Lexus CT 200h SE-I 5dr Car Review - March 2012

REVIEW
List Price: £23,786
Tax Band: A
Insurance Group: 15
MPG: 68.9
CO2: 94
0-62 Mph: 10.3 secs
BHP: 98 BHP
Range: 682 miles
CarSite Verdict:  3.5/5
The CT 200h has a premium image, superb Lexus build quality and comes with a decent level of standard equipment. It's more expensive than its rivals but running costs will be low thanks to sub-100g/km CO2 emissions and excellent fuel economy.

PROS:  Low CO2 emissions, excellent fuel economy, free road tax, nice interior, good level of standard equipment

CONS:  Poor ride quality, lifeless steering, more attractive rivals

Behind the Wheel

This model is fitted with a 1.8 litre petrol engine and an electric motor. This is all driven through a continuously variable transmission (CVT). However, despite the presence of the two power sources, the CT 200h proves to be sluggish and, as a result, the BMW 1 Series and the Audi A3 have the edge in the performance stakes.

The petrol engine produces only 97bhp but the electric motor churns out a further 81bhp. 0-62mph takes 10.3 seconds and flat out you'll be going 113mph. The CVT gearbox means that the engine never really quietens down, staying at higher engine revs even on a steady cruise.

The CT 200h drives well, gripping nicely to the tarmac, with very little body lean. But, the ride is very rough. Potholes and speed bumps will be felt. On top of this, the steering is lifeless and devoid of feel.

Looks & Equipment

You know this is a Lexus the minute you lay eyes on it. With the classic angular lighting, chrome trimmings and the silver 'L' badge on the grille, buyers will be left in no doubt over the car's lineage.

You get a decent amount of standard kit including alloys, climate control, Bluetooth, tyre pressure monitoring, electrically retractable mirrors, LED daytime running lights, and electric windows all-round.

The quality of the finish, when it comes to the paintwork, the fixtures and fittings, are a sign that this is a top quality, mid-sized family car.

Practicality, Safety & Reliability

Like most hatchbacks, it’s not the roomiest car in the world. Rear legroom is limited and the boot is a bit on the small side, made smaller still by the battery pack under the rear seats.

Winning 5 stars in the EuroNCAP crash test, the CT 200h should prove to be a very safe car. There are 8 airbags in total, including ones to protect the driver's and passenger’s knees, whiplash reducing seats, anti lock brakes, Brake assist, traction control and vehicle stability control.

Lexus is famed for building highly reliable cars. Judging by the quality of the finish, it looks like this is another highly reliable car from Lexus. If anything was to going wrong, Lexus has a great customer service team who would more than likely get any problem dealt with incredibly quickly and efficiently.

Value for Money

This car is reasonably well priced at £23,750 and although there a cars of this size around for cheaper, an equivalent BMW 1 Series would cost you over £1000 more. Also, thanks to CO2 emissions of 94g/km, the Lexus escapes road tax and the London Congestion Charge, making running costs exceptionally low. You should also get over 68mpg on the combined cycle.

Ultimately, if you want a car that is full of gadgets, and you don’t mind the fact that these gadgets come at the cost of a smooth ride, then this is where to put your money.

Lexus CT 200h SE-I 5dr Car Review - by 
All Lexus CT Reviews
Lexus CT 200h SE-I 5dr - March 2012
The CT 200h has a premium image, superb Lexus build quality and comes with a decent level of standard equipment. It's more expensive than its rivals but running costs will be low thanks to sub-100g...
Lexus CT 200h F-Sport 5dr - April 2012
The Lexus CT hatchback is one that has been designed to feature the hybrid engine developed by Lexus, and the cabin is very comfortably and comes with a very nice level of equipment. The premium i...
Lexus CT 200h SE-L Premier 5dr - March 2012
Want to be kind to the planet, but don’t want to travel everywhere by bike? Well the CT 200h SE-L Premier is the car for you. Not only does it have great green credentials, but the cost of ownershi...
Lexus CT 200h SE-L Premier 5dr - April 2012
By making the CT 200h Lexus have done well in pushing the fuel efficiency of the hybrid engine, but it is a shame that this isn’t really the driver’s car that it should be to make hybrid cars reall...
Comments
Medium Family Alternatives

You might want to read reviews for other Medium Family cars that you can then compare to the Lexus CT. Here are some popular Lexus CT alternatives:

NEW RELEASE
Jeep Avenger revealed for 2023
NEW RELEASE
Ferrari Purosangue revealed
NEW RELEASE
Ford Mustang revealed for 2023
NEW RELEASE
New BMW M2 has been revealed
NEW RELEASE
Electric SUV coming soon
NEW RELEASE
Popular hatchback gets an update