Error parsing XSLT file: \xslt\FacebookOpenGraph.xslt Our Fleet Test Drive: Lexus CT200h - Final Report
Cookies on Businesscar

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Business Car website. However, if you would like to, you can change your cookies at any time

BusinessCar magazine website email Awards mobile

The start point for the best source of fleet information

Our Fleet Test Drive: Lexus CT200h - Final Report

Date: 14 April 2013   |   Author: Tony Rock

Mileage 9708 miles
Claimed combined consumption 68.9mpg
Our average consumption 48.0mpg
Forecast CPM 56.2p
Actual CPM 58.5p

Just like the proverbial bus, we had to wait a while for our long-term Lexus CT200h to arrive - just for another one to turn up a bit later.

The delay was due to us wanting an F-sport model, which, unfortunately for us, was proving so popular that Lexus initially didn't have any spare loan cars available .

Keeping the seat warm until the better equipped car arrived was the one-up-from-base specification SE-L  [1] (now designated SE), which, because the crucial hybrid power aspects of both variants are the same, enabled us to begin getting to know the smallest model in Lexus's range.

The combination of a 1.8-litre petrol engine and an electric motor that recharges itself when the car decelerates result in a CO2 emissions figure of just 94g/km and a BIK tax band of 10%.

The car can be driven in three modes - eco, normal and sport - but a total power of 134hp on offer means performance is only ever adequate. Even when I allowed myself the freedom of sport mode, the engine still sounded overly stressed.

It wasn't completely a scientific test, but in terms of economy there wasn't a lot of difference between the normal (45.8mpg) and eco (46.4mpg) settings. However, that was because selecting either one for an entire trip (as I had to make a valid comparison) isn't the most effective way of utilising the options. Switching between eco for urban journeys and normal for higher speeds should prove the best course.

Inside the car, Lexus's Remote Touch system enables the driver to fully operate functions such as the satnav, audio and climate control from one central controller [2]. It's an admirable way of organising the in-car features, but it raises several issues around usability and ultimately safety, and I remain unconvinced.

However, I do like the variety of visual real-time economy information relayed via the instrument cluster and the satnav screen. My favourite is a bar chart that presents minute-by-minute mpg data [3] as well as how much energy has been regenerated. As a way of encouraging efficient driving, it's quite addictive, and you feel disappointed when the next vertical bar  is lower than the previous one.

The arrival of the F-sport, in Ultra Blue-coloured, halfway through our six-month test highlighted a problem I had with the SE-L: the former's extra kit - including wing mirrors that angle downwards in reverse - was commensurate with what I'd expect a luxury branded car to have, and that was despite the latter offering the likes of cruise control over an entry-spec model. Maybe I've just got demanding standards - however, to be fair, it didn't detract from the fact that overall the Lexus CT200h is an attractive way to engage in low-emission driving.

Lexus CT200h F-sport
P11D price (without options) £28,581
Price range £25,581-£30,431
Depreciation cost £18,506
Fuel cost £5383
SMR cost £1680
VED £0
National Insurance £1223
Insurance £3000
C02 (tax) 94g/km (10%)
BIK?@?20/40% per month £48/£95

Verdict


  • Smart way to achieve low CO2 and tax
  • Remote Touch safety/usability concerns

Share


Subscribe