A luxury hatch hybrid

With CO2 emissions of 94g/km, the Lexus CT 200h is a premium badge car with attractive tax benefits for company car drivers and fleet operators

The Lexus CT 200h’s hybrid system is similar to that used in a Toyota Prius. It has a 1.8‑litre petrol engine which is helped out by an electric motor, boosting the engine when more power is needed, and taking over completely at low speeds.

The electric motor is used when starting up, pulling away and in slow moving traffic and is very quiet, as you would expect from an electric car. But, when putting your foot down, the engine becomes noisy and the car lacks urgency when getting up to speed. When in ‘sport’ mode, this is improved but not overwhelmingly so. That said, when at speed, the car cruises along nicely without much noise.

Cost of ownership
The CT 200h has two major selling points for fleets. It’s a premium badge car, and it enjoys low cost of ownership. CO2 emissions of
94g/km mean zero VED, 10 per cent benefit‑in‑kind rating and exemption from London’s congestion charge. Plus fleet managers can write down 100 per cent of the car’s value against corporation tax.

And with a decent level of equipment as standard, company drivers do not need to necessarily increase their P11D value by adding on costly extras.

Service intervals are annually or at every 10,000 miles. Plus the hybrid system is engineered for low maintenance requirements and the hybrid battery is designed to last the lifetime of the car.

The official fuel consumption figure is 68.9mpg but I only managed an average of 47mpg over the week. It is worth noting that the entry level S grade model has emissions as low as 87g/km and claimed fuel consumption of 74.3mpg.

NOx emissions are very low at 3.3mg/km and the powertrain produces no particulates. And of course, when operating in electric mode, tailpipe CO2, NOx and particulates emissions are cut to zero. In fact, the levels already meet the proposed Euro 6 emissions standards due to be implemented in 2015.

The driver can choose to drive in pure electric mode, but it will only get you about a mile, and at speeds of up to 25mph. And there is no need to charge the hybrid battery as it is done during deceleration and under braking thanks to the regenerative braking system.

Safety
The CT 200h has a good amount of safety features. It has a pre‑emptive, Pre-Crash Safety system with Adaptive Cruise Control. Eight airbags, including knee airbags for driver and front passenger, are fitted to all versions of the CT 200h, along with whiplash injury-lessening front seats. The upgraded Electronically Controlled Braking Regeneration system incorporates ABS, Brake Assist, Traction Control and Vehicle Stability Control.

Attractive fleet proposition
In summary, the Lexus CT 200h is an attractive proposition for the fleet market, with its appealing cost of ownership figures.

In stop-start traffic, it’s silent and smooth as it operates in electric mode, and really this is where this car shines – in urban environments.

It has a good level of equipment as standard, and uses high quality materials in the cabin to give it that premium feel. So if you can live with the noisy and coarse ride when getting up to speed, then the Lexus CT200h makes a lot of sense for the corporate market

Lexus CT 200h Premier
ENGINE: 1,798cc, four-cylinder petrol with Lexus Hybrid Drive
CO2: 94g/km
MPG (combined): 68.9
VED: Band A
BIK:  10%
PRICE (OTR): £25,995 (inc VAT)