Update.
The gal I was helping with her car decision, ended up going with a CT 200h. I told her of the C-max, and others, but having bad experiences with her local dealers concerning the other choices, the Lexus just seemed to be a better solution for her. I went to the dealership to help go over the cars mechanicals, computer scan, body condition, help with negotiations, etc.
The dealership was not a Lexus one, but the car came from a Lexus dealership under their group, and was previously Lexus (L-certified) certified.
Vehicle was a 2012 premium package (leather, dual heated seats, navigation, kitchen sink, etc) with 66k miles. It was Lexus dealer serviced, and everything checked out upon my inspection very well. Me, her and the salesperson went on the test drive (see how it did with weight), and she liked it very well. She was a bit timid testing the vehicle, where I was not. It had better power than I thought, very good brakes, but my continued dislike for anything CVT remains... It was better than some, esp on the highway. Handling was far better than expected, comfort while tight was good, and it looks very upscale in person, both inside and out. Pleasantly surprised, and as it stands IMO, a very good value too.
This car was like going from a Model-T, to a spaceship... The quick guide is 98 pages, the owners manual 750 pages+! The hybrid system is absolutely amazing, and I can believe some folks get 50+ MPG. While from a mechanical standpoint I like ICE just fine, I can see how clever and efficient this hybrid system is - Pretty seamless, with enough theatere going on inside to look 'cool', not too garish, and not feel/seem like it's just a gussied up Matrix/IM. She solo'd the negotiations, and was happy with the $13,500 OTD price. Dealership was good, and the over-all experience was very pleasant. Simply my opinion, but for not much more than used Corolla money, and you might want to dip a toe into the realm of hybrids, this CT 200h seems way OK to me. Stock photo of the same car... Really sharp in person, with a very nice level of build quality (100% made in Japan).