NOT many cars can boast fuel economy figures of nearly 70mpg and still have great looks and personality - enter the Lexus CT 200h.
For this is the first fully hybrid model to be launched in the premium compact market and it’s already making a very big impression.
Boasting sweeping lines and a sharp-edged appearance with tinted rear windows and a rear spoiler, it is guaranteed to turn bystanders’ heads… especially as it cruises passed in absolute silence.
And the interior is pretty snazzy too with plenty of up-market specifications and eye-catching designs and gadgetry.
Creature comforts include dual-zone air con, electric windows, rain-sensing wipers, push button start, a six speaker sound system compatible with all today’s devices and plenty more besides.
This model also featured metallic paint and a top notch navigation system that bumped the price up by £2,360 to £25,845.
The cabin is nice and spacious with ample room for four adults to travel in comfort - five at a squeeze and there’s plenty of storage space for all their luggage requirements too.
But the real attraction of the CT 200h is performance and economy. The rewards for green motoring are very encouraging these days and this car boasts class-leading carbon emissions stats of just 94g/km which results in zero annual road tax.
So it seems Lexus has come up with a winner. The CT 200h has great looks, brilliant economy, it’s spacious and has plenty of technical specifications to make each journey more enjoyable. But what about the performance itself?
Well, the marketing campaign for this vehicle has seen Kylie Minogue promoting it as “The silent revolution” and that perfectly sums up this vehicle.
For Lexus is using the same hybrid system that featured in the highly-acclaimed Toyota Prius, so it is powered by a 1.8-litre petrol engine linked to an electric motor and a CVT gearbox. It’s that combination that results in the outstanding economy figures.
Start the engine and there is total silence and it’s the same when you pull away. In fact, you can travel in that absolute silence for one or two miles so long as you don’t exceed 28mph at which point the petrol engine cuts in.
There are three driving modes to select from - Eco, normal and sport. The first two modes are the efficient ones, but switch to sport and the driving experience is transformed… as is the dashboard.
The illumination changes from blue to sporty red and the hybrid system indicator, which displays which mode you are driving in, becomes a rev counter.
The car handles exceptionally well and both acceleration and performance are very responsive. The ride, at times, can be a little hard in sport mode, but that was the only real criticism I could come up with.
Lexus has fitted the vehicle with a host of safety specifications, including anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution, numerous airbags, traction control, stability control and lots more besides.
All in all, the CT 200h may have started as the silent revolution, but it’s certainly making a big noise amongst rival manufacturers.
FAST FACTS
Lexus CT 200h SE-I
Price: £25,845
Mechanical: 134bhp, 1,798cc, hybrid engine driving front wheels via E-CVT automatic gearbox
Max speed: 112mph
0-62mph: 10.3 seconds
Combined mpg: 68.9
Insurance group: 15
CO2 emissions: 94g/km
BIK rating: 15%
Warranty: 5yrs/ 60,000 miles