Resolute Driving

Lexus, Japan's leading premium brand, is drawing attention with the introduction of the "NX", but we should also pay attention to the "CT200h" which expands its reach as an entry model. In the recent minor change, the front face was updated with the adoption of the "spindle grille," Lexus's design cue, and the rear view was redesigned, further refining its sophisticated appearance.

Lexus describes this as "Resolute Look," but beyond the design, the driving feel of the "CT200h" is solid and sporty. It is truly "resolute."



There are three points that make you feel this way as soon as you start driving: direct handling made possible by revising the suspension, improved acceleration feel due to retuning the CVT, and enhanced comfort through comprehensive NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness) measures resulting from a significant improvement in body rigidity.



It is said that as many as 94 items were addressed in the minor change to improve quietness and reduce NVH.



The body feels significantly tightened, and you can immediately sense a solid driving feel. If the previous model was 100 percent, the rigidity of the minor-changed model feels like 150 percent.

An Acceleration Feel Like No Other

This increased body rigidity also contributed to improved cabin quietness, creating a quiet and comfortable interior environment that makes you forget it's a hatchback. Noise intrusion from the underside of the body and the rear, which is often a weak point for hatchbacks, has been effectively suppressed.



This is a level of quality that can be felt beyond just the use of high-quality materials for aesthetics, truly befitting a premium brand.



In conjunction with the improved body rigidity, the suspension, which determines the quality of the ride, has also been updated. The main changes include optimization of the coil spring rate, adoption of new shock absorber valves, and a change in the diameter of the rear stabilizer. These tuning and revisions have achieved a balance between improved agility and ride comfort.



However, in comparative tests, the 17-inch wheel model did feel somewhat too stiff in terms of ride comfort. The recommended option is the 16-inch wheel model, which offered an excellent balance of comfort and sportiness.



And the most significant improvement in driving feel came from the retuned CVT. The powertrain remains the same hybrid system inherited from the Prius, with a 1.8-liter inline-4 engine producing 73 kW (99 ps) and an electric motor producing 60 kW (82 ps), combined with a CVT. However, the CT200h delivers an acceleration feel that is completely different from before, as if its power has been significantly increased from the moment you start moving.

Achieved Solely Through CVT Program Changes

According to the development team, there have been no hardware changes whatsoever. However, tuning has been carried out to significantly improve the CVT's feel.



As you know, the advantages of a CVT are its smooth, seamless acceleration and its efficiency. However, with previous CVTs, there was often a disconnect between the engine speed and the speed the driver expected, a gap between human perception and actual speed. Drivers would press the accelerator harder to achieve more acceleration, but there was a discrepancy between the revving engine sound and the acceleration feel.



In the European market, this is described as "rubber feel," and CVTs are disliked. As the name suggests, it's like the feeling of rubber stretching... perhaps that's an easy way to understand it. This is a typical episode reflecting the European preference for driving performance, which still adheres to a manual transmission-first philosophy.



In any case, the new CT200h has completely dispelled this negative image associated with CVTs. There is no trace of the negative "rubber feel" here. The linear acceleration in sync with engine speed feels, to exaggerate, like a well-executed multi-speed torque converter automatic transmission with no shift shock.



If you were to drive the new CT200h for the first time without being told anything, you might not even realize it's a CVT. That's how responsive the driving feel is with this CVT.

Expressing Premium Brand Status Through Vehicle Evolution

Meanwhile, on the exterior, the main changes in the minor update include the spindle grille, newly designed wheels, a shark fin antenna, and a new design for the rear spoiler. Furthermore, the exterior paint, which is already highly regarded, now features a self-restoring coat that can self-heal minor scratches caused by washing.



Inside, new features include a new 370mm diameter steering wheel, a slim TFT multimedia display screen, new color combinations for the center console trim, and audio speakers with plant opal resin diaphragms derived from bamboo, a world-first use of plant-derived opal extracted from natural bamboo. This last feature is particularly noteworthy.




It is not just the looks and quality, but also the driving experience that reaffirms Lexus as a premium brand, thanks to subtle improvements in the body, suspension, and CVT. However, this approach of making incremental improvements and refining the vehicle is a specialty of European premium brands. Lexus, too, follows this path, and the "CT200h" conveys a constant pursuit of excellence.



If you have the impression that hybrids are "fuel-efficient but boring," then we need to update that image and preconception. This is because anyone can easily experience the enhanced driving pleasure of the new "CT200h." The unique approach to luxury, different from European premium brands, and the high-quality driving experience that only a Lexus hybrid can offer are the greatest strengths of the "CT200h" with its new spindle grille.


Lexus CT200h "F SPORT"

LEXUS CT200h

Body Size | Overall Length 4,350 x Overall Width 1,765 x Overall Height 1,460 mm

Wheelbase | 2,600 mm

Tread Front/Rear | 1,525 / 1,520 mm

Weight | 1,440 kg

Engine | 1,797cc Inline-4 DOHC + Electric Motor

Max Output (Engine) | 73 kW (99 ps) / 5,200 rpm

Max Torque (Engine) | 142 Nm (14.5 kgm) / 4,000 rpm

Max Output (Motor) | 60 kW (82 ps)

Max Torque (Motor) | 207 Nm (21.1kgm)

System Max Output | 100 kW (136 ps)

Transmission | Electronically Controlled Continuously Variable Transmission

Battery | Nickel-Metal Hydride Battery

Drivetrain | FF

Suspension Front/Rear | MacPherson Strut / Double Wishbone

Brakes Front/Rear | Ventilated Disc / Disc

Fuel Economy (JC08 Mode) | 30.4 km/ℓ

Price | 4,330,286 yen