light of these awards, to see Toyota Motor Corporation’s hybrid offering dominating the top spots sales-wise in our monthly dashboards, with the Toyota Prius and Camry first and second, followed by the Lexus CT200h.

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If you’ve decided your next vehicle will be a hybrid but you don’t want one that stands out like the Prius – and also wouldn’t mind increased luxury and fun-to-drive quotient – the 2012 Lexus CT 200h could be the one for you.

The CT 200h is Lexus’s fifth hybrid offering – the most of any automobile nameplate – and with a combined city-highway mileage of 42 mpg, it is the only vehicle in the luxury segment to top 40 mpg. Since coming on the market last year, while decidedly below the kingpin Prius in sales numbers, it has otherwise ranked relatively well.

Classified as a compact car, the CT (Compact Tourer) is the smallest Lexus at 170.1 inches long, 69.5 inches wide, and 56.7 inches tall. It is built on a version of the platform that also underpins the Scion tC, Toyota Corolla and the larger Lexus HS 250h.

Using the HS 250h’s rear double A-arms, the suspension has been retuned for sportier handling and features a Yamaha front and rear damping system that stiffens the structure and minimizes body vibration.

New For 2012

For 2012 the CT200h is available with two new option packages for the top-end Premium trim: the F-Sport Package and the F-Sport Special Edition. The F-Sport Package includes a tuned suspension, 17-inch wheels, an exclusive mesh grille, larger rear deck spoiler and F-Sport badging. Inside, extra touches include aluminum sport pedals, a leather-trimmed shift knob, metallic trim added to the dash panel and a black headliner.

The F-Sport Special Edition includes the F-Sport Package’s upgrades but with different wheels, Ocean Blue NuLuxe leatherette-trimmed seats, and a TUMI duffle bag and backpack with F-Sport logos. The F-Sport Special Edition production is limited to 900 cars.

Pricing for the CT 200h is unchanged for 2012.

Also new for 2012, all CT 200h models receive an audible pedestrian warning system. As federal regulators study warning sound devices eventually to be made mandatory for electric and hybrid vehicles, Lexus is doing what others are as well and bringing in its version early.

The warning system is designed to help make pedestrians to be aware of the presence of hybrid or electric vehicles traveling at low speeds on city streets and automatically turns off above a certain speed.

Pricing for the 2012 CT 200h is unchanged from 2011: $29,120 for the base model, $31,250 for the premium trim.

Under The Hood

The CT 200h is powered by a version of the Prius powertrain with an efficient Atkinson cycle 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that generates 98 horsepower and 105 pounds-feet of torque. Combined with an 80-hp electric motor, a generator and a 202-volt nickel-metal hydride battery pack, the series and parallel hybrid system produces a total of 134 hp. A continuously variable transmission (CVT), the only transmission available, directs the push to the front wheels.

Fuel Economy Or Fun?

The CT’s hybrid system features four driving modes: EV, Eco, Normal and Sport. EV mode allows drivers to go all electric for up to a mile – as long as the car is kept below 25 mph on flat paved surfaces (think parking lots). Normal mode brings the CVT into play, allowing the car to respond to changing driving conditions by instantaneously adjusting its gear ratios. Eco mode alters that formula to provide maximized fuel economy for gas-electric driving – slowing cabin cooling, limiting throttle and accelerating battery charging. The Eco mode is where drivers are most likely to achieve the government’s estimated 43 mpg city and 40 mpg highway fuel mileage.

Eco mode offers maximum fuel economy.

The “touring” personality of the car is introduced with the Sport mode which is calibrated toward performance and handling. In this setting, the throttle is cranked up considerably, power control from the battery is increased from 500 to 600 volts and the CT’s electric power steering is adjusted to be more responsive. To liven things up a bit, the stability and traction control systems become less intrusive.

These adjustments obviously cut into fuel economy, but much of the pleasure of owning a car like this isn’t so much the extra performance it provides in all driving situations, but the knowledge that it’s there when you’re in the mood for it.

Does this new system live up to Lexus’s claim that with the CT, “fun-to-drive and hybrid can be used in the same sentence?” Motor Trend’s test drive says, “Lexus quotes a 0-to-60 time identical to the Prius at 9.8 seconds. Despite the not-so-sporty times, no amount of flogging by us journalist types during the drive could get the indicated fuel economy under 34 mpg. Not bad.” The magazine also commented, “The most remarkable thing about the CT 200h is how easy it is to forget that you’re driving a hybrid. Regardless of driving mode, transitions to and from electric power and gasoline power are so seamless that you simply forget they’re happening. Power is plenty adequate in most situations, but can leave you wanting when passing or climbing hills.” Car and Driver reports that, “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.”

