Lexus CT200h Advance

We've read quite a lot of reviews about the Lexus CT200h to the point that we decided to take it out for a test to see whether we could share some of the opinions. We drove the CT200h in Advance trim. Our car came in Arctic Pearl which looks very modern and luxurious. This is the first attempt made by Lexus on this sector of "posh hatchbacks" although when it comes to hybrid drivetrains, Lexus is an expert.

EXTERIOR: The CT200h is immediately recognisable as a Lexus. The front end is similar to an IS with daytime LED lights and an aggressive and purposeful bumper. The back is unique, with a lip on the shoulder line and again modern LED lights.The profile has clean lines and a pronounced C pillar which creates a small blind spot. The paintwork and trim finish is exceptional and the mildly darkened alloy wheels exude quality.

INTERIOR: Here is where you'll never for a second regret buying a Lexus. The interior of the CT200h is a nice place to be and the equipment in our Advance trim represents good value for money. Our car came with the eco-friendly Tahara leather seats which are very comfortable. Standard equipment includes MoveOn integrated Sat Nav, parking sensors front and back with rear reversing camera, cruise control, bluetooth connectivity and dual-zone climate control. In Normal and ECO driving mode the instruments and cabin lighting is blue, turn into Sport mode though and the ecometer turns into a rev counter while the instruments and cabin illumination turns red.

DRIVING: Here is where the critics lost their cool and somehow forgot what they were driving. The Lexus CT200h is best sampled as a relaxed cruiser, and up to 25mph in EV mode is almost silent. It's fair to say that, even in Sport mode, the relaxed nature of this car doesn't change drastically, but we like it the way it is. Nobody will ever buy a CT200h with the intention to race a hot hatch at the traffic lights. The serenity of this car is unrivalled; perhaps the F Sport version is slightly stiff for our potholes filled UK roads, but the Advance trim is well damped and instills you to drive safely and with the environment in mind. The result is an easily achievable 55.4mpg on a combined cycle but we are confident that this car can easily return around 60-62mpg if we focus on making the very best use of the hybrid drivetrain.

PRICES: The CT200h Advance costs £24,495 and considering the generous equipment it's good value for money. Some other manufacturers offer a similarly priced diesel hatchback, but they don't have an automatic option. Even a similarly equipped Toyota Prius is more expensive at £25,145 without metallic paint or parking sensors. For this type of price tag, whoever wants a more driver focused car should try the BMW 116d M Sport, which is more expensive, less economical, it doesn't drive any faster despite handling better and the run-flat tyres won't contribute to a comfortable drive. Unfortunately for the others, none of the comparable models have the same equipment at this sort of price and quality.

VERDICT: The CT200h is a lovely companion for a relaxed journey in a luxurious environment. It's not a sporty option but it's classy and its build quality will ensure a trouble-free ownership. All this is backed up by the well known excellence for customer care provided by the Lexus dealerships. Just think, after a long day at work, driving home in the CT200h with the serenity and a feeling of well being is priceless. MG

We would like to thank the polite team at Lexus Newcastle for kindly providing our test car.