I am confused. I see the term LED and HID headlights been synonymously used. To my understanding LED is lighting emitting diode (no bulb) and HID is high intensity discharge (Xenon bulb). LED is newer technology which utilizes much lower current. The LED DRL (daylight running lights) is standard for 2012 model year in the US as well as the HID low beam headlights. Also there is another option for 1.215k for low beam LED headlights in addition to DRL LED's. So low beam LED headlight option is different than the HID? Right? Prius V similarly got an option for LED headlights in addition to LED's for DRL.
You are correct the LED DRLs are on all models. The CT200h comes standard with low beam Halogen and optional low beam LED bulbs. You can easily and inexpensively ( $50 -$150 depending on brand) upgrade the Halogen bulbs to HID. The HID is plug-an-play , no wire cutting. An HID kit consists of wiring , HID lights, and two ballasts one for each light. The ballasts can be easily hidden and attached using some industrial strength velcro ( $7-8). The amperage is the same as standard halogen 35W or you can get 50W. The ballasts are necessary to limit the HID bulb's arc current because of the negative resistance where after lamp ignition the increasing arc current reduces the voltage drop. Color on the HID is determined by the temperature in Kelvin ( conversion Centigrade + 273.15 degrees) . Maximum lumens occurs between 4100-4300K. 4300k matches the color of the LED DRL's. 3000k is yellow, 4100-4300K is pure white, 5000K is extreme white, 6000K is diamond blue, 8000k is blue, 10,000K is purple/blue and 12,000k is purple. While 4300k matches the LED DRL's perfectly, I like the way 6000K lights the road white and anyway when the low beams come on the LED DRLs dim quite a bit. Some people like yellow fog lights, I went with some bright white LEDs which are probably closer to the color of 8000K HIDs.
There are various costs of HID kits and some have had better luck with more expensive ones. I originally had DRM lights, but had problems with the lights not turning on ( firing the intial arc) all the time. I replaced them with Kensun lights and have not had any problems; some people have had fitment ptoblems with Kensun and a few with lights not always turning on; I have not encountered these problems . Both the DRM and Kensun are around $55. There are more expensive kits for around $150 that people who have are very pleased. What are the differences ? Most of the wiring is basic copper wire with some waterproof connectors; they are all basically the same. The main difference is in the ballasts. They have to consistently let enough current through to always fire the lights and then quickly increase their resistance to limit the current; not all ballasts are equal. The lights can have some differences in quality, but me thinks not as much as the reviews would have you believe. You can always replace the actual HID lights and they will work off another brand ballast if you remain at the same wattage. Contrary to what some of the HID vendors would have you belive a wiring harness is absolutely not necessary for 35W. I personally don't think it is needed even if you go to 50W. A relay harness works as follows. Instead of turning on the lights, you instead turn on a relay, one for each headlight. The relay connects directly to the 12 volt battery , so in theory you could get more than 2.91 amps ( 35W/12V) if you need more or somehow if one could imagine your headlights are not getting their full 35W. The relay circuit is fused with a 5 amp fuse, so theoretically you could get 60 Watts. However, if you look at the circuit the lights are on they are on a 40 amp cicuit with a lot of other electronics. On the CT200h you also do not need the capacitive discharge option, which is need on some other cars, e.g. BMW. Good Luck - HID lights look much better than stock Halogens and they should have been standard on the CT200h. Some corners were cut, headlights, audio, rearseat cupholders, window visors .. But all in all pretty sweet car -- especailly if you replace the audio and upgrade to HID lights
One final comment the brightness in lumens gos as follows from lowest to highest : Halogen (1500 lumens)> LED (2500 lumens) > HID (3500 lumens) . If you put an HID conversion kit in your car you will be brighter than LED lowbeam lights.