Exterior And Interior

Placing a big back door instead of a trunk on a small car doesn’t seem very Lexus-like, but the CT 200h was designed for Europe where luxury five-door hatchbacks are becoming a large segment of the market. The question is, will the CT sell in Peoria? After all, American automotive history is awash with hatchbacks that didn’t make it, like the short-lived Lexus IS 300 Sportcross.

In its favor, the CT 200h has strong visual links to the LF-Ch concept Lexus unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. Athletic styling is highlighted by a slightly raked roofline, while the eye-catching details include the character line streaming down its side and the crease above the rocker panel. In the front, sharp contour lines add extra dimension to the sculpted hood while deeply recessed fog lights give it an aggressive look. In back, the unique-to-Lexus rear-access door straddles the line between hatchback and wagon and has a small, stylish lip that runs through the middle of the liftgate. In true hybrid fashion, the CT has impressive aerodynamics with a coefficient of drag at 0.29, just behind the Prius’s 0.25.

Like the outside, the CT’s cabin also plays off the LF-Ch concept with a two-tiered dash. While the design is untypically stylish for Lexus, it is somewhat spoiled by a drive selector lever that is standard Toyota hybrid equipment and not very sporty in appearance. Switchgear is familiar Lexus offerings, meaning the tactile feel is quality and substance. Of note, when the Sport mode is selected, illumination of the instrument panel changes from blue to red and the left Eco gauge changes to a tachometer.

As for the interior, Popular Mechanics commented, “Drivers will appreciate the CT 200h’s low seating position, rakish steering angle, and fat steering wheel, all of which are decidedly un-Prius-like.” Conversely, Motor Trend had some rather unkind words about the interior design: “The overall design of the dash is unconventional and brings to mind the cockpit of a jet airliner, but it looks as though Lexus has simply dropped in parts wherever they fit with little thought to aesthetics.”

Lexus did a credible job of carving as much space as possible in a compact car. The driver and front seat passenger will find comfortable seating positions and those in back, well, it’s a compact. The 60/40-split rear seatbacks fold forward, providing a flat cargo floor. A retractable cargo cover provides privacy in back, and there’s plenty of room behind the backseat for a week’s worth of groceries. This is the first Lexus equipped with faux leather that the automaker calls “NuLuxe.” Real cowhide is available as an option.

To compete in the compact luxury class Lexus has equipped the CT with all of the desired standard features: keyless entry with touch sensors on exterior front door handles; dual-zone climate control; cruise control; steering-wheel audio controls; heated seats; Bluetooth for phone and music streaming; USB/iPod connectivity; and a six speaker audio system with a CD player. There’s a magnum load of options that can push the $29,120 starting price beyond $40,000: LED headlamps with washers; rain-sensing wipers; dynamic cruise control; backup camera; and a navigation system that uses a mouse-like controller. Surprisingly, the Mark Levinson audio system is missing from the options list.

The expected safety gear includes eight air bags, anti-lock disc brakes with brake assist, electronic stability control and traction control.

Competitors

If you recognize the sensibleness of the hatchback design and want the amenities that the luxury class offers, the CT 200h might work, but a more sporty alternative to consider is Audi’s A3.

The Audi’s TDI clean diesel has an output of 140 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque that serves up 42 mpg on the highway – 3 mpg better than the CT 200h. However, its 30 mpg city rating is 13 mpg less for city driving. Starting at $30,250, the additional $1,130 may be worth it if performance and handling are important considerations.

Or, if most of your driving is in town and a hatchback just isn’t your style, the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid should be on your-cars-to-test- drive list. Yes, the $34,755 base price is $5,600 more, but its 41 mpg city (only 36 highway) is close to the CT’s and the MKZ has more room inside, is more comfortable and has way more cargo space.

Then again, there’s the Prius V. Starting at $26,400, it’s a hatchback, has more interior room and offers something the CT doesn’t have, light-emitting diode (LED) headlamps and foglamps. It may not be as sporty as the Lexus, but it does offer something else not available on the CT, the cachet of the Prius nameplate.

Prices are Manufacture Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) at time of writing and do not include destination charges, taxes or licensing.

The comments posted below were posted after this article was originally posted in March 2010.

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Detail of LF-Gh hybrid concept

Lexus today teased the first images of the LF-Gh hybrid concept that it will make its world debut at the 2011 New York International Auto Show. The images provide a glimpse of the future direction of Lexus design, which will use hybrid technology as a key market advantage.

Lexus describes the design direction as “stylish and assertive,” and a “projection of what a luxury car could become in a modern world.” The concept design appears to be more fanciful and angular than current Lexus models. Some observers believe the concept could be a precursor to the next-generation GS hybrid.

Top: Lexus LF-Gh hybrid concept detail
Bottom: 2010-2011 Lexus GS 450h detail

As Lexus considers its next generation, the brand has just launched the new Lexus CT 200h—with early signs of success. In March, Lexus reported sales of nearly 2,200 units in its first month on the market. The new model immediately became the third most popular hybrid, behind the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight.

The LF-Gh hybrid concept will be on display in the Lexus exhibit at the New York International Auto Show from April 20 – May 1, 2011.

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For nearly a decade, the Toyota Prius has dominated the hybrid market, selling more than all other gas-electric vehicles combined. But for all the great reasons to drive a Prius, the quintessential hybrid is far from the most engaging ride on the road. Let’s face it, hybrid fans: the essential and very important benefits of the Prius—great fuel economy and reduced emissions at the top of the list—comes with the penalty of a goody-goody high-tech dork factor.

The Lexus CT 200h—just arriving in U.S. dealerships—seeks to remove that stigma. Moreover, the Lexus CT represents the next phase of hybrids that are not just high-mileage mobility appliances providing basic transportation at a reasonable price, to cars with style, great handling and luxury features. Lexus calls it “the darker side of green.” This transition—also attempted by the Honda CR-Z two-seater hybrid—is necessary to move hybrids beyond its current mark of 3 percent of new car sales to a larger and younger market. “We are hoping to hit our 25- to 39-year-old target 36 times over the eight weeks of [our CT 200h] campaign,” said Dave Nordstrom, Lexus vice president of marketing, as reported in Automotive News. “With gas prices going up, we’re optimistic with how the car is being received. I don’t like what’s going on in Middle East, but it’s helping with this car.”

“Unlike any hybrid you have ever met.” Maybe you’ve seen the television commercial—airing on NCAA basketball events and Comedy Central—where the CT 200h drives in an Escher-esque urban environment, with techno music providing the backbeat.

The CT 200h is Lexus’ fifth hybrid model, moving alongside the Lexus HS 250h—the luxury brand’s more recent (and milder) attempt to offer the Prius in a less nerdy shape. The somewhat plain Lexus HS 250h, a hybrid-specific model, is aimed at luxury buyers wanting a trunk instead of a hatchback. It uses the Camry Hybrid’s 2.4-liter engine and drivetrain to yield combined mileage of 35 mpg.

On the other hand, the CT 200h is five thousand bucks cheaper and a thousand miles cooler—aimed squarely at more youthful buyers. It uses the Prius’s 1.8-liter engine and hybrid system to boost combine mileage to 42 mpg. The CT 200h sits lower to the ground, has great lines, sharp edges, a more ergonomic cockpit, and wheels pushed to the corners. The model that HybridCars.com recently drove had 17-inch low-profile 215/45 tires mounted on the kind of wheels you’d expect to find on a Lexus IS. The Lexus CT 200h replaces the Prius torsion bar rear-end with a fully independent double wishbone. In our short ride in the CT 200h, we wouldn’t call it a speed demon—but its sportier feel and able road manners are a notch or two above the Prius.

Lexus CT 200h (Photo: HybridCars.com, 2011. All rights reserved.)

The CT hybrid is five inches shorter than the Prius with a wheelbase four inches shorter. At the same time, the Lexus CT 200h maintains a practical hatchback design with an interior feel nearly as big as the Prius. Although it has a few pounds on the best-selling hybrid, the CT 200h moves into position as the second most fuel-efficient (non-plug) car on the market—essentially tied with the Honda Civic Hybrid and surpassed only by the 50-mpg Prius. The Lexus CT 200h, offered just below $30,000 or about the price of a fully loaded Prius, is the lowest price Lexus.

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Toyota announced over the weekend that the all-new 2011 Lexus CT 200h—the first luxury hybrid hatchback—will be rated with a combined city-highway mileage of 42 mpg.

For comparison, the Audi A3 TDI clean diesel hits 41 mpg on the highway while only managing 30 mpg in the city. The upcoming Lincoln MKZ Hybrid will reach 41 mpg in the city, but is rated at 36 mpg on the highway. The EPA has not released official numbers for the CT 200h, but according to Toyota, it will become only the fourth car on the U.S. market that has a combined rating above 40 mpg. We expect city mileage close to 45 mpg.

The 2011 Lexus CT 200h compact hybrid—like the 2010 Toyota Prius—features a 1.8-liter 98-horsepower gas engine and 80-hp electric motor for total system power of 134 hp. It’s capable of accelerating from 0-60 mph in 9.8 seconds and can reach a maximum speed of 112 mph.

Pricing for the new Lexus hybrid, which goes on sale next year, has not yet been announced.

Keywords: Efficient, Luxury, Compact, Hatchback

With the CT 200h, Lexus combines sporty attributes, luxury features and class-leading fuel economy. Honda made a similar but less successful attempt in the entry-level category with the Honda CR-Z. Whereas the CR-Z sacrificed on practicality (just two seats) and fuel economy (only 37 mpg combined), the Lexus CT 200h could illustrate that a gas-electric car needs to earn its hybrid badge by reaching at least beyond 40 mpg. Again, we don’t yet know about pricing for the CT 200h, so it’s hard to comment on value for the money.

The decision to emphasize dynamic driving or eco-friendliness is somewhat up to the driver—thanks to four different driving mode selections. Sport mode maximizes the CT 200h’s performance and handling. Engine revs are held higher, and throttle and power steering settings give a faster response to driver inputs. ECO mode maximizes mileage, but minimizes throttle response from the accelerator pedal, and reduces power of air-conditioning.

The Lexus CT 200h also offers “EV mode,” which promises a full mile on electric power alone, at speeds less than 25 miles per hour. As we have reported, the value of EV mode on conventional no-plug hybrids is overrated. Sure, it’s fun to go EV for a few blocks, but you pay the efficiency price when the gas engine chugs gas to recharge the batteries. Nonetheless, it is a convenient feature for creeping through parking lots.

Normal mode strikes a mid-way balance between ECO and Sport. Yet, even when in normal or ECO mode, the Lexus CT 200h tries to offer a sports-like driving experience, due to careful interior design. Lexus describes it like this: “A low driver’s seat with enhanced lateral and lumbar support, a sporting, wide grip steering wheel and a driver-focused instrument binnacle housing large, high-visibility, triple dials.”

The Lexus CT 200h gets high marks for aerodynamics. The drag of coefficient is 0.28, the lowest in the compact luxury category—yet not as good as the appliance-looking Prius. Lexus says the aerodynamics of the Lexus CT 200h are not only to support efficiency, but also the quality of its handling, ride comfort and stability at high speed.

The production-ready full hybrid Lexus CT 200h—the fifth hybrid offered by Lexus—will be unveiled at the Paris motor show on September 30. U.K. sales are scheduled to start in early 2011, and in the U.S. later in the year.

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For the CT 200h, Lexus will essentially replace the Power mode found in its other dedicated hybrid, the HS 250h, with a new Sport mode which will be tooled towards maximum performance and handling. In Sport mode throttle is cranked up considerably, power control from the battery increases by about 15 percent, and the CT’s Electronic Power Steering is adjusted to be more responsive. Lexus will also make its Vehicle Stability and Traction Control systems more passive, allowing for more driver control.

These adjustments obviously cut into fuel economy, but much of the joy of owning a car like this isn’t so much the extra performance it provides in all driving situations but the knowledge that it’s there if you’re in the mood for it.

The three more efficient driving modes are called Normal, Eco, and EV. EV mode allows drivers to go all-electric for up to a mile—so long as the car is kept below 25 mph. Normal mode utilizes Toyota’s Electronically Controlled Continuously Variable Transmission, allowing the car to respond to changing driving conditions by instantaneously adjusting its gear ratios. Eco mode alters that formula to provide maximized fuel economy for gas-electric driving—slowing cabin cooling, limiting throttle and accelerating battery charging.

The CT 200h will essentially be smaller, more aerodynamic, 5-door hatchback version of the HS 250h—which had the same sized wheelbase as the Toyota Prius but dialed-down aerodynamics for the sake of a roomier, more luxurious interior—at the expense of about 15 MPGs of fuel economy. Lexus has essentially reversed that process for the CT 200h, with the result being a smaller, more efficient luxury small car that can still pack a punch when needed.

The car will hit dealerships in the United States early next year.

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