Highway to hybrid heaven: Northbound with the Lexus CT200h and Toyota Prius C

MANILA, Philippines - I couldn’t believe it’s been 11 years since my last drive up to Baguio. So when I got the chance to test various models from Toyota and Lexus on a leisurely three-day/two-night drive to Baguio and La Union and back last week, I couldn’t say no.

Fourteen cars—ranging from the Toyota Hilux pickup to the Lexus GS 450h hybrid midsize luxury sedan—were made available for 30 journalists. Needless to say, we needed to raffle off the cars at various legs to maximize the chance to drive as many models as possible.

I drew the Toyota Fortuner for the Manila-Pangasinan leg. I’ve tested and written about the Fortuner so no new news there. Then as luck would have it, I drew the Lexus CT200h during our lunch stop in Pangasinan. I would then be driving it all the way up to Baguio that afternoon and on to La Union the next morning.

So what exactly is the Lexus CT200h? It’s the world’s first full-hybrid luxury compact sedan. Well strictly speaking it’s not a sedan but a sport wagon/hatchback in the BMW 1-Series vein.

With a focus on performance, this sporty hybrid provided a sporty ride and an aggressive edge without sacrificing any of the traits that make it a genuine Lexus: comfort, dependability, refinement and luxuriousness. With an innovative “2 moods, 2 modes” selector, it transforms into two different cars rolled into one as the CT200h switches from Eco to Sports mode, depending on the driver’s driving style.

In Eco mode, the P2,358,000 CT200h behaves as a typical Lexus hybrid would, focusing on fuel economy and providing a relatively serene ride. “Relative” because the CT200h is easily the firmest-riding model in the Lexus line-up. You’d get culture shock if you’ve been spoiled by the comfy, limo-like riding comfort of your Lexus ES or GS sedan.

But it sure is economical, even by Toyota/Lexus standards. The combination of an innovative 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine and powerful permanent-magnet electric motor allows the CR200h to achieve fuel economy figures of up to 24.4 kpl in combined city/highway driving.

But in a high-powered convoy led by two Toyota 86’s, a Camry with a 270-hp 3.5-liter V6, Fortuner and Hilux torque monsters, and V6- and V8-powered Lexus models, I had no recourse but to put it in Sports mode. 

In Sports mode the car’s other side manifests itself—blue interior lighting is replaced with a passionate red that hints at the differences that have just been unleashed. The car firms up the electric power steering to provide a very direct steering feel and boosts electric motor performance from 500V to its maximum capacity of 650V, delivering a combined output of 134 hp; the result of which is seamless and rapid acceleration that totally belies a fuel-efficient hybrid vehicle. In addition, traction control and vehicle stability control are dialed down and the CT200h allows the driver to truly take control of the car.

On the zigzagging roads of Marcos Highway, the front-wheel-drive CT200h matched its much more powerful stablemates, hugging corners and hitting apexes like a Nippon BMW. Its cornering attitude was delightfully flat (but never harsh or hard-riding despite its 45-series 17-inch tires), and adequate power was always there for those inevitable overtaking maneuvers—which happened all too often with the quick and nimble 86’s heading the pack. I just wish it had paddle shifters or even a manumatic function for the gearbox. It would certainly be in keeping with the CT200h’s sporting character.

Even the seats did their part, hugging you in all the right places—which is a boon during the spirited zigzag drive that left unsecured stuff on the back seat sliding from one side of the car to the other.

While Lexus luxury usually implies serenity and calm, the CT200h is one Lexus that will leave your heart beating faster. That it has a practical hatchback body style and is incredibly fuel-efficient is just the icing on the cake.

Toyota Prius C

We had our third and last draw just before we left Thunderbird Resort in La Union for the drive back to Manila the second morning. This time I got another hybrid—in the form of the Toyota Prius C. Since the introduction of the first-generation Prius in 1997, the name “Prius” has come to be known as the pioneer in hybrid vehicle technology. Fifteen years after the rollout of that seminal Prius, Toyota unveiled an all-new subcompact hybrid, the Prius C.

The P1,475,000 Prius C is a hatchback roughly the size of a Honda Jazz (perhaps a bit bigger—even if it has a somewhat smaller rear leg room). The car’s front end is fashioned to create a fun and lively facade. The headlamps are shaped to accentuate the car’s “eyes,” which bracket an aggressive grille opening that—if blacked out—resembles that of the Nissan GT-R’s.

Like the Prius sedan (which actually has a rear hatch), the Prius C is also equipped with the same Hybrid Synergy Drive technology that produces excellent drivability and unparalleled fuel economy. (I saw 24.4 km/li. during some of our urban driving.) The Prius C is powered by a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder 1NZ-FXE VVT-i engine that complies with the ultra-stringent EURO V emissions regulations. Engine efficiency is also enhanced through the adoption of an EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) system and electric power pump. The step-up converter increases the voltage from the HV battery from DC 144V to a maximum of DC 520V for quicker response.

The Prius C doesn’t need to be plugged into a power source to be recharged. The HV battery is reloaded through the use of the regenerative braking system that allows continues recharging as you drive. You see all this hybrid energy flow wizardry in action via graphical representation on the car’s LCD monitor mounted on the upper center of the dash.

Inside the Prius C cabin, unified geometric surfaces radiate a fun and youthful interior. Various features such as the multi-information display and frequently used controls have been integrated to improve user friendliness. The operating system and utility functions have been designed especially for the comfort of daily driving. Truth be told, anyone can drive this car and not know that he or she is driving a hybrid—except maybe when he or she notices the eerie absence of engine noise when driving off. The hybrid system is simply that seamless and transparent.

Super fuel efficiency does not mean a boring drive, however, as the Prius C managed to make the La Union-Manila drive effortlessly. The solo return drive was a lot more relaxed compared to the drive up north as, with no program to follow, the cars left La Union at different times. The Prius C’s ride was also noticeably more supple and absorbent than the CT200h’s—which makes for an even more relaxed long drive.

With seamless and user-friendly operation, surprisingly peppy performance, absolutely stunning fuel efficiency, versatile and functional packaging, plus the world-renowned Toyota/Lexus reliability, having either of these two hybrids is truly the best of all worlds.