Gen3 Prius Owners vs. CT200h

The wife has a Gen3 Prius IV and I have the CT

Plus's for Prius

• Higher mileage
• More rear seating room

Plus's for the CT

• Quieter
• Better seats
• More options available (toys)
• Better handling
• Better looks (subjective)

Could be more, but that's a quick list off the top of my head.

Awhh, my favorite subject. ;-) CT vs Prius hehe I completely agree with everything mentioned. However, I personally don't have any cons at this time. (maybe later)

Here are a few more reasons why I jumped on the CT bandwagon, after looking for a hybrid that we could both agree on:

1) The CT is 100% smoother and handles bumps 100% better than the Prius.

2) The cabin is much more insulated. (you probably noticed during your test drive.) As a result, the engine noise is a lot less pronounced in the CT. In fact, under the hood there is a large insulated pad attached to the hood. The Prius does not have that. It makes a difference.

3) When the gas engine shuts off after warming or between stops... it has much less shutter. It's far less noticeable.

4) Parking & turning corners is sooo much easier in the CT. In the Prius, seeing past the long space shuttle dash makes it difficult to judge how close you were to things. (for me at least) Whenever I parked I was always at least 5 ft from the cement block, yet I felt like I was parked perfectly. I can't tell you how many times I had to get back in the car and pull up closer. (annoying) I could never get used to the feeling of a super long front end... yet it was actually so short.

5) The steering in the CT is sooo much easier. It turns on a dime! In the Prius, I felt like I was getting a work out at times. I distinct difference in how much LESS effort it takes to turn the wheel in the CT.

6) FUN...FUN...FUN....AND MORE FUN TO DRIVE!!!


After, much kicking & screaming (damn near), my husband & I sold our Gen 3 Prius to Car Max yesterday. (oh happy day!) He will be the proud owner of a silver CT next week. Yes, he had some of the same concerns, but has since become a believer after driving & riding in my CT for the past 2 weeks.

Well I'll throw in my $0.02 on this topic. I drove the Gen II Prius for 5 years and a Gen III for the last year. The Gen III was a big improvement in almost every way over the Gen II. Better handling, better engine, better power, and better mileage due to the new batteries and software. However, with the introduction of the CT200h and the 2012 Camry Hybrid, I thought I go test drive them and see if I'm missing out on much.

2012 Camry Hybrid
Pro: Wow, 2.5 liter engine w/200HP and near 40 MPG rating? The is the future folks! Very smooth ride, quiet, and comfortable. Good visibility. New apps for the Navi is a plus. More low end torque than my Prius.

Con: While I enjoy the better sound isolation, the slightly floaty ride and disconnected driving experience pluse size of the car isn't quite my style. This might not be a con for you. Also since it is so new, dealers were only taking 100 to $200 off MSRP. A joke IMO.

2012 CT200H
Pro: Love the interior fit and finish. Feels like a grown up car. The chassis is tight, so bumps don't upset it like the Prius. Precise handling makes it easy to drive and park. Much quieter than the Prius. The Nuluxe feels better and will wear better than the leather in my Prius. Keyless entry sensors in the driver, passenger, and trunk (like my Gen II Prius)! Boy how I missed them!

Con: Smaller car over all. Carries less in the back. Not great visibility out the high back hatch. Backup camera is a must IMO. Garbage stereo in the base model, Navi Premium sound is a must IMO. Not great visibility out the side C pillar as you turn to check blind spot. They should have included the Blind Spot Sensor from the 2012 Camry in this car IMO. Need to work the side mirrors more when making turns.

I had the unusual chance of driving a CT200h for a full week while my wife's 450h was in for service at Lexus. I would drive the same route back to back with my Prius and then the CT. Boy did I fall in love with the CT. After 500 miles of back to back testing here are my thoughts. I noticed that while it is quieter than the Prius, it's not a hushed silence like in a LS460. It is quieter because its chassis is much stiffer and suspension is much more sophisticated than the Prius. When I hit a pump in the Prius, I notice not only do I hear it, I feel it, but it seems to shake the whole car all the way up to the roof. In the CT200h, I hear that pump less, and the suspension pretty much soaks it up without it spreading up the car, very similar to my last BMW 330i. As a result, the car tracks very well on the freeway. Also the higher frequencies (road/tire noise) in the CT are much more hushed than the Prius. This made hearing my clients on the bluetooth (and them hearing me) much easier. Also talk radio was easier to understand at much lower volumes. (so my ears don't ring at night) Most of all, in my Prius, when traveling above 60 MPH, the A pillars were increasingly noisy with the rushing of wind. This was not a problem in my Gen II. And I was also very happy to see that like the Gen II, the CT200h has keyless entry sensors in the passenger handle as well as the rear hatch door. A huge convenience factor IMO.

I picked up my CT last week and really enjoying it. I do miss some of the space of my Prius, but the shorter length is a plus in my case. I never have passengers in the back and parking in SF is now easier. I'm happy to answer any other questions.