Scouring Motor Trend's extensive test data, we found just one 2011 model year vehicle that's slower from 0-60 mph than the 2011
Lexus CT 200h - a four-cylinder all-wheel-drive
Hyundai Santa Fe GLS. If all you want in an entry-level premium hatchback
LEXUS IS highway on-ramp quickness, and you are repulsed by the CT 200h's 10.1-second 0-60 mph time, go get an
Audi A3. The
Lexus CT 200h
LEXUS IS for drivers who appreciate a car that finds a meaningful compromise between speed and efficiency, but leans toward the latter.
Your opinion on Lexus' new entry-level vehicle will depend on your priorities. A
Bmw 1 Series or
Audi A3 hatchback might provide more driving enjoyment, but the
Lexus combines reasonably sporty responsiveness with unsurpassed fuel economy. The front-wheel-drive 2011
Audi A3 TDI diesel gets 42 mpg on the highway, though just 30 mpg in the city. Combined
Audi A3 TDI mileage of 34 mpg pales in comparison to the
Lexus CT 200h's combined 42 mpg rating. Bottom line: Efficiency-seeking commuters who spend most of their time in heavy traffic will be better served by the Lexus.
Because of the
Lexus hybrid's nickel-metal-hydride batteries, cargo volume
LEXUS IS on the small side of the segment. The
Lexus manages 14.3 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats - 5.2 cubic feet less than the
Audi A3. Like the Audi, the
Lexus Is essentially a four-seat car with five seatbelts, so it's best not to cram five people into the compact CT unless necessary. Do so, and you probably won't match the CT 200h's quarter-mile time of 17.6 seconds at 78.1 mph. A 2010
Volkswagen Golf TDI with the same diesel powertrain as the
Audi A3 TDI did the quarter mile in 16.3 seconds at 84.1 mph. Not surprisingly, the 2010
Toyota Prius with which the
Lexus CT 200h shares its powertrain has an identical 10.1-second 0-60 mph time and gets through the quarter mile in 17.6 seconds at 79.5 mph.
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Source)
