Lexus CT 200h – A Great Addition to Imported Cars List in Pakistan
The Lexus CT 200h is the cheapest and smallest Lexus hybrid in the market. Cars from the German manufacturers like Audi A3, BMW 1-series and Mercedes Benz A class, are considered to be this car’s rival. Though the German cars offer more trims and options, the Lexus CT offers a few specifications and offers only one engine. The Lexus CT 200h was first introduced in 2010 at the Geneva Auto Show. CT 200h, CT 300h, and CT 400h are trademarked names owned by Lexus for this car. The 200h on its badge stands for hybrid performance that equals a 2.0 liter Engine. “CT” on the other hand, is considered to stand for “Creative Touring” while some car importers refer to it as “Compact touring”. The car costs about 2.5- to 3.0 million rupees in Pakistan.
Engine Specs
The car comes with a Four-Cylinder 1.8- liter VVT-i petrol engine, which is pretty much the same as the Prius. The engine along with its generators and electric motors in the hybrid drive system, produces 134hp and 207 Nm of torque. This engine power is sent to the front wheels through CVT transmission. The Lexus CT 200h goes from 0-100 km/hr in 10.3 seconds. Its officially announced average mileage is 4.1L/100km.
The chassis is based on the platform used by Toyota Corolla and the Toyota Matrix. The Lexus CT 200h has four driving modes; Normal, Sports, Eco, and EV. Sports mode unleashes the power of the engine completely and modifies the feel of the electric steering, making the car more stable. The EV mode (Zero emission mode) makes the car run completely on its electric motors, which makes the engine emission-free.
Interior and Safety Features
The CT 200h comes with 7.0-inch display, 10-speaker audio system; though some variants come with 6-speakers, 8 standard airbags, vehicle stability control, cruise control, smart start, leather wrapped on gear lever and steering. This Lexus hybrid hatchback comes with the ideal safety features. It has daytime running lamps, a reverse camera, and flashy emergency brake lights. The Lexus CT 200h is considered to be an aggressive yet luxury looking hatchback. The new interior, the “spindle” grille and the new rear bumper give the car a bold look. It also has improved LED headlamps.
The Ride of the Car
The car has a firm feel to it, though Lexus has made improvements on the suspension and revised the design of the shock absorbers. They have made changes to the coil springs and made the front and rear stabilizer bar larger. This makes the ride smoother. The engineers at Lexus have also added body braces, which have increased body rigidity and have greatly reduced noise and vibrations. Though all hybrids are quiet, the CT 200h is spookily quiet.
The Lexus CT 200h is a great hybrid and a good alternative to the Toyota Prius, though their engines are pretty much the same, you could go for the Lexus if you like the stylish “L” badge.