Lexus CT 200h F Sport 2014 Review

The lines dividing Lexus and Toyota products are nowhere more blurred than with the CT200h and Prius hybrids.

It’s hard to imagine it being otherwise. Both the prestige Lexus and the more mundane Toyota share the same basic underpinnings, and both are remarkably similar in overall dimensions. Even the standard equipment levels — especially in entry form — are close, with only minor differences favouring the pricier Lexus. And neither could be accused of being roughly put together.

It is left up to carefully manipulated customer expectations to separate the two: The 24-year process of establishing Lexus as a brand to be compared head-to-dead with Mercedes-Benz or BMW elevates the CT200h, whether it deserves it or not, into a premium position.

That premium can be easily quantified: Comparing a base Lexus CT200h with a base Toyota Prius sets it at $6000 — the extra dollars that must be found if a buyer is to make the upward step to the “luxury” brand.

These were the thoughts wandering around our heads when we road tested the latest, updated Lexus CT200h. Thoughts that queried whether we would notice any tangible difference if the badges and identity were removed from both cars.

After a week in the Lexus, we finally reckoned it would actually be possible to differentiate between the two in a blindfold test — but not exactly for the expected reasons.

The differences were largely made detectable by the fact that the test CT200h F Sport felt, well, sportier. With a generally more athletic demeanour encouraged by different suspension settings and showy dress-up items including, 17-inch wheels, a black roof and a now-larger rear spoiler, the $48,990 F Sport CT200h joins the seemingly universal emergence of sporty, rather than an environmentally-correct, hybrids.

Building on the general tightening-up of the CT200h's structure that heralds the car's first update — more spot-welding in the hatch area, body bonding in wheel housings and rear side members, plus numerous other changes aimed at improving rigidity and overall NVH — the F Sport's driver-oriented intentions become clear from the moment you drop down into the partly-sculpted, part-leather seats.

It's a hybrid alright, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't feel responsive and fun from behind the wheel. Although the zero to 100km/h acceleration figures sound somewhat sleepy (10.3 seconds), the CT200h actually feels brisk enough off the mark, and does a good job of minimising time spent in the right lane when passing slower traffic on the open road.

In Sport mode, the CT200h was sharply responsive to the accelerator pedal: the extra assistance from the electric motor was obvious. In Eco mode it felt positively dull.

This combined with a nice firmness to the ride, as well as accurate response to the now-revised, well-weighted electronic steering that swings from lock to lock in a reasonably quick 2.7 turns to provide the Lexus with some open-road appeal (the 370mm wheel itself is now derived from the Lexus IS). The gated shifter gave a nice, positive feel to gear selection too. The front seats provide a modicum of side support, while the transmission of some road noise up through the suspension is acceptable in a hybrid with slightly-sporty pretensions.

And the Lexus does it all with commendable economy: Although we didn't match the official combined figure of 4.1L/100km, our average of 5.2L/100km over a week driving in a mix of conditions was considered acceptable.

There are less positive aspects though. The CT200h is not brilliantly packaged. Rear-seat legroom is pretty tight if reasonable-size passengers are occupying the front seats and, surprisingly in a premium vehicle, no air vents are provided in the back. Cargo capacity, at 375 litres seats-up to 985 litres with everything folded, is enough to make the small Lexus a useful load-carrier around town. Can't say we are fans of the foot-operated park brake however, and the sound system was muffled in AM radio mode. Maybe CT200h owners fit a different listening demographic...

In-cabin, the Lexus CT200h pretty much conveys the right message.

The quality is unquestioned and the F Sport kit, including SatNav, mouse-type controller (tricky at first but quickly adjusted to) for numerous on-screen functions, part-leather trim with heated front seats, power driver's seat, reversing camera and 10-speaker “Premium” audio with a digital radio, is comprehensive enough. To upgrade to active cruise control, pre-collision safety and things such as a power sunroof, it's necessary to order your F Sport with at least one of the two enhancement packs.

And the CT200h's five-star safety rating is helped along by the standard provision of an eight airbag system that includes knee bags for both driver and front-seat passenger on top of all the regular active safety gear including hill-start assist, emergency flashing brake lights and whiplash resistant front seats.

So, is it Lexus CT200h or Toyota Prius?

As we said, it has a lot to do with the badge — but not everything...

2014 Lexus CT200h F Sport pricing and specifications:
Price: $48,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol
Output: 73kW/142Nm
Electric motor: Permanent magnet synchronous
Output: 60kW/207Nm
Transmission: Continuously variable
Fuel: 4.1L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 95g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP