Lexus CT200h will give hybrids a run for their money

Canadians haven’t been buying hybrids as much as Americans do but the Lexus CT200h may give consumers reasons to reconsider.

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      So who buys the most hybrid vehicles in North America? Californians, of course—specifically, northern Californians. Drive around San Francisco and every tenth car is a hybrid of some kind, according to marketing researcher IHS/Polk Automotive. Oregon is another bright spot, with Seattle and Tucson in the running as well. That said, hybrid sales still account for only about three percent of all new-vehicle sales in the U.S.

      Canada, meanwhile, is running at about two percent overall, with Toyota’s Camry Hybrid posting the best numbers. Interestingly, “brand specific” models such as the Prius are stalled, according to automotive consultant Dennis DesRosiers.

      Why is that? Why don’t Canadians buy hybrids in the same numbers as Californians? After all, the populations are roughly the same, with every colour of the ethnic and demographic rainbow being represented in both places.

      The number one reason, DesRosiers says, is that these days, the internal-combustion engine has become so efficient, with such good fuel economy, that for many Canadians it just doesn’t make sense to spend extra on a hybrid. Add to that the fact that nonhybrid cars still offer a wider variety of body styles and configurations and the fact that diesel sales in Canada are “exploding”, and the numbers speak for themselves. Plus, the geography of Canada is so varied, with such extremes, that buyers tend to gravitate to more traditional “proven” automobiles. The Ford F-150, for example, has been the best-selling vehicle in Canada for decades.

      Unsurprisingly, the Toyota Prius is still the best-selling hybrid in the world, and its Hybrid Drive technology has been passed on to plenty of other models in the company’s lineup.

      Like the Lexus CT200h, for example. Borrowing heavily from the Corolla, the Matrix, and the Prius, the CT200h feels like all of these three behind the wheel. It has the pablum-esque performance of the Corolla/Matrix, but does return fuel economy comparable to that of the Prius.

      Unquestionably comfortable, the CT200h will seat five and can be had in four different trim levels. The 1.8-litre four-cylinder internal-combustion engine is of the Atkinson variety, which means the valves remain open a titch longer for maximum combustion. The electric motor is fed by a nickel-metal-hydride battery pack, and the whole thing is mated to a constantly variable transmission. There are four driving modes: EV, Eco, Normal, and Sport, but the Sport setting, which is supposed to enhance performance, is basically all sound and fury. The EV setting is all-electric, and the car will run on pure battery power until about 40 kilometres per hour, depending on how you drive it.

      This makes for exemplary fuel economy, yes, but the downside is that performance is… well… on the slow side of mediocre. The CT200h may be one of the most gutless cars on the road—its 134-horsepower output is enough to move the vehicle forward, but that’s about it. If you like a little pep in your step, you’re going to have to wring this car’s neck to find it.

      Comfort level is high, with an all-leather interior, all the usual upscale mod cons, and Lexus’s remote touch interface, which is essentially a stationary mouse that lets you access the car’s various functions via the monitor. Of the myriad “interfaces” on the market, this may be one of the most usable and easy to manage.

      So, no issues whatsoever with the CT200h’s driver-friendliness and manageability, but the goal here is environmental friendliness and a clear conscience. Among other things, the CT200h has stereo speakers that are made out of a bamboo-charcoal resin, performance be damned.

      Cost. The CT200h starts at $30,950, which is less than nonhybrid competitors such as the Audi A3 but a smidgen more than Mercedes’s B-class. Both of these will leave it in the dust when the pedal is put to the metal, but they offer higher fuel consumption.

      In Lexus’s own words, the CT200h is “the world’s first luxury hybrid hatchback”, which is true, I suppose. And for those buyers who want something with compact dimensions, an above-average comfort level, and top-of-the-heap fuel economy, yes, it performs as advertised. But don’t push it.

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