The unloved Lexus CT 200h

We know we're a tough bunch here at the Consumer Reports Auto Test Center. It all comes down to our high standards. If you're an automaker craving a recommendation, there is a standard to meet: the car has to perform well in our tests, have at least average reliability, and not fail any crash tests. Simple formula?

Not if you're in charge of moving the Lexus CT 200h.

I spent a lot of time in it over the New Year's break. And I'm impressed with the car's superb fuel economy— 40 mpg overall in CR's testing—and outstanding predicted reliability. Even the four-door hatchback styling grew on me. But I understand why it scored around mid-pack within its category. Beyond the impressive fuel economy and reliability, it really doesn't do anything well.

Hence, it's an unloved Lexus.

Let's face it: The CT 200h is a strange bird. First of all, you might think the CT is luxurious given the Lexus nameplate. While the interior fit and finish isn't bad, there are substantial amounts of hard plastic, which look neither rich nor upscale.

Second, there's no getting around the fact that the car is simply noisy. Road noise is prominent, but it's the engine's unrefined wail that does it in for me. The CT shares the Toyota Prius' 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine; combined with the hybrid system, it makes a somewhat weak 134 hp. But this paltry power output has to move over 3,200 pounds, producing sluggish acceleration and a startling racket getting the car to merge into traffic. Zero to 60 mph in 11 seconds? Even by 1980s standards, that's slow.

So despite its sporty looks, the CT 200h is even slower getting up to highway speeds than the last Toyota Corolla we tested. Also, the CT's steering had decent weighting, but that didn't mask its vagueness on center. To anyone even faintly interested in cars, that's a bore fest.

Third, I'm average height but I don't fit well in the driver's seat. And I wasn't alone in finding head room wanting and the cabin cramped. I understand it's a small car, but it needs to at least fit middle-of-the-road bodies.

Three strikes and you're out? Actually, there are more—such as a rough ride and a cargo area so small you'd swear the car's designers never imagined you'd carry anything larger than a gallon of milk—but I think you get the point.

Would we buy one over a Prius? Not likely. If fuel-efficiency is your number one priority, an upper-level Prius Four undercuts the CT by $2,000. A mid-range Prius can be had for thousands less.

Now that the CT 200h has been fully tested by CR, it sits in our lot among the Jeep Compass, Nissan Versa, and various Honda Civics as the least sought-after cars to drive.

—Mike Quincy