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18/09/2011, 19:45
Car Review By MURRAY HUBBARD
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Hybrid cars are not vehicles we have warmed to: cost and driveability the major issues. Until now. We have just spent a week in a Lexus CT 200h compact-size five-door hatch. There is no doubt Toyota/Lexus have taken the hybrid to a new level that will find more fans from those who choose which cars they drive, as opposed to fleet buyers. They will also like the bottom line - the Lexus CT200h starts from just $39,990 for the ‘Prestige’ model.
The CT200h is so good it deserves to become the volume seller in the Lexus stable. With sales in the compact luxury segment booming CT200h’s entry into the market is timely. Why did we like the car so much ? It easily passed our standard ‘could we live with it’ test, the first hybrid to do so. Our test CT200h was the top of the line Sport Luxury that catapults the the pleasure of ownership to $55,900.
For those who opt for the entry level model it is akin to a weekend poker machine player gaining entry to the high-rollers room. Even the $33,990 CT200h Prestige owner - by Lexus standards a cheap set of wheels - gets access to the Lexus Encore Program. This entails use of lounges at Lexus dealerships, roadside assistance, loan cars and premium ticketing to a swag of events. Lexus CT200h come in four variants: Prestige, Luxury, F Sport and Sport Luxury.
BODY STYLE
The CT200h is possibly best described as a long hatch. With four doors it is an ideal compact family wagon. There is nothing fancy about the design, just good solid, clean lines with a snappy front and modern rear end. It does look classy.
POWERTRAIN/PERFORMANCE
As a petrol/electric hybrid the CT200h combines the two technologies but gives the driver choices. You can simply leave the setting on normal, select EV (electric vehicle) Eco or if the conditions become more demanding such as hilly country, you can select Sport. There are measurable differences between the three modes, so this is not just a gimmick. All four CT200h variants have a 100 kW hybrid powerplant connected to a CVT transmission with drive mode select switch. This driveline has a 1.8 litre petrol engine and two electric motors/generators. The CT200h can operate on electric motor only at speeds up to 45 km/h. The first of the electric motors acts mainly as a generator storing petrol engine power in the battery and also doubles up as a the starter motor for the petrol engine.
The second electric motor acts mostly as an electric drive, but also doubles as a generator during regenerative braking, and stores the power in the battery. The CT200h uses a continuously variable transmission which is seamless and ultra smooth as well as helping to reduce consumption. Not only does the CT200h operate as an electric vehicle to 45 km/h, but also reversing is done driving on electric power only. Top speed is limited to 180 km/h while 0 - 100 km/h is covered in 10.3 seconds. Lexus state consumption of 4.1 litres/100 km, however at launch we managed 6.1 litres/100 km while over a weeks road test we recorded 5.3 litres/100 km.
SAFETY
Even the basic package is highly specced with eight SRS airbags, stability control, traction control as well as ABS brakes, EBD, BA, emergency flashing brake lights, day time running lamps and hill start assist.
INTERIOR DESIGN
A key to having people make the switch to new technology is making the vehicle’s interior seem familiar. The CT200h achieves this with ease. We found it easy to understand from the moment we hopped into the driver’s pew. The gear shifter is a little different, coming out of the lower dash, but is simple in function. Like many cars these days it is a push-button start with the keys remotely held in your pocket or resting in the console. The handbrake comes off automatically when you select drive or reverse and when your trip is finished you simply push a `B’ button next to the shifter which automatically engages the handbrake while selecting `Park’ for the transmission. Being the top of the line model our vehicle was fitted with the Lexus `mouse’ system to operate the satellite navigation system. We found this a little unwieldy compared to other systems but with practice we are sure it would become second nature.
The cabin feel is classy with use of quality finishes, comfortable seats and a logical layout of the necessities such as switches and handles. The instrument cluster is easily read and we particularly liked the simple dial that told us which engine mode we were operating in allowing us to lighten the pedal to be more eco than normal if we wished. The cabin certainly has a sporty air about it. The rear pew is not quite as comfortable as the front but there’s good leg and head room for families. With the hybrid battery stored under the rear of the vehicle’s boot, the luggage compartment is compromised to the tune of 375 litres capacity but capable of the majority of family needs. Fold the 60/40 split rear seat and this blossoms out to 985 litres.
