And now for something completely different... a Lexus CT200h
Discussion
Having messed around selling our Mini Cooper S and then getting a 12-year-old Audi A3 as a stop-gap, I decided a few months ago that I wanted something newer and a bit smarter than the Audi.
Frankly, the CT200h gets poor reviews. I'll come back to that later. It's also not a very PH-type car... which is exactly why you're reading this.
But, first: why did I end up buying one?
Well, now sat from the position of an owner - with no prejudices, as evidenced by a long history of moving on quickly if cars don't suit - I can hopefully provide that perspective in one word:
"Niche".
The CT is basically the only compact, posh, non plug-in hybrid. I couldn't find any others. Yes, there's the Prius (at 30cm longer, it's a parking problem around here). Yes, there's the Yaris or Auris hybrid (both feel more than a bit cheap and, in the case of the latter, actually costs the same to buy). Yes, I investigated electric cars like the i3 very closely (but we live in a terraced house, with no prospect of safe on-street charging). So, if your criteria are like mine, it pays to take a closer look.
Beyond this, then, there's the question of poor reviews. These are mainly focused on an allegedly poor ride and limp acceleration. There are some more mature assessments out there, but there's a pervasive sense of "I've driven this for a day and it doesn't feel or act like the hatchbacks the rest of the market serves up, ergo it has to be pants".
Just as pretty much every other user review has pointed out, everyone hates these cars - apart from the people who actually own and drive them long term!
Frankly, given my car history, I wouldn't even notice a harsh ride (and I don't). You'd have thought I would have noticed iffy dynamics, but they're absolutely fine. I so rarely bury the throttle these days anyway.
After a few months serving as a family car alongside our van, I'd say the strengths are:
- Great sense of being on-trend / eco smugness. At least I'm honest about it. Particular to this car, at this stage in its life cycle, there's also a feeling of the long game paying off and "I told you so", given that the Toyota hybrid system was a lone non-diesel eco offer when launched.
- It's actually quite addictive to drive. The battery-only range is limited and it's "fun" to drive in a way that maximises it. It uses a shedload less fuel around town than any other car I've had. Completely the other way around from non-hybrids.
- Incredible smoothness at low speeds. Literally silent at urban speeds.
- Great cabin and overall luxury feel.
- In its bright blue, it's pretty eye catching.
- Loads of safety and convenience toys (radar cruise etc).
There is also some bad stuff, as you'd expect. However, my list is a little different to the reviews:
- It's not intuitive. If only the VW Group executed something similar (thereby improving on the usability complaints I have), this car would sell by the absolute bucketload.
- As it is, you have to learn to navigate a very complex combination of physical and electronic controls (foot brake, rotary dial infotainment etc)...
- ...except for the big LCD clock, which is straight out of 1982 and doesn't deserve a space like that in the middle of the dashboard.
- The stereo's sound quality is a borderline sacking offence. Apparently, the speakers are made from bamboo and I can definitely believe that no pandas were harmed during the process.
- Er, that's about it.
I'm not convinced that these aren't the same downsides as with a Prius (which is essentially what this car is). I can live with them either way, as they're quirks you learn to overcome or attune to - rather than ones that grow over time.
Other than that, it's worth mentioning that mine's an ex-demo bought with c.7k on the odometer from a Lexus main dealer. I don't have any special affinity with the brand, but the dealer experience was definitely the least nasty I've had over the years.
Anyway, I'll keep you posted with how I do with it! Let's see how long I can keep this one...
[Insert generic pre-sale pic below. I haven't felt enough love to photograph it myself yet.]
Frankly, the CT200h gets poor reviews. I'll come back to that later. It's also not a very PH-type car... which is exactly why you're reading this.
But, first: why did I end up buying one?
Well, now sat from the position of an owner - with no prejudices, as evidenced by a long history of moving on quickly if cars don't suit - I can hopefully provide that perspective in one word:
"Niche".
The CT is basically the only compact, posh, non plug-in hybrid. I couldn't find any others. Yes, there's the Prius (at 30cm longer, it's a parking problem around here). Yes, there's the Yaris or Auris hybrid (both feel more than a bit cheap and, in the case of the latter, actually costs the same to buy). Yes, I investigated electric cars like the i3 very closely (but we live in a terraced house, with no prospect of safe on-street charging). So, if your criteria are like mine, it pays to take a closer look.
