Generally hatchbacks aren't my thing unless they look more coupe like, like the Integra, tC, and such, but I actually like this car. Not totally in love with the styling, but its not bad. I would be driving one right now if I didn't buy the current car I now drive.

 

I love the CT. It looks like an IS hatchback. If I had the money, I would buy one for a daily driver.

 

You know, they really need to make an "F" Model. Take that Mazdaspeed 3

 

I didnt like it when I saw pics but when I saw it in person it looks a little better. Still pretty frumpy

 

It definitely doesn't deserve to be lumped in with the aztec. Geez. It's a handsome car but as others have said, nothing special in terms of design. But also definitely not ugly.

 

i think the CT LOOKS like a hot hatch... key word, looks~

 

i like it. id want one as a loaner

 

Not a fan of hatchbacks, but the CT looks decent. Not enough to sway me in though. Also agree it needs more power to live up to it's sporty advertising. And the poor HS. That thing is in drag.

 

Unfortunately, it'll be no good for your dog. I had one for a couple of days last week while my IS was in for warranty work and the rear luggage area is tiny. We have a Springer Spaniel and I was considering one so we could put him in the back but it's far too small. Even a West Highland Terrier would put a letter of complaint in if it had to travel too far in a CT.

I was really disappointed with the CT when it came out, particularly after the early concept shots. It's not a handsome car, with a curious mix of IS at the front and Toyota iQ at the rear - almost like front and back were designed by different people and then welded together. From the side it looks heavy and underwheeled. That said, after a couple of days I'd grown more used to it and appreciated it's hybrid drive system enough to give the outside the benefit of the doubt.

Give me an Alfa Romeo Guilietta with CT mechanicals and I'd be round the showroom cheque book in hand.

 

I agree with Big Andy, Josh....athough you may have to try it yourself to be sure, I think that the average 100-lb. pooch would be quite a load in the CT's small rear end.....the dog probably wouldn't have much room to move around. And, in an frontal-impact accident, that heavy dog would be just a few inches behind your headrest....or whoever is in the right-front seat with you.

 

As far as the CTs looks go, to me, it resembles the Mazda3 hatchback more than the Toyota Matrix. I don't consider it an ugly car, but they should have made the rear-window larger (the wiper blade/arm is only about 6" long), and, IMO, the car sits too low to the ground and has very little ground-clearance. I said in my CT review, and still feel that, it is actually more of a Toyota than a Lexus, despite the reasonably plush interior.

One thing, though, that is excellent on this car, is the NuLuxe upholstery. Lexus has done quite well what the Germans, so far, have simply been unable to do....make an slick, smooth imitation leather that is hard to tell in look and feel from the real stuff.

 

The model I had didn't have leather but a sort of suede effect alcantara which looked like some kind of hamster fur. We only get that and real leather in the UK.

I will say that after 2 days and 250 miles of mixed motoring with the CT200h I came away with a much greater amount of respect for it than I expected after the poor reviews it had in the press. Yes the low speed ride is choppy and very un-Lexus like, but as long as you haven't got any loose teeth you'd be OK and I averaged 56mpg (46.6 mpg US) which I don't think is bad, and I wasn't being that light footed at times either.

It was particularly enjoyable sticking it in EV mode and silently creeping up behind pensioners in supermarket car parks.

 

I like it.

But then again, I liked the IS Sportcross too

 

haha, so Army (josh) will have to trade in the dog for a Chihuahua as well if he gets the car.

LOL

 

i saw one on interstate coming up behind me and was surprised the LED DRLs have a 'gap' in the middle, where i guess a projector beam shines through? this looked kinda awkward