Lexus CT200H test drive: make sure to check these features out.

By Farzana Chaumoo

Hybrid power, comfort and the infotainment are some of the things you might want to take a closer look at when you take the Lexus CT 200h for a test drive.

The Lexus CT 200h is about seven years old now and has received some revisions this year. It was first seen as the LF-Ch concept shown at Frankfurt in 2009. However, from the Lexus website, it can be seen that the model is no longer available new in South Africa.

But if you’re taking a used CT on a test drive here’s what to look out for:

Hybrid power

The CT 200h is powered by a 1.8-litre Atkinson Cycle petrol engine that puts out 73 kW and has been combined with a 60 kW electric motor. The total power output results in 100 kW and 142 Nm of torque. The engine has been mated to a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) as standard.

Lexus claims a fuel consumption figure of 4.1 L/100km on a combined cycle. When the car is being driven in EV mode, no fuel will be used and there is zero carbon emissions.

You can test drive the car in its three modes, which include the EV, ECO and Sport. The EV mode can be used at start-up for speeds up to 40 km/h. Regenerative braking further improves fuel economy while reducing emissions.

Except…

While driving the car you may want to take note of the ride quality as the CT has received some reviews about its ride being too firm. Since the CT is an urban-focused car, it is fairly small and the CVT hybrid will only run on battery power at crawling speeds. It also isn’t really a “hot hatch”. Lexus later adjusted the springs and fitted a new anti-roll bar which didn’t help its case much. According to some, it also has a really heavy steering.

Performance wise, it is not that sporty either with a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 10.3 seconds.

Space and Comfort

The used model may show its age as the car was developed in the mid-to-late 2000s and is said to have a cramped cabin. The boot capacity allows for 375 litres which include the underfloor storage box. So you should check if this will be sufficient for your needs or family’s needs.

Infotainment

In 2018, the CT received a screen upgrade from 7-inches to 10.3-inches in size. But your used test-drive derivative will still have the 7-inch screen. This is how a TopGear writer describes the system, “The nav graphics remain poor and however big the screen gets, the mouse-operated system is still damn tricky to operate.” So adapting to the system may be something you’d want to look at too since you’ll be using it every day if you purchase the car.

If you’re still after a hybrid, Lexus released its new IS 300h in November 2018.