[xxxxseacliff]

Our dealer (and grocery, PO, movie theater, bank, etc) is about 200 feet above sea level. We're at 4500 feet, in a rise that's less than 6 miles long of very, very twisty roads, and we go up and down 4 or 5 days/wk.

Here's a fun 1500 feet of the way.

We CAN go up in Eco mode, and it's fine. We DO go up in Sport mode.

To be honest, we just filled the car for the first time since buying it, so I don't have a sense of how well we're doing. It appears to be abt. 30 mpg for pedal down the whole way, a huge improvement over what we were doing before. I'll pay closer attention once we've had the car a little longer. For now, we're just enjoying the ride.

(We get much, much better mileage at the bottom of the hill, of course.)

It's an absolute gas (hahaha) to drive up the hill. My brother in law has a Porsche and he goes a little faster, but the road is the real limiter for speed, not the car. Our Lexus isn''t much slower in practice, very nearly as sporty (again, in practice on a road that just won't let you go fast), and way, way more comfortable.

Our driveway is likewise quite steep. Our Scion xB struggled, but made it fine. The CT doesn't struggle even a little. I wouldn't let this particular concern cause you any hesitation.

You should definitely shift 'er into "B" on the way down the hill, btw. BIG difference in pleasure and the feeling of control.

Thanks for posting that. I drive that route to my friends house quite a bit from San Diego.
79 to 371 to 74 to 111.
That was going to be my first good drive when I get mine. Glad it does well going up that hill....

 

[xxxxseacliff]

B is for engine braking to help slow the car down going down hill -- just like down-shifting into a lower gear. The CT has CVT so there are no lower gears to down shift to. So B is it. It does work.

Tim

At what speed going down hill can you engage B assist.

 

[xxxxseacliff]

Seacliff,

I have shifted into B at various speeds. We can still accelerate in B if necessary. It does engine-brake the car down quite a bit. At one down hill stretch near my work, I would reach the bottom of the hill at 65MPH in D; and 40 MPH in B coasting. The cops pretty much camp at the bottom of the hill with radar gun a few times a week as the speed limit changes from 50 MPH to 35MPH

Tim

Thanks Tim, That's what I wanted to know. I know when I go down that 74 the Jag even downed shifted to 2nd sometime makes me use the brake because it doesn't slow it down enough.