TEST DRIVE: The Lexus CT200h Compact Hatchback Hybrid Ushers In A New Era for Luxury Hybrids

We recently test drove a <a title="Lexus CT200h" href="http://www.lexus.com/models/CTh/" target="_blank">Lexus CT200h</a> hybrid for a week just as the first real snowfall arrived in SE Michigan. The CT200h is one of the first of the new compact luxury <a title="Inhabitat: hatchback hybrid" href="http://inhabitat.com/index.php?s=hatchback+hybrid" target="_blank">hatchback hybrids</a> headed to the states - well-made small cars like this usually go only to <a title="Inhabitat: Mercedes E300 and E400 Hybrids" href="http://inhabitat.com/mercedes-unveils-its-hot-new-e300-and-e400-hybrids-at-the-detroit-auto-show/" target="_blank">European markets</a>. We were very impressed with the ride's attention to detail inside and out. The lit doorsill logos, retracting nav screen, blue LED lighting elements and leather-wrapped everything spoke of serious quality. The 40+ mpg and under $30,000 price tag rounded out the package nicely, although our tester pushed the limits with a $38,000 sticker. But then the snow fell, and the CT200h couldn't make it 10 feet up our driveway. Scalloped door shapes and adorable hatch aside, the CT200h's inability to handle even one inch of snow put a lid on our enthusiasm for this little car. Check out our photo gallery to see all the fabulous details, and we'll tell you why you definitely will want one of these hybrid hatches... as long as you live in a sunny state.

We took a quick photo shoot of the car before the snow hit. Pictured here is the driveaway the CT200h couldn't manage once the fluffy stuff began to fall.

Separate headlights and fog lights have LED elements that identify this car as a high-end vehicle at night.

Fit and finish were very well executed inside and out.

Notice the scalloped shape at the left edge of the fog light. This motif repeats around the car in various subtle forms.

Like all luxury cars, you can have your pick of wheel bling. Our tester had well-made but not too flashy caps on.

Another detail that marks this as a luxury car by night: the CT200h has puddle lamps, little lights that aim down when the car is unlocked remotely at night, to make it easier to get into the vehicle.

The Lexus badge here is pretty standard, but we love how the rear matching insignia was surrounded with a luminescent blue plastic on the rear hatch, to match the interior lighting.

The roof spoiler at the top edge of the rear window helps the little car stick to the road--except when it's winter of course. Traction control repeatedly tried and failed to get the wheels working on the snow.

Sporty stance, squat rear window, squinting taillights. And yet, Lexus always manages to retain some sense of blandness in the rear of its cars.

Note how the pillars at the back of the car are blacked out for a wraparound window effect.

They're nice, and yet the taillights and bumper have hints of Toyota minivan style. Best to appreciate quickly and move on to the better features of the car.

The nice thing about this car is that if you don't act conspicuous, you may be able to blend into a parking lot if you are intending to. But park it anywhere people can see the badge and you start getting appreciative looks, or dirty glares, according to taste.

Lexus could have skimped a bit on quality inside and maintained the good looks of this car, but this smoothly operating hatch with excellent build quality was proof enough that the company was giving luxury hatches a serious shot in America.

Not a lot of space back there, but we were able to purchase and stow a small upright vacuum in the trunk without a problem.

Two tone leather on the door says it all.

In the front row, leg room is excellent and everything is fitted out as you would expect in a Lexus sedan.

We loved how the bucket leather seats hugged us while the car was getting up to speed. We made sure to fit in as much driving as we could before the snow storm, just in case the little guy had trouble.

These door sills light up blue at night. It's a small detail, but one that makes the car's purchase price feel a little less absurd.

Lexus is clearly expecting younger customers to be the primary purchasers of the CT200h, as the cockpit is decked with navigation, a dedicated smart phone holder, selector tool for working the infotainment system, and more green gadgetry on the instrument cluster and steering wheel for monitoring the hybrid system. Older Lexus customers are not in the market for this kind of green high tech.

Pretty standard steering wheel, but it's contoured and wrapped in leather to feel just like the steering wheel of a much larger luxury car.

We love how the CT200h uses not only a power button to start but also electronic gear shifter and electronic parking brake integrated into the park gear.

The coolest part? The CT200h shifts from one dial to another depending on which mode you're driving in. Eco Mode initiates the EV monitor dial, but switch to Normal or Sport Modes and suddenly that dial disappears to be replaced by a tachometer.

The navigation screen automatically pops up from the dash on ignition.

Select your gear via button or electronic shifter. Select driving mode via an electronic knob, and plug in your smart phone to use via the electronic selector tool, which controls the nav screen. Outlets for plugging in devices are conveniently located under the little square on the bottom right.

We hoped that the "B" option, a Braking Mode in which engine braking and automatic braking force are applied when the car descends a steep incline, would help us out in inclement weather, but the CT200h never got that far.

Honestly the selector tool is a little awkward and unnecessary. We would much prefer a touch screen or controls that help you toggle from button to button on the screen. Instead you get what can best be described as a leather-wrapped computer mouse.

The HVAC system committed no offenses during our travels, and we appreciated the dual zone temperature option.

The nav screen was just a little small, and the mouse-style selector tool made hitting the buttons a challenge, but it functioned all right.

A solid wall divides the front row, which is great news for fitting in all those gadgets but not so good news for your legroom toward the center of the car. You get used to it, as long as you're not a very tall male.

The top of the rear door continued the scalloped detail even in the sheet metal.

Only the rear seats compared with the traction control system in ineptitude. We only had to fit a toddler in a car seat in here, and even she complained about leg room.