Beyond this, then, there's the question of poor reviews. These are mainly focused on an allegedly poor ride and limp acceleration. There are some more mature assessments out there, but there's a pervasive sense of "I've driven this for a day and it doesn't feel or act like the hatchbacks the rest of the market serves up, ergo it has to be pants".
Just as pretty much every other user review has pointed out, everyone hates these cars - apart from the people who actually own and drive them long term!
Frankly, given my car history, I wouldn't even notice a harsh ride (and I don't). You'd have thought I would have noticed iffy dynamics, but they're absolutely fine. I so rarely bury the throttle these days anyway.
After a few months serving as a family car alongside our van, I'd say the strengths are:
- Great sense of being on-trend / eco smugness. At least I'm honest about it. Particular to this car, at this stage in its life cycle, there's also a feeling of the long game paying off and "I told you so", given that the Toyota hybrid system was a lone non-diesel eco offer when launched.
- It's actually quite addictive to drive. The battery-only range is limited and it's "fun" to drive in a way that maximises it. It uses a shedload less fuel around town than any other car I've had. Completely the other way around from non-hybrids.
- Incredible smoothness at low speeds. Literally silent at urban speeds.
- Great cabin and overall luxury feel.
- In its bright blue, it's pretty eye catching.
- Loads of safety and convenience toys (radar cruise etc).
There is also some bad stuff, as you'd expect. However, my list is a little different to the reviews:
- It's not intuitive. If only the VW Group executed something similar (thereby improving on the usability complaints I have), this car would sell by the absolute bucketload.
- As it is, you have to learn to navigate a very complex combination of physical and electronic controls (foot brake, rotary dial infotainment etc)...
- ...except for the big LCD clock, which is straight out of 1982 and doesn't deserve a space like that in the middle of the dashboard.
- The stereo's sound quality is a borderline sacking offence. Apparently, the speakers are made from bamboo and I can definitely believe that no pandas were harmed during the process.
- Er, that's about it.
I'm not convinced that these aren't the same downsides as with a Prius (which is essentially what this car is). I can live with them either way, as they're quirks you learn to overcome or attune to - rather than ones that grow over time.
Other than that, it's worth mentioning that mine's an ex-demo bought with c.7k on the odometer from a Lexus main dealer. I don't have any special affinity with the brand, but the dealer experience was definitely the least nasty I've had over the years.
Anyway, I'll keep you posted with how I do with it! Let's see how long I can keep this one...
[Insert generic pre-sale pic below. I haven't felt enough love to photograph it myself yet.]
Edited by The Cardinal on Wednesday 19th June 22:43
I've had one of these for 3yrs and 30k miles, bought at a ridiculously cheap price from lexus at 2 years old with 10k on the clock. Sat in traffic on the A33/M4/A34 on my daily commute it makes perfect sense and without trying I see 58-62 mpg across the tank all day/every day in those traffic conditions.
I agree with all your points, especially that damn clock. The DAB system is unfathomable, if only lexus would sort out their ICE! It's not quick but it's not slow either, it seems to just gather pace. Mashing the throttle just doesn't work, gentle inputs is where it's at. Put it in sport (
) mode and the car is transformed and is much perkier to drive.
In the 3 years I've had it, it has been utterly reliable. Routine servicing (standard pricing across the franchises, no surprises) and a set of tyres is all its needed. Their service plans are good value too. The platform is getting old now and when I change it in a year or so I'll be looking seriously at a used UX or IS to replace it.
I agree with all your points, especially that damn clock. The DAB system is unfathomable, if only lexus would sort out their ICE! It's not quick but it's not slow either, it seems to just gather pace. Mashing the throttle just doesn't work, gentle inputs is where it's at. Put it in sport (
) mode and the car is transformed and is much perkier to drive.In the 3 years I've had it, it has been utterly reliable. Routine servicing (standard pricing across the franchises, no surprises) and a set of tyres is all its needed. Their service plans are good value too. The platform is getting old now and when I change it in a year or so I'll be looking seriously at a used UX or IS to replace it.
