Looking for a "lexus" city car? Here it is! We tested the new Lexus CT 200h
I admit that when I hear that I will be testing a Lexus model again, I always look forward to it. When I get into the brand's cars, I am always welcomed with open arms and feel really comfortable.
The last model I tested was the Lexus CT 200h, which may be the most basic of the entire model range, but being basic means something completely different with Lexus than other brands. This hatchback was born in 2011, but has since undergone an evolution and a successful facelift.
Typical front fascia and pleasing curves
With the second facelift, the 'Cette has been given the contemporary Spindle Grille look (the typical front grille of Lexus cars) that all new models of the brand now include. The robust front grille gives Lexus cars a certain boldness, but also style and elegance. The other distinctive shapes also partly set the Lexus CT 200h apart from other brands' hatchbacks, for which we give it a definite thumbs-up. Of course, you can see the whole car in our gallery.
The interior of the car
Comfort, yes, but time has kind of stood still. While the new facelift has made a nice impact on the car and taken it one step further again, the developers probably forgot a bit about the interior, which certainly deserves a good dose of modernisation. It's not that the interior wasn't functional, but the look of the centre stack control panel was a few steps back from what we know in today's cars.
I do, however, commend the use of mechanical controls. In my opinion, it's far better than controlling everything with a touchscreen infotainment system, which is often quite impractical while driving. Still, the mechanical controls could be retained with a bit of modernisation. Maybe less hard plastic would have been enough.
Similarly, the infotainment system works without a problem, but it's true that nowadays we're used to something a bit different again. The model we tested was equipped with a 7-inch display, which was controlled by a rotary dial on the centre stack. However, the relatively low-resolution display was certainly not suited to this premium car. At the same time, I should mention that I am a big fan of Apple Car and Android Auto, and support for those apps was sorely missed. For cars with a price tag above 800 000 CZK I would take it for granted.
However, the two USB ports in the interior are great for charging your phone and other devices, and there's also an audio input on the centre stack. Other interior elements are already valuable and I really liked the Silk textile upholstery and the leather-wrapped steering wheel.
A car packed with technology
You can choose to equip this vehicle with just about every modern and safety technology known today. Our car didn't lack adaptive cruise control, but also lane keeping and parking cameras. Everything worked very well.
Plenty of space
Even considering the fact that this is a vehicle of relatively small dimensions (length 4 355 mm, height 1 455 mm, width 2020 mm) and, as we mentioned at the beginning, it is mainly a city vehicle, despite this, the "cétéčko" offers plenty of space, not only for the driver, but also for the passenger. Although it's true that the rear seats are a little raised, and that's because of the battery, so taller people might have a bit of a problem with headroom. The boot will offer a capacity of 375 litres and up to 985 litres when the rear seats are folded down.
Hybrid drive
The big plus and, dare I say it, the main advantage of this city car is the hybrid drive. Under the bonnet we find a 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine, which is coupled to an 82 hp electric motor. The car is charged while driving, with energy stored in a 1.3 kWh battery. This is located above the rear axle. The car thus combines both motors in normal driving, and the electric motor is mainly used for acceleration and acceleration. That's great for big, congested cities, for example.
Free parking in Prague
Another advantage, especially for Prague residents, is that with this car they will be able to park for free in all blue and purple zones, which can save many drivers a lot of money. The question is how long this benefit will last with the increasing advent of hybrid and all-electric cars.
"Lexus" driving
The car's operation is very quiet and the ride is really comfortable, it's not quite a sporty ride, prepare for a rather comfortable chassis. In addition, you can choose from three driving modes (ECO, NORMAL, SPORT) thanks to the rotary dial on the centre stack. However, even in sport mode, don't expect any miracles. The primary focus of this car is not on the racetrack.
You can also choose battery-only driving, thanks to the so-called EV mode. This allows the car to travel up to 2 kilometres purely on electric power at speeds below 50 km/h. However, other circumstances such as temperature and battery charge also matter. There may be cases where the car won't even let you switch to EV mode. However, this mode is best used for short commutes or underground garages where exhaust fumes can be a problem.
Consumption is second to none
In conjunction with the hybrid powertrain, you can also expect low fuel consumption. If you drive well and don't step on the gas too much, you can get around 4 litres per 100 km.
The only beauty flaw
The Lexus CT 200h is a great city car, with the only beauty flaw being the centre stack infotainment system, which could certainly do with a bit of upgrading. I believe that the next version will fix this flaw and I will then be able to say that this is the perfect city vehicle.
Our test car
We had the opportunity to test the Lexus CT 200h Comfort Plus version with a base price of 854,000 CZK, which is not available on our market. However, it is comparable to the Prestiege trim, which starts at CZK 790,000.
