Why does every CT200h Review....

7711 Views 20 Replies 16 Participants Last post by prosperity, Aug 5, 2011

WhtCnBrwnDo4U

Discussion Starter · Jul 18, 2011

spend 95 percent of their review talking about the CT's lack of power. When someone buys a Prius, do you expect the thing to go vroom vroom down the streets? Its getting to a frustrating point trying to find a review that talks about something aside from the power...

I even found one review that said the handling was anything but sporty... When I test drove the car I went into a turn at 60 mph and didnt move from my seat. In my current car, V6 vroom vrrom and all, i def feel the turn forcing me to the corner of my seat. For me, thats as sporty as i need it to be.

Ahhhh So frustrating!

1 - 20 of 21 Posts

OZ-CT200H

· #2 · Jul 18, 2011

You don't expect one car to change a century of inbred vroom vroom culture do you?
people don't change overnight. Those reviewers do this as a day job so after a while anything that comes across their table to be reviewed that doesn't knock their socks off is plain boring. Don't be a sheep and just believe what they tell you. The CT is nothing short of spectacular for what it was designed to do. Just enjoy it

Team Lexus

· #3 · Jul 18, 2011

^ what OZ-CT200H said!!! YES!!!

Bob259

· #4 · Jul 18, 2011

I also agree. I also think because the CT looks so 'sporty' the reviewers expect it not to be Prius like in acceleration, but something it isn't.

Lexus has been real up front with the specs and 0-60 times, etc. the reviewers are trying to make it something it isn't and show their lack of understanding of writing an objective review.

KKM

· #5 · Jul 18, 2011

It's probably partly Lexus's doing. They marketed it as a sporty car comparing it to the Audi A1, Volvo C, and BMW 1. When you market it as a sporty car and the and 0-60 is about 10s, you're going to be called out on it. Reviewers love specs and 0-60 is an important comparison. Can't think of another car selling for 30k that is this slow.

TimN

· #6 · Jul 18, 2011

OZ-CT200H got it

The CT and Prius are some of the most fuel efficient cars on the road. I can live with the compromise. About the CT not being sporty, to me it is sporty enough for what it is. I live in area where there is a stretch of about 1.5 miles of really twisty roads. I have had the car for only a few days and I am not really comfortable with the car yet, but I can take the turns almost (80%-85%) as fast as the S2000 that I just sold -- except for the exit speed.

I am happy with the decision.

Tim

bwguy5

· #7 · Jul 18, 2011

I agree that the marketing was a little suspect (Darker side of green?), but I think the real problem with so many of the reviews is that the reviewers have nothing truly similar with which to compare the CT. So as reference points they end up comparing it to vehicles that are missing some component of the CT package, making their observations unfair. Until another hybrid luxury hatchback hits the market, I take most of the reviews with a grain of salt since the reviewers' comparison reference points are inadequate. Only a couple reviews I've read are able to sum up the vehicle without comparing it to something it was not meant to be.

For now, check out a couple new reviews from the Montreal Gazette:
New Lexus hybrid sporty but fuel-efficient

Clever vehicle injects a feeling of fun and handling worthy of a Lexus

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Bill Broderick

· #8 · Jul 19, 2011

WhtCnBrwnDo4U said:
spend 95 percent of their review talking about the CT's lack of power.

...because 95% of authors of auto reviews are "car guys" for whom power is the most important thing in a car.

The Prius was probably the biggest technological leap in automobiles in the last 20 years. But "car guys" hate them.

audi4t

· #9 · Jul 19, 2011 (Edited)

Maybe it's an unexpected stretch of curvy road or a favorite song on your playlist. Whatever your motivation, when inspiration strikes, SPORT mode makes any ride a more exhilarating one. When selected, illumination of the instrument panel and Drive Mode Select switch changes from blue to red and the hybrid power monitor gauge is replaced with a tachometer. For added responsiveness and a more engaging drive, steering is tightened, battery power is increased and the traction and stability systems are made less intrusive.

The above is copied from the Lexus web site.
They promote "exhilarating" which in my opinion is a stretch for a 138hp hatchback.
Reviewers are given this ammunition and obviously will use it when Lexus is stretching the truth.

kalo925

· #10 · Jul 19, 2011

audi4t said:
Maybe it's an unexpected stretch of curvy road or a favorite song on your playlist. Whatever your motivation, when inspiration strikes, SPORT mode makes any ride a more exhilarating one. When selected, illumination of the instrument panel and Drive Mode Select switch changes from blue to red and the hybrid power monitor gauge is replaced with a tachometer. For added responsiveness and a more engaging drive, steering is tightened, battery power is increased and the traction and stability systems are made less intrusive.

The above is copied from the Lexus web site.
They promote "exhilarating" which in my opinion is a stretch for a 138hp hatchback.
Reviewers are given this ammunition and obviously will use it when Lexus is stretching the truth.

