2012 & 2013 Lexus Hatchback Reviews & Ratings

No one in the car industry were that optimistic when, in the last eighties, Japanese Auto giant decided to go up market by launching a luxury car division under the title of Lexus. However, anyone who had any doubt about Lexus's ability to carve out a niche in the market were soon silenced as the new company's impressive range of sedan's began to bit into the traditional market share of such long running heavyweights as Jaguar, Volvo, Audi, BMW and Mercedes.

It wasn't too long befo... (full review continues below)

No one in the car industry were that optimistic when, in the last eighties, Japanese Auto giant decided to go up market by launching a luxury car division under the title of Lexus. However, anyone who had any doubt about Lexus's ability to carve out a niche in the market were soon silenced as the new company's impressive range of sedan's began to bit into the traditional market share of such long running heavyweights as Jaguar, Volvo, Audi, BMW and Mercedes.

It wasn't too long before Lexus were expanding their range as well as their global coverage. Today Lexus Cars can be found in more than seventy countries of the World, coming not only in sedan form, but also as SUVs, coupes and most recently as a hybrid hatchback.

Lexus's entry into the hybrid electric niche is through their CT 200h Hatchback. Taking its first bow in 2010 at the Geneva Auto Show, Lexus's hatchback arrived in North America later in the same year, with production and distribution beginning the following spring. The Lexus CT 200h, with its similarities to Toyota's best selling Prius hatchback, as guaranteed an enthusiastic reception. However anyone expecting a luxury version of the somewhat austere Prius, might have been a little disappointed because the CT 200h hatchback, at least in terms of Lexus luxury standards, is far from opulent in terms of interior styling.

The five door hatchback 2012 model Lexus CT 200h hatchback draws its power from a combination 1.8 liter four valve dual cam petrol engine with an EV mode electric drive motor providing back up. The hybrid engine is paired with Toyota's continuously variable electronically controlled transmission.

In this particular Lexus model there are more Toyota characteristics than in any other, with the Prius presence especially predominant. Externally the CT200h hatchback is a stand alone, sitting low on the ground and with a long hood sweeping down to fairly staid chrome framed grille and not too large headlamps. The side and rear are not overly spectacular to look at, with some interesting arch work around the rear hatchback area.

At 170 inches long by 69.5 inches wide and 55 inches high, the Lexus CT 200h hatchback will provide ample seating for five adults, as long as they are not too large, and with cargo capacity with all seats in place of around fourteen cubic foot, will be able to transport most reasonable sized loads.

For those who like their hybrids sporty, Lexus produce their hatchback in a sports version the 2012 Lexus CT 200h which sits lower on the road, it handles very well at high speed, aided and abetted by a specially adapted suspension with factory adjustments to the car's throttle and steering also having an effect on its sportiness.

Lexus must have figured that anyone who would buy a Lexus for its fuel economy would not be requiring too much in the way of the luxurious trim that typifies their other models. That's why with the CT 200h hatchback, owners and drivers will have to make do with keyless entry and ignition , heated side mirrors, tilting and telescoping steering wheel, power driver seat, vinyl upholstery climate control, satellite radio, CD player Bluetooth (with audio streaming) hooked up to a six speaker sound system includes seventeen inch alloy wheels with all season tyres.

For those who are just not prepared to live with such frugality, there is always the Premium version which comes with heated front seats and a sunroof and the option for so many more feel good features such as leather upholstery, upgraded ten speaker sound system, rain sensing windshield wipers as well as an e warning system to alert pedestrians and cyclists that this more silent than most hybrid is on its way.