I'm now on 4 months and 1,000 miles with the car and beginning to get a good feel for it. It's by no means a classic petrol head's car, but it's certainly technically impressive and has a lot of interesting quirks.
I thought I'd take a few pics during an idle moment on the way to collecting my daughter from a party, to help show what I mean.
The outside doesn't take your breath away, but there are certainly some unusual exterior design details:
The 98hp 1.8 litre combustion engine lives under the bonnet, together with an electric motor that can use the battery to summon c.80hp. The engine is running an economy-minded Atkinson cycle, which means high thermal efficiency and low stress. The motor can propel the car with ICE, battery or both power sources.
As is the way with hybrids, total peak power is less than the sum of its parts at 134hp. Nonetheless, it can be impressive for short bursts in "Sport" mode as all the battery's torque is available straight away. Equally, it can feel more lethargic in eco modes. Each of the 3 modes gives quite different driving characteristics, much more distinctively so than in ICE-only cars. It feels like a car with between 75 and 200hp depending on which it's in.
The front Lexus badge incorporates a Magic eye; part of the optional "Lexus Safety System+". This comprises: a pre-collision system, adaptive cruise, lane assist, auto high beam and road sign reading. The pack is only now standard on the most recent cars and is worthwhile IMO as it's rare on mid-to-compact cars:
The interior is very comfy and of high quality (apologies for misaligned steering wheel!). The fabric, plastics and other materials are akin to what you'd find in much more expensive cars:
...but the mirror console is an example of some over-complicated controls:
The parking brake is also an unusual feature:
The gear selector is more intuitive, but much less mechanical in feel to use than a conventional auto shifter. Underneath is an e-CVT gearbox, which is different from a classic CVT but gives you an idea of how it works. The "B" refers to a more aggressive motor braking mode, simulating engine braking - and can be used to recharge the battery quickly through coasting. Two rotary dials below (in the centre console) control display and driving modes respectively.
The dash display changes according to mode selected. This is in "eco", which dulls the accelerator pedal response and increases use of the battery (the EV icon denotes that only the battery is being used):
The central display can be configured to show a range of different things. This one is for the hybrid system and shows what it's doing at any given time:
Outside again... the rear hatch has a massive spoiler and the bumper below incorporates some aero details. The boot opens to a nice flat load bay, sacrificed somewhat to the (not pictured) battery pack...
...although I think the amount of space in the rear is pretty decent:
The air intake in the driver's side door aperture aids battery pack cooling - and rounds off some of this car's unusual features:
The overall driving experience is wearing well, perhaps because it's so serene and different from anything else I've had before. Dropping the windows on country lanes reveals a novel range of quite pleasant battery and electric motor noises at low speeds, before the engine kicks in as needed.
I'm learning how to drive most effectively, using Prius tips - which is effectively what this is. The "pulse and glide" technique involves accelerating briskly, before lifting off and letting the battery maintain momentum. With this now practised in use and some help from the adaptive cruise control on motorways, I'm getting between 55-65mpg overall. Urban mpg is generally close-to, or at, the average.
I've got some big motorway business miles coming up. A common misconception is that the Toyota hybrid system becomes literally a drag at higher speeds, although in fact the very efficient petrol engine still assists the battery well into cruising speeds where it's typically only doing a smidge over 1,000rpm. Let's see whether I can match diesel economy...
I've still much to learn about the car - and that's probably the best bit!
I thought I'd take a few pics during an idle moment on the way to collecting my daughter from a party, to help show what I mean.
The outside doesn't take your breath away, but there are certainly some unusual exterior design details:
The 98hp 1.8 litre combustion engine lives under the bonnet, together with an electric motor that can use the battery to summon c.80hp. The engine is running an economy-minded Atkinson cycle, which means high thermal efficiency and low stress. The motor can propel the car with ICE, battery or both power sources.
As is the way with hybrids, total peak power is less than the sum of its parts at 134hp. Nonetheless, it can be impressive for short bursts in "Sport" mode as all the battery's torque is available straight away. Equally, it can feel more lethargic in eco modes. Each of the 3 modes gives quite different driving characteristics, much more distinctively so than in ICE-only cars. It feels like a car with between 75 and 200hp depending on which it's in.