I have to say for someone who has used ECO mode 99% of the time since I got the CT.. when I turned it to Sport mode it actually was more exciting for me as the Change seems incredible.. Way more sensitive to any touch of the gas pedal and way more peppy.. At least is seems that way to someone who always is driving in ECO..

rehabmax

· #11 · Jul 19, 2011

To be fair you have to compare a hybrid to a hybrid. If you do that the Ct200h is on top. It's nearest competitor is also a Lexus product, the HS250.
Comparing Ct200h to traditional ICE because it looks like a sports car make no sense. The car can't win against a muscle car. But that isn't the point.
If a reviewer actually commented on the attributes of the CT200h of styling, amenities, fuel economy it would be receive great reviews.

Russian

· #12 · Jul 19, 2011

A typical European BMW 1 or 3 series does 0 to 60 in around 9 seconds, nobody is screaming about that. Any bigger engine would be much more expensive than ct200h.

jcpharm

· #13 · Jul 20, 2011

Russian said:
A typical European BMW 1 or 3 series does 0 to 60 in around 9 seconds, nobody is screaming about that. Any bigger engine would be much more expensive than ct200h.

An American model BMW 1-series (128i) goes 0-60mph in 5.9 secs. Is the European model a Diesel?

Russian

· #14 · Jul 20, 2011

This is from bmw.ie: 116i - 9.8s, 118i - 8.7s (2L engines). Diesel ones have similar numbers. Most european cars in the CT price range have similar performance. I don't know if I would buy a CT in USA (well, I do like driving Caddilacs when visiting) but in Europe the CT is a perfectly adequate car for its price and the quality of interior.

The only thing I do not like about it - excessive noise from the tyres. I have Yokohama dB, thinking to try Continental.

audi4t

· #15 · Jul 20, 2011

Russian said:
This is from bmw.ie: 116i - 9.8s, 118i - 8.7s (2L engines). Diesel ones have similar numbers. Most european cars in the CT price range have similar performance. I don't know if I would buy a CT in USA (well, I do like driving Caddilacs when visiting) but in Europe the CT is a perfectly adequate car for its price and the quality of interior.

The only thing I do not like about it - excessive noise from the tyres. I have Yokohama dB, thinking to try Continental.

These are reasons why what works in the rest of the world doesn't always work here in the States.

We often get "world" cars cheaper than anywhere else.

We tend to get the higher performing cars in the model range.

We often get more standard "options".

US buyers don't have a history of embracing small hatchbacks.

I think this is why US reviewers see fewer pros and more cons than they would like for the price being charged for this vehicle.

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Russian

· #16 · Jul 20, 2011

Enjoy, may Fiat 500 never come to America

I do understand bigger engines in the states but I never understood while cars sold in Europe have less options. Lexus is not an exception here but I find the CT is more a feel good car than any other in it's price range, and since Lexus is not that popular in Europe it makes it quite unique!

KKM

· #17 · Jul 20, 2011

Russian said:
Enjoy, may Fiat 500 never come to America I do understand bigger engines in the states but I never understood while cars sold in Europe have less options. Lexus is not an exception here but I find the CT is more a feel good car than any other in it's price range, and since Lexus is not that popular in Europe it makes it quite unique!

Fiat 500 already debut and is available in the US:

North American Fiat 500 debut information | Fiat 500 USA

midcow3

· #18 · Jul 26, 2011

TimN said:
OZ-CT200H got it

The CT and Prius are some of the most fuel efficient cars on the road. I can live with the compromise. About the CT not being sporty, to me it is sporty enough for what it is. I live in area where there is a stretch of about 1.5 miles of really twisty roads. I have had the car for only a few days and I am not really comfortable with the car yet, but I can take the turns almost (80%-85%) as fast as the S2000 that I just sold -- except for the exit speed.

I am happy with the decision.

Tim

I am keeping my S2000

if my dog will let me drive

DigitalEye

· #19 · Aug 3, 2011

audi4t said:
They promote "exhilarating" which in my opinion is a stretch for a 138hp hatchback.
Reviewers are given this ammunition and obviously will use it when Lexus is stretching the truth.

The lawyers probably made them put the word "more" in front of "exhilarating" but nonetheless its simply saying its more exciting than driving the same car in non-sport mode. You can cry semantic "foul" if you like but technically thats just what its saying.

I feel the problem with most reviews of the CT is that they aren't really done by professional reviewers or critics they're done by professional writers and writers are generally prone to making a story grander and more colorful whereas a reviewer generally just gives the facts with perhaps a bit of opine thrown in.

That was my problem with Dan Neil's (who I love on the Car Show) rant on the CT in the WSJ
2011 Lexus CT200h: Slower, Heavier, Frumpier, but At Least It's a Lexus | Rumble Seat by Dan Neil - WSJ.com

For a more proper review thats not quite as funny but a bit more informative.

MotorWeek: Road Test

Funny thing is, when you boil away all of the sarcasm and hyperbole in Neil's article it says much the same thing as the AutoWeek piece.

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midcow3

· #20 · Aug 4, 2011

The CT is such a great car the only fault ,if you can call it, that is "Performance"

It is hard to be critical of greatness .... so they point out the only fault

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