Styling preferences aside, I'm wondering if anyone can explain why I would buy an ILX Hybrid vs. the Lexus CT200h. I mean, does it still have VTEC or something?

I'm a loyal Honda fan and I know the ILX is Acura's first hybrid, but as much I want to root for this car, Toyota just seems to have crushed everyone else with there hybrid strategy. What's sad is Honda actually has a sporty hybrid in the CRZ and was the originator with the Insight.

Anyway, curious if anyone still finds the ILX hybrid attractive and generally what the target ILX demo...i.e. Young professional Gen Y buyers actually think about sporty-looking fuel-efficient hybrids.

 

Car and Driver didn't really like the CT200h. I personally think it's worth a look if you're in the market for a hybrid, especially since it's got more power and look really nice. But, from a driving dynamics standpoint, the Lexus isn't necessarily a thrill ride.

 

I think you'd have to drive both and kinda gauge where YOU are on them. I personally like the ILX for looks better.. but I imagine like most Lexus cars the CT200h is very quiet and smooth of a ride and it will have more utility. I don't know much about the ILX hybrid but the ILX is likely more fun to drive (maybe not as fast) than the Lexus.. most Lexus cars are boring because they're so well mannered.

 

Before I got my ILX hybrid tech, I had a Lexus HS250 hybrid. I enjoyed all of the "Lexusness" things about it. Most times when it went in for service I was given a CT as a loaner, and I liked most things about it, except for the hatchback style and size of the interior. I thought it drove very well and was well appointed inside but just wasn't a match for me.

Sounds snobby, but once you have a luxury car, it's too tough to go away from it so I almost didn't get another hybrid until I found out about the ILX. It was really the only other luxury hybrid in a similar price range as my old Lexus (cheaper actually) and had all of the things I previously had without spending a ton of money in options and upgrades.

CT is a nice car, just wasn't for me. If it was a sedan and not a hatchback, it might have been a different story.

 

I was torn between the two and went ILX hybrid cause it was cheaper. In retrospect, I think I might have gone with the ct200h because of the hatchback. The trunk space on the ILX hybrid is abysmal.

 

I test drove the CT200h when it first came out. I thought it handled well, but was underpowered (yes I know it is a hybrid, but still it could hardly get out of its own way) and fairly small. Smaller than you think. But it can get 45 mpg in real world driving.

Lexus will offer the 3rd Gen IS in a hybrid (IS 300h) but not sell it in north America. Sad as that would be a great hybrid. I guess with limited production and high gas and taxes in Europe on cars, they will sell better there.

Not enough sales of the H250 to keep it in the market here.

 

I sat in the Lexus CT200h. It was laughably small to the point there was no reason to test drive it. I was cramped in the FRONT seat, and I'm not a big guy (5'11 rounded up, 175). It did look nice, though; I'm a big fan of its exterior styling and inside was perfectly fine looking, too.

 

I really liked the CT200h over the RDX but the $35k price (locally) ran me off.

 

We had leased an HS250h for 3 years and that lease ended in December. We had the CT200h a number of times during routine services and while the car was fun to drive it was some what sluggish and only the smallest of our adult friends felt comfortable in the back seat. In fact, 3 of our friends couldn't even fit in the back seat. We also felt the price was quite high for all the features that were missing.