The front Lexus badge incorporates a Magic eye; part of the optional "Lexus Safety System+". This comprises: a pre-collision system, adaptive cruise, lane assist, auto high beam and road sign reading. The pack is only now standard on the most recent cars and is worthwhile IMO as it's rare on mid-to-compact cars:
The interior is very comfy and of high quality (apologies for misaligned steering wheel!). The fabric, plastics and other materials are akin to what you'd find in much more expensive cars:
...but the mirror console is an example of some over-complicated controls:
The parking brake is also an unusual feature:
The gear selector is more intuitive, but much less mechanical in feel to use than a conventional auto shifter. Underneath is an e-CVT gearbox, which is different from a classic CVT but gives you an idea of how it works. The "B" refers to a more aggressive motor braking mode, simulating engine braking - and can be used to recharge the battery quickly through coasting. Two rotary dials below (in the centre console) control display and driving modes respectively.
The dash display changes according to mode selected. This is in "eco", which dulls the accelerator pedal response and increases use of the battery (the EV icon denotes that only the battery is being used):
The central display can be configured to show a range of different things. This one is for the hybrid system and shows what it's doing at any given time:
Outside again... the rear hatch has a massive spoiler and the bumper below incorporates some aero details. The boot opens to a nice flat load bay, sacrificed somewhat to the (not pictured) battery pack...
...although I think the amount of space in the rear is pretty decent:
The air intake in the driver's side door aperture aids battery pack cooling - and rounds off some of this car's unusual features:
The overall driving experience is wearing well, perhaps because it's so serene and different from anything else I've had before. Dropping the windows on country lanes reveals a novel range of quite pleasant battery and electric motor noises at low speeds, before the engine kicks in as needed.
I'm learning how to drive most effectively, using Prius tips - which is effectively what this is. The "pulse and glide" technique involves accelerating briskly, before lifting off and letting the battery maintain momentum. With this now practised in use and some help from the adaptive cruise control on motorways, I'm getting between 55-65mpg overall. Urban mpg is generally close-to, or at, the average.
I've got some big motorway business miles coming up. A common misconception is that the Toyota hybrid system becomes literally a drag at higher speeds, although in fact the very efficient petrol engine still assists the battery well into cruising speeds where it's typically only doing a smidge over 1,000rpm. Let's see whether I can match diesel economy...
I've still much to learn about the car - and that's probably the best bit!
I've always found these quite interesting, and that blue is a fantastic colour (I look at it every day, as I drive past another CT200h in the same colour). I've often wondered if there was any truth behind the reviews, I personally find most of the common review sources to be incredibly biased and rather tunnel-visioned on one or two attributes.
I've had a CT200h as a courtesy car from my Lexus dealer.
They are certainly much more refined than any diesel Focus or Golf.
In real world urban usage you don't notice the CVT (and modern autos with 8,9,10 gears seem to have the same 'thrashing around at max rpm' characteristics at full throttle anyway).
They are certainly much more refined than any diesel Focus or Golf.
In real world urban usage you don't notice the CVT (and modern autos with 8,9,10 gears seem to have the same 'thrashing around at max rpm' characteristics at full throttle anyway).
You know what, I respect that as a choice of boring car.
I looked really hard at a nearly-new version recently, but got a great deal on a new 225xe hybrid instead.
It suffers a little by association of being an Auris in a pretty frock, but that's really no bad thing.
The ones we looked at were really nicely put together, and the NVH was top drawer.
I looked really hard at a nearly-new version recently, but got a great deal on a new 225xe hybrid instead.
It suffers a little by association of being an Auris in a pretty frock, but that's really no bad thing.
The ones we looked at were really nicely put together, and the NVH was top drawer.
The Cardinal said:
Just as pretty much every other user review has pointed out, everyone hates these cars - apart from the people who actually own and drive them long term!
- The stereo's sound quality is a borderline sacking offence. Apparently, the speakers are made from bamboo and I can definitely believe that no pandas were harmed during the process.