DRIVING IMPRESSIONS
For us this is the big plus. If hybrid cars are to gain a foothold in the Australian market - against opposition including petrol and diesel eco cars and electric vehicles - the driving characteristics must be in the same ballpark. The CT200h breaks new ground as a vehicle that drives, as close as any we have tested, to a conventional car. In this respect we are not just talking about pottering around the suburbs, but longer distance driving involving tight corners, sweeping bends and hills we experienced in the Gold Coast hinterland. This is where the vehicle’s different modes come into play. Switch from ‘normal’ to ‘sport’ and you go from sedate eco car to sporty hatch. There is engine noise and the system changes the throttle response, ups the electric drive voltage and steering feedback.
We took the CT200h in ‘sport’ mode through some of our favourite twisting roads and found little difference from petrol-only up-market vehicles of a similar size. The handling was excellent with steering more direct and pointing with confidence through the esses. The suspension flattened out the corners and unlike many hybrids, the chassis felt alive. What we like about this Lexus system is that it gives the driver control over the road conditions. There is more grunt to go up hills or pass another vehicle, improved suspension and steering to tackle steep winding roads. Yet, when the roads again become flat and straight you simply dial in EV, Eco or normal and return to full hybrid mode.
Our main disappointment with the CT200h is the fuel consumption, rated by Lexus at 4.1 litres/100 km. Our consumption was 5.3 litres/100 and comes on top of that achieved by mister-cars.com writer, Ewan Kennedy of 6.1 litres/100 km at the vehicle’s launch. If we were forking out our hard-earned on a fuel-efficient compact four door we would probably stick with something like the Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion diesel, despite the prestige associated with the Lexus badge and the high-end extras that come - at a cost - with the Japanese brand. We would also have preferred to test the entry-level ‘Prestige’ model without all the bells and whistles found in the $60,000 version.
MODELS AND PRICING
Prestige: $39,990 (CVT)
Luxury: $48,990 (CVT)
F Sport: $49,900 (CVT)
Sport Luxury: $55,900 (CVT)
FEATURES
ABS Brakes: standard
Air Conditioning: standard
Automatic Transmission: CVT
CD Player: standard
Central Locking: standard
Cruise Control: standard
Dual Front Airbags: standard
Front Side Airbags: standard
Stability Control: standard
Traction Control: standard
SPECIFICATIONS
ENGINE:
Capacity: 1.8 litres
Configuration: in line
Head Design: DOHC 16 valve, VVT-i
Compression Ratio: 13:1
Bore/Stroke: 80.5 mm x 88.3 mm
Maximum Power: 73 kW @ 5200 rpm
Maximum Torque: 142 Nm @ 4400 rpm
HYBRID SYSTEM
Series/parallel
Output: 100 kW
Voltage: 650
Power: 60 kW
Torque: 207 Nm
High voltage battery 168 cell
Voltage: 650
DRIVELINE:
Manual Transmission: N/A
Automatic Transmission: CVT
Final Drive Ratio: 3.267:1
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4320 mm
Wheelbase: 2600 mm
Width: 1765 mm
Height: 1440 mm
Turning Circle: metres
Kerb Mass: 1370 kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 45 litres
SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:
Front Suspension: MacPherson strut, coil springs, gas dampers
Rear Suspension: Independent with coil springs, gas dampers
Front Brakes: Vented discs
Rear Brakes: Solid discs
PERFORMANCE:
0-100 km/h Acceleration: 10.3 seconds
FUEL CONSUMPTION:
Type: 95RON
Combined Cycle (ADR 81/01):4.1 L/100km
GREEN VEHICLE GUIDE RATINGS:
Greenhouse Rating: 9/10
Air Pollution Rating: 8.5/10
STANDARD WARRANTY:
4 years/ 100,000 km |
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