[MikeLIX]

The CT200h is very similar to the Audi A3 diesel, and seems similar to me to a high end Prius (in fact the CT takes some of its parts from the Prius...I forget which ones, if it's the engine or what). I didn't consider the A3 because I look up reliability for all cars before I bother, and the A3 has a HORRIBLE reliability record. I test drove the Prius...eh. Pretty bland. And I couldn't get a high end cruelty-free (no leather). That nixed the Prius.

I've read about the Ford Focus hatchback coming out and seen pics. It actually looks similar to the CT, and is slightly larger (I'm guessing the back seats don't fold down flat, because they've gone to extreme lengths NOT to show the cargo area in any pics or videos, which is not a good sign). It supposedly will get 30mpg city/40mpg hwy and cost about $10K less than the CT. I'm going to take a look at that car, for sure. Ford has come a long way with its reliability and styling and mileage issues. BUT...make no mistake. The Lexus is a LUXURY car, and Lexus has proven reliability and quality reputation.

I've looked at other cars, but those are the only ones where I thought they were actual competitors.

The CT rear seats do fold to provide a flat cargo area. Not perfectly flat, but pretty good IMO.

 

[MikeLIX]

I loved my MKV Golf GTI. It was simply ridiculously unreliable. So, that eliminates a Volkswagen product (particularly one that shares so much with the Golf).

Oh yeah, I forgot about the Audi reliability issues I had with all 3 of mine - and none with the Lexus.
My favorite experience of my former A4 was when driving at night in the snow with salt spray getting on the windshield. I had to turn off the headlights (while driving at night) to get the windshield washer to work because the headlight washers would come on automatically if the lights were on and rendered the windshield washer useless.

 

[MikeLIX]

I looked at the Audi A3 TDI before I bought the CT200h. The Lexus gets better fuel economy, plus uses regular gas, which is at least 10% less than diesel here in N. Calif. Today, I saw a typical station with regular at $3.82 and diesel is $4.20. The handling of the A3 seems better than the Lexus, but both are fun to drive in terms of driving dynamics except both have poor acceleration, which is OK for the fuel consumption tradeoff. My last car had a 0-60 spec of 5.4 sec and the CT200h is 9.8 sec. Since I was rarely flooring my last car to use its full power, I have not found the lackluster acceleration to be a daily issue. I have owned 1 Lexus and 3 Audi's before and a major difference is in the service department. Audi dealerships that I have dealt with come nowhere near delivering the high level of attention to customer satisfaction that Lexus dealers offer. That tipped the scale for me, but either car seems to be a pretty good bet for an upscale compact sport-hatch.