Having had one of these for the last 2 years as a company car, can completely agree with the top remark. I actually really quite like it and think it serves it's purpose as a quality, refined (unless you accelerate hard), upmarket interior, hybrid hatch. I have the unenviable task of driving into central London 2-3 times a month and it's a very relaxing car to do that task with the radio on, air con cool and electric quietness around town. - The stereo's sound quality is a borderline sacking offence. Apparently, the speakers are made from bamboo and I can definitely believe that no pandas were harmed during the process.
Edited by The Cardinal on Wednesday 19th June 22:43
Regarding the stereo I think it must depend on which trim/system you have. I find the system in mine is absolutely excellent.
Downsides for me are the petrol tank is very small, the boot is small and it can be noisy when accelerating hard due to the CVT gearbox. And of course the completely unfathomable ICE system which after 2 years I've only just about got set up so that I can easily scroll through a few frequently listened to DAB stations.
It's been a nice introduction to Lexus though and for me a perfect accompaniment to the weekend petrolhead car.
Edited by T1547 on Wednesday 17th July 23:01
T1547 said:
The Cardinal said:
Just as pretty much every other user review has pointed out, everyone hates these cars - apart from the people who actually own and drive them long term!
- The stereo's sound quality is a borderline sacking offence. Apparently, the speakers are made from bamboo and I can definitely believe that no pandas were harmed during the process.
Having had one of these for the last 2 years as a company car, can completely agree with the top remark. I actually really quite like it and think it serves it's purpose as a quality, refined (unless you accelerate hard), upmarket interior, hybrid hatch. I have the unenviable task of driving into central London 2-3 times a month and it's a very relaxing car to do that task with the radio on, air con cool and electric quietness around town. - The stereo's sound quality is a borderline sacking offence. Apparently, the speakers are made from bamboo and I can definitely believe that no pandas were harmed during the process.
Edited by The Cardinal on Wednesday 19th June 22:43
Regarding the stereo I think it must depend on which trim/system you have. I find the system in mine is absolutely excellent.
Downsides for me are the petrol tank is very small, the boot is small and it can be noisy when accelerating hard due to the CVT gearbox. And of course the completely unfathomable ICE system which after 2 years I've only just about got set up so that I can easily scroll through a few frequently listened to DAB stations.
It's been a nice introduction to Lexus though and for me a perfect accompaniment to the weekend petrolhead car.
Edited by T1547 on Wednesday 17th July 23:01
My partner has had one for 3 years now (after I tried to convince her to get a BMW 1-series or an Abarth 500 of some sort) and it's performed brilliantly.
As mentioned above, it definitely isn't the most engaging driving machine but it is exactly what it says on the box: efficient, solid, very well built, refined, dependable, ...
It only does about 2000 miles per year, all of it short distances (we use my daily for larger trips) and still it averages 55 mpg which is really impressive imho. Purely from a cost perspective, for these short distances, a hybrid is not required but in the end it's not expensive to run at all.
I really like these. About a year ago they were on our company car list and as I was coming up to choosing my next one, it was top choice..
Local Lexus dealer was superb, lent me a car for 48 hours, no questions asked, so got to use for a couple of days commuting - motorway / urban mix. Really enjoyed it, it feels solid and well-made, I found it quite comfortable and relaxing to drive, economy was good, and the one they gave me was an F-Sport in gloss red with black detailing, so it actually looked pretty nice too IMO.
Didn't end up getting one in the end as our car list changed, there were a bunch of delays etc.. But given the choice I would have. Definitely not a typical 'PH' car, but as a daily driver I wouldn't complain at all.
Only real downside I can think of from my experience - the infotainment system, well - specifically the sat-nav, was abysmal. But honestly, nothing a smart phone in a holder couldn't solve.
Local Lexus dealer was superb, lent me a car for 48 hours, no questions asked, so got to use for a couple of days commuting - motorway / urban mix. Really enjoyed it, it feels solid and well-made, I found it quite comfortable and relaxing to drive, economy was good, and the one they gave me was an F-Sport in gloss red with black detailing, so it actually looked pretty nice too IMO.
Didn't end up getting one in the end as our car list changed, there were a bunch of delays etc.. But given the choice I would have. Definitely not a typical 'PH' car, but as a daily driver I wouldn't complain at all.
