Which one would you recommend? I hear the prius gets much better mpg than the lexus. It will be used for food delivery work as my full time job and road trips. My budget is up to 20k. I read on the lexus forum that the ct200h mpg is kind of all over the place. Mpg is my number one decision making factor.
Never driven a ct200h, but have ridden in one a few times. I expected a more refined ride and was disappointed. It was quieter than the C and the interior amenities were nicer, but I didn't really see enough difference to justify the extra money. If mileage is your main goal, get the C. If road trips are more important, the Lexus will be a little nicer. The used car market is a bit dicey right now, but I expect you'll be able to find better deals on a C.
The problem is that, at least in the USA, there are not very many Prius C's around. They are getting pretty tough to find and I'm amazed at how much they are selling for these days. But then again...not all that many ct200h's around either. BTW - I ended up having to do a craigslist deal to find a decent price on our Prius C ( see link in signature below ). It worked out great...but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it.
Don't forget about the regular Prius. $20k will comfortably land you into a late low mileage Gen 3 -- and even solid Gen 4. There vs Gen 3 - it gets the same MPG as the C. Gen 4 even does a little better. Bonus points for being a more comfortable car, too. Better car, no MPG penalty. The CT is basically the worst of all worlds. Less practical than the regular Prius, worse MPG than any of them. Bit more comfortable (in the front at least - back is tight) - but not drastically so over the regular Prius.
I think weight has something to do with it. ct200h = 3,130 lbs Prius v wagon = 3,340 lbs Gen 3 Prius = 3,042 lbs Prius C = 2,530 lbs The first three share the same basic drivetrain. We own a Prius v wagon and have owned a Gen 3 and the v wagon doesn't get as good MPGs as the Gen 3 did. Fuelly also agrees.
Weight, due to more sound deadening material, and it's tuned for performance, and throttle response over fuel economy. Also, I believe 17 inch wheels are standard. Toyota/Lexus OEM alloy wheels tend to be on the heavy side if they are not forged wheels. 17 inch wheels and tires are heavier than 15 inch wheels/tires. Heavier wheels/tires require more power/gas to accelerate. Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
