Lexus CT review

No CT is what you’d call cheap – even the basic SE model is a few thousand pounds more expensive than the A3 and 1 Series. Given that there are no tax benefits for a private buyer, the CT makes most sense as a company car.

You won’t have to pay the surcharge placed on diesel-powered rivals, and CO2 emissions are lower than those of most other upmarket family cars, so the CT costs usefully less in terms of benefit-in-kind tax.

Real-world fuel economy is likely to fall a long way short of the claimed figure, especially on the motorway. Stick to town driving, though, and the CT is an exceptionally frugal option.

The CT comes with eight airbags, including ones to protect the knees of those in the front. Otherwise, all the electronic stability and traction aids you'd expect are present. All this helped the car achieve the maximum five-star crash test rating from Euro NCAP, albeit in the old-style test conducted in 2011. There are also plenty of security measures that’ll prevent thieves from taking too much of an interest.