Only real downside I can think of from my experience - the infotainment system, well - specifically the sat-nav, was abysmal. But honestly, nothing a smart phone in a holder couldn't solve.
I've been given one of these last year as a courtesy car from my Lexus dealer too. I mean everything inside, proper Lexus / Japanese quality, no doubt but I found the engine transition from electric to ICE a bit rough, not so smooth. I've done mainly London-centric driving for 2 days. How is it in more use ? I would love to get one of these as secondary car, or older Lexus SUVS. The reliability and quality just no-brainer really.
Someone observed above that the mileage I've covered in the 4-5 months since getting this car is underwhelming given its credentials as an economy-minded chariot. 
I like would point out that the totals for miles and trips are different things - and that this Lexus mainly gets used as our town car for ferrying kids to swimming at weekends etc. It was bought because it's the Classic FM of cars, rather than just economy...
...but it does also gets some long runs - like today! This was the first leg of a 500-miler on business, taking in a combination of heaving motorways, urban-ish jungles and some country roads. I have cultivated a recipe for these long journeys over many years and tens of thousands of miles, treasured especially in the early days as they were a rare child-free indulgence comprising:
- Cheesy 90s house on the stereo (today, I recommend Let's Groove by George Morel [Claptone Remix])
- Carrying my MTB for impromptu trail sessions between meetings
- Economy-minded driving - usually an indicated 65mph cruise - for maximum chilled-outness
On the latter point, I usually get decent fuel economy on these drives. The main reasons are that I get paid ~50p per mile net and, as I've aged, I want to stay safe and keep a clean licence. So, I might as well partake in the thrills that are inspired by hypermiling.
A run like today's would see close to 35mpg from my old Golf R32, about 40mpg from anything VAG 2.0T and 60mpg from my old Volvo V60 D5. Hire cars with weedy petrol or diesel engines are in a similar range of 40-60mpg, showing little benefit for the drop in performance. And, so, from the CT200h?
Drumroll...
Ok - let's call it a real 70mpg. This was achieved with no particular efforts other than using the adaptive cruise control, which I must say is the best I've used - particularly because it senses vehicles in more than one lane and therefore doesn't speed up when a car in front moves into an outside lane.
I'm mainly happy because it means I might make it home tomorrow without needing to refill on fuel. Unlike a normal ICE-only car, the CT's fuel economy doesn't drop when in stop-start traffic. The battery also assists the engine at motorway speeds, meaning that it's barely ticking over on a cruise.
I also made use of the boot:
...which has some decent undercover storage:
...before revealing that Prius / Auris battery:
All loaded-up:
...and out onto the trails:
Finally, I previously sullied the good name of this car by saying that its stereo was rubbish. I would like to retract this statement having - ahem - found that the Bluetooth volume setting on my phone was set low.
It's actually a pretty decent stereo and tops off the experience of this car suiting my needs pretty well.
I like would point out that the totals for miles and trips are different things - and that this Lexus mainly gets used as our town car for ferrying kids to swimming at weekends etc. It was bought because it's the Classic FM of cars, rather than just economy...
...but it does also gets some long runs - like today! This was the first leg of a 500-miler on business, taking in a combination of heaving motorways, urban-ish jungles and some country roads. I have cultivated a recipe for these long journeys over many years and tens of thousands of miles, treasured especially in the early days as they were a rare child-free indulgence comprising:
- Cheesy 90s house on the stereo (today, I recommend Let's Groove by George Morel [Claptone Remix])
- Carrying my MTB for impromptu trail sessions between meetings
- Economy-minded driving - usually an indicated 65mph cruise - for maximum chilled-outness
On the latter point, I usually get decent fuel economy on these drives. The main reasons are that I get paid ~50p per mile net and, as I've aged, I want to stay safe and keep a clean licence. So, I might as well partake in the thrills that are inspired by hypermiling.
A run like today's would see close to 35mpg from my old Golf R32, about 40mpg from anything VAG 2.0T and 60mpg from my old Volvo V60 D5. Hire cars with weedy petrol or diesel engines are in a similar range of 40-60mpg, showing little benefit for the drop in performance. And, so, from the CT200h?
Drumroll...
