Lexus actually names the Audi A3, the Mercedes-Benz B-Series, the Volvo C30 and the BMW 1-series as the CT 200h’s main competitors. In my opinion, the only one on that list is actually comparable is the Audi A3 and even then only with the TDI engine. They’re both 5 door premium hatchbacks built for efficiency.
And now it has even less in common with those players as the price is significantly cheaper than all of them and on par with the C30. It will start at $30,950.
So since the A3 TDI is the most comparable vehicle, let’s see how they stack up.
The A3 TDI starts at around $35,000 so it’s about 4 grand more. But it gets better efficiency on the highway than the CT 200h, 4.6 L/100 kms and 4.8 L/100 kms respectively. But the CT 200h beats the A3 TDI with its city rating at 4.5 L/100 kms. The A3 gets a still respectable 6.7 in the city.
How the CT 200h drives remains to be seen, but the A3 sets the bar quite high as it is, even though it suffers from under steer as I found out in a test drive.
Which would you take?
[Lexus Canada]
