2017 Lexus CT200h CVT Gearbox Opinions?

[Sc0tchland]

Hello,

People are suggesting the CVT gearbox on a Lexus CT200h aren't great. However I won't be racing round a racetrack with it. Do people have any day to day use with this car. Could they tell me how it drives? Cheers!

[The Cardinal]

Have a look at my Readers' Cars thread here.

[Martyn76]

I would suggest getting a test drive, most people seem to get on ok with the CVT type transmission the only issue being it can get noisy when accelerating \driving hard, see plenty of them about (Toyota\Lexus) so they can't be that bad.

[P675]

It's like any other auto box during regular driving, except for the high revving when accelerating hard rather than working up to it. I wouldn't describe the sound as loud though, have a go in one and see.

[Largechris]

Drove one for a year, its very... functional.

It's not loud, there's no practical issues with it. The only silly thing is the "sport" button which just makes it louder, you're never going to drive it fast.

But overall I found it a practical and very efficient small car and fairly good looking. Unfortunately the person who specced it had the bigger wheels on which I thought ruined the ride quality, check they are the smaller wheels or consider changing them.

[rednotdead]

I've had mine for 5 years now and it's fine. Smooth gentle inputs with the throttle are where it's at. Mashing the loud pedal does nothing but make the revs/noise rise. The sport mode just adds extra battery shove, makes a difference but sporty it aint. I was going to move mine on but for what I need it for it's ace, my commute is cross country/A33/M4/A34, usually in heavy traffic so 50-60 mph and >60mpg.

[Sc0tchland]

rednotdead said:

I've had mine for 5 years now and it's fine. Smooth gentle inputs with the throttle are where it's at. Mashing the loud pedal does nothing but make the revs/noise rise. The sport mode just adds extra battery shove, makes a difference but sporty it aint. I was going to move mine on but for what I need it for it's ace, my commute is cross country/A33/M4/A34, usually in heavy traffic so 50-60 mph and >60mpg.

My usercase is probably 5k miles a year around town, 80% less than 50mph and 20% on motorways. Does that sound like a good fit?

[CABC]

rednotdead said:

I've had mine for 5 years now and it's fine. Smooth gentle inputs with the throttle are where it's at. Mashing the loud pedal does nothing but make the revs/noise rise. The sport mode just adds extra battery shove, makes a difference but sporty it aint. I was going to move mine on but for what I need it for it's ace, my commute is cross country/A33/M4/A34, usually in heavy traffic so 50-60 mph and >60mpg.

Every detail of ^ is correct. Not that any lead-footed, always racing journalist would write this.

[rednotdead]

Sc0tchland said:

My usercase is probably 5k miles a year around town, 80% less than 50mph and 20% on motorways. Does that sound like a good fit?

It'll be fine - and with the hybrid witchcraft you'll be running on electric around town more than you think, especially under 35/40 mph. Go and have a long test drive, you might be pleasantly surprised. Journos bang on about the CVT (already covered) and the harsh ride but I find it no harder than the VW/BM/Audi 'sport' models.

The ICE is a bit old now - no apple car play etc, and the DAB settings are unfathomable, but it all just works. I moved into mine from a C Class estate and the lexus is better built depsite the smattering of toyota switchgear. Seek out one with leather too, the standard velour is a bit '70s.

[dmsims]

I wanted to love these but test drove 2 and they were both the same and not the sportier! model.

The main issues were the disconnect of the accelerator from any kind of movement and the horrendously over sprung suspension.

Golf GTE was better in every way



.

[Largechris]

Largechris said:

Drove one for a year, its very... functional.

It's not loud, there's no practical issues with it. The only silly thing is the "sport" button which just makes it louder, you're never going to drive it fast.

But overall I found it a practical and very efficient small car and fairly good looking. Unfortunately the person who specced it had the bigger wheels on which I thought ruined the ride quality, check they are the smaller wheels or consider changing them.

Also to add that it's my understanding it's the same drive train as the Prius, and the Auris hybrid.

The Prius is probably a better ride, and obviously bigger, but not as nice inside. Never been in an Auris.

But to reiterate, the gearbox is not an issue.

[ZX10R NIN]

The gearbox isn't an issue but it may take a bit of getting used to that's all.

[flying-banana]

rednotdead said:

It'll be fine - and with the hybrid witchcraft you'll be running on electric around town more than you think, especially under 35/40 mph. Go and have a long test drive, you might be pleasantly surprised. Journos bang on about the CVT (already covered) and the harsh ride but I find it no harder than the VW/BM/Audi 'sport' models.

I think the ride gets a bad press (rightly so) because it doesn't have particularly good handling either, unlike, say a BMW 1-series Msport or Golf GTD, where there's compromise/trade off

[Jonny_]

Based on the same unit in an Auris a few years ago, it's actually very good. Not the last word in performance, but very smooth (no gearchanges, no interruption in power), quiet unless you're hammering it, responds surprisingly quickly in "sport" or "power" mode, and of course does an easy 50mpg+, 60 if you're careful, 70 entirely possible if you're mostly driving around town.

The droning sound that all the journos like to whinge about only applies to sustained periods of full power or near full power - so hard acceleration (in which case it's only for a short time), or a long steep ascent (where an equivalent conventional petrol/diesel would be droning away in a low gear anyway).

[Jonny_]

Oh, and because of the complete absence of clutches, actuators, sliding shift mechanisms etc etc, it's inherently very reliable. Another reason why taxi drivers love it!