Ok - let's call it a real 70mpg. This was achieved with no particular efforts other than using the adaptive cruise control, which I must say is the best I've used - particularly because it senses vehicles in more than one lane and therefore doesn't speed up when a car in front moves into an outside lane.
I'm mainly happy because it means I might make it home tomorrow without needing to refill on fuel. Unlike a normal ICE-only car, the CT's fuel economy doesn't drop when in stop-start traffic. The battery also assists the engine at motorway speeds, meaning that it's barely ticking over on a cruise.
I also made use of the boot:
...which has some decent undercover storage:
...before revealing that Prius / Auris battery:
All loaded-up:
...and out onto the trails:
Finally, I previously sullied the good name of this car by saying that its stereo was rubbish. I would like to retract this statement having - ahem - found that the Bluetooth volume setting on my phone was set low.
It's actually a pretty decent stereo and tops off the experience of this car suiting my needs pretty well.
ooid said:
I found the engine transition from electric to ICE a bit rough, not so smooth. I've done mainly London-centric driving for 2 days. How is it in more use ? I would love to get one of these as secondary car, or older Lexus SUVS. The reliability and quality just no-brainer really.
Can't say I've noticed this in >30k miles. The transition is seamless. The engine is apparently started from a driveshaft not the starter so you don't get that 'cough' like you do with other stop/start systems. I'm liking the newer right side binnacle display you have, mine is a '14 plate so I have the older style. On a recent 1200mile thrash to Germany and back in a weekend I saw an indicated 67mpg so realistically 60ish. I was surprised to see you have the velour upholstery, I hated that in the few I looked at, it was the only thing that let the cabin down IMO. I ended up sourcing one with the pale leather (and it is real leather in a lexus, non of your Mercedes artico stuff) which is a really nice quality.
In nearly 4 years I still haven't been able to tune a single DAB station
rednotdead said:
I'm liking the newer right side binnacle display you have, mine is a '14 plate so I have the older style. On a recent 1200mile thrash to Germany and back in a weekend I saw an indicated 67mpg so realistically 60ish. I was surprised to see you have the velour upholstery, I hated that in the few I looked at, it was the only thing that let the cabin down IMO. I ended up sourcing one with the pale leather (and it is real leather in a lexus, non of your Mercedes artico stuff) which is a really nice quality.
In nearly 4 years I still haven't been able to tune a single DAB station
This is an '18-plate base model (SE), with the Plus Pack to add nicer wheels, parking sensors and the safety system. It's the same spec the base model for 2019/20, but is comparable to a mid-spec model from earlier model years. Now that the sound system turns out to be fine, I can't think of anything that it doesn't have that I would want. In nearly 4 years I still haven't been able to tune a single DAB station
I wasn't keen on the idea of velour, but I actually like it a lot. It's very comfortable and wipes away kids' banana / snot / mud more easily than fabric. The display changes between modes and that right-side binnacle shows details for trip, audio, control system and several other functions.
Oh, and with a little patience, I've been able to tune DAB stations reliably!
I'm in the middle of another 500-mile round trip, this time to north Wales. It takes in motorways, A-roads and finally some twisties.
I've done this run many times over the last 7 years or so, in all sorts of mid-size cars... both personal ('charged Golf R32, Volvo V60 D5, Audi S3) and hire (Astra, Focus, i30, Qashqai, Golf). I find this Welsh run a real test for any car, across a wide range of measures like comfort, cruising, handling and economy.
I must say that I'm very impressed with the CT in this context. You'd pay a similar amount of money for one as for one of the hire cars, but with spec and comfort definitely closer to my own older cars. None of them, including diesels, can touch the Lexus' fuel economy... I'm getting an indicated 76mpg on today's run, meaning that I should net £200 at work mileage rates once I've deducted fuel costs.
A couple of random notes...
- The handling is surprisingly good... albeit in a strange way. The CT has great grip and quite decent feel, but just not the power to back things up beyond short squirts of battery-assisted acceleration out of a corner. Given the target audience for this car I don't see it as a major problem, but another dollop of battery power would make this a borderline fun car to drive.
- The fuel tank is 45 litres, but shows "empty" once it's down to the final 10 - I guess this is to ensure there's a lower chance of running out of juice and therefore flattening the battery.
- I've adjusted my driving style to make the most of the hybrid system. This has included discovering that its battery-assisted 0-30/40 is much more impressive than the classic 0-60 stat would have you believe.
Gratuitous pic, alongside a (somewhat taller) Golf GTI Mk7.5 to its right... the sort of car that I'd normally have bought instead.
I've done this run many times over the last 7 years or so, in all sorts of mid-size cars... both personal ('charged Golf R32, Volvo V60 D5, Audi S3) and hire (Astra, Focus, i30, Qashqai, Golf). I find this Welsh run a real test for any car, across a wide range of measures like comfort, cruising, handling and economy.
I must say that I'm very impressed with the CT in this context. You'd pay a similar amount of money for one as for one of the hire cars, but with spec and comfort definitely closer to my own older cars. None of them, including diesels, can touch the Lexus' fuel economy... I'm getting an indicated 76mpg on today's run, meaning that I should net £200 at work mileage rates once I've deducted fuel costs.
A couple of random notes...
- The handling is surprisingly good... albeit in a strange way. The CT has great grip and quite decent feel, but just not the power to back things up beyond short squirts of battery-assisted acceleration out of a corner. Given the target audience for this car I don't see it as a major problem, but another dollop of battery power would make this a borderline fun car to drive.
- The fuel tank is 45 litres, but shows "empty" once it's down to the final 10 - I guess this is to ensure there's a lower chance of running out of juice and therefore flattening the battery.
- I've adjusted my driving style to make the most of the hybrid system. This has included discovering that its battery-assisted 0-30/40 is much more impressive than the classic 0-60 stat would have you believe.
Gratuitous pic, alongside a (somewhat taller) Golf GTI Mk7.5 to its right... the sort of car that I'd normally have bought instead.
The Cardinal said:
- The handling is surprisingly good... albeit in a strange way. The CT has great grip and quite decent feel, but just not the power to back things up beyond short squirts of battery-assisted acceleration out of a corner. Given the target audience for this car I don't see it as a major problem, but another dollop of battery power would make this a borderline fun car to drive.
I often think Lexus missed a trick by not offering a CT300h. A bit more extra oomph would have made it so much better.I agree. It's not a major deal for me as I rarely drive out of town or the motorway, which is also why I'm also not in something more pokey at this stage of my life.
It would be nice to have a little more oomph to go with tidy handling, lovely cabin, silent urban driving, huge amounts of standard kit and 70+mpg. But then I am probably a big outlier on the spectrum of people who get a car like this... I need a niche within a small niche!
It would be nice to have a little more oomph to go with tidy handling, lovely cabin, silent urban driving, huge amounts of standard kit and 70+mpg. But then I am probably a big outlier on the spectrum of people who get a car like this... I need a niche within a small niche!
HNY and all that...sorry to resurrect this post, but I am finding it pretty hard to get answers anywhere, I thought asking an owner was the best option, so forgive me.
Our company car list has just come out, and alongside the usual Audi A1, A3, and BMW 1 series, they have added the CT200h as a bit of a wildcard.
They've dropped the diesel mileage payment by a penny a mile, and the CT200h would be 5p a mile more. Not inconsiderable (I'm not a high flyer lol)
My question is regarding the phone connectivity and that stuff. I currently have an Astra and it is bursting with stuff. Apple car play etc.
What can I expect with the CT200h? Can I use Waze? Can I use whatsapp? Will it support podcasts, audiobooks and apple music?
Sorry for the basic questions, but it is so hard to get an actual answer out of anyone!
Many thanks.
Our company car list has just come out, and alongside the usual Audi A1, A3, and BMW 1 series, they have added the CT200h as a bit of a wildcard.
They've dropped the diesel mileage payment by a penny a mile, and the CT200h would be 5p a mile more. Not inconsiderable (I'm not a high flyer lol)
My question is regarding the phone connectivity and that stuff. I currently have an Astra and it is bursting with stuff. Apple car play etc.
What can I expect with the CT200h? Can I use Waze? Can I use whatsapp? Will it support podcasts, audiobooks and apple music?
Sorry for the basic questions, but it is so hard to get an actual answer out of anyone!
Many thanks.
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