Item: Used Lexus CT 2011-present
Rating: 2
Author: What Car? Team

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/ioniq/saloon/used-review/n891">Hyundai Ioniq</a> is a relatively new car that’s available in three different states of electrification: petrol-electric hybrid, plug-in hybrid or as an electric car. The Hybrid model is the closest match for the CT. It's quicker, cheaper to run, better equipped and more practical, but its ride can be firm (although not as bad as the CT’s) and it provides limited head room in the rear.

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/prius/hatchback/used-review/n17569">Toyota Prius</a> is an iconic petrol-electric hybrid that’s also now available as a plug-in hybrid for increased electric-only driving range. It’s not as quick or as refined as the newer Ioniq, but it's larger and roomier than the CT, as well as generally being cheaper to buy, both new and used.

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What is it like?

Ownership cost

Advice for buyers

Our recommendations

Alternatives

On the whole, there are very few reported problems of any sort with the CT. The engine and electric motor and battery pack seem to stand up well to the test of time, with proven reliability in many previous generations of the Toyota Prius.

Some owners of older CTs have reported squeaks and rattles from around the centre console.

Is the Pope a Catholic? The CT was the most reliable car in our most recent reliability survey, scoring 100%; none of the owners we surveyed reported any faults with their cars, giving the premium hybrid a perfect reliability score.

Even when you look at the responses from owners of cars more than three years old, less than 10% said their cars had had a fault. Lexus as a brand finished in first place, with an overall score of a magnificent 92%.

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Hatchback

In the same way that Infiniti acts as Nissan’s premium arm, Lexus has a similar tie-in with Toyota. And since most of Toyota’s models are offered as hybrids, it’s no surprise to see the same from Lexus, although there are some traditional petrol engines, too.

The brand focuses heavily on SUVs – namely the NX and RX – but also has the CT hatchback, ES executive saloon and LS luxury car among its portfolio. More small and large SUVs are expected in the future.

Like Toyota, Lexus has built a very strong reputation for reliability and regularly finishes very close to the top of our annual Reliability Survey.

LEXUS

The Lexus CT is a hybrid hatchback that offers low emissions, but its ride and refinement leave a lot to be desired

Used Lexus CT 2011-present

There's only one engine option in the CT: a 1.8-litre petrol mated to an electric motor. The claimed average fuel consumption is 68.9mpg in most versions and a splendid 74.3mpg in the SE trim. In reality, though, you’re unlikely to get near those figures. At least CTs registered before April 2017 are exempt from road tax.

Insurance rates should be reasonable, with groups ranging from 17 to 20.

Servicing can be covered by Lexus Service Pricing, which will cover all the services required on your CT during the course of its life. The fixed annual price includes parts and labour. It starts from £195 for vehicles of all ages and can be paid by direct debit. There’s also a special Hybrid Health check included in the package.

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The Lexus CT is a hybrid hatchback that offers low emissions, but its ride and refinement leave a lot to be desired


It’s possible to buy a CT for less than £8000, but will have a high mileage. It's better to spend between £8000 and £10,000 on a 2011/12 example with an average mileage for the year and a full service history from an independent dealer. Up the money to between £11,000 and £13,000 and you’ll net a good 2013 car with all the above criteria, while £14,000 to £16,000 will get you a 2014 car.

There's only the one 1.8-litre petrol engine linked to an electric motor option, badged the 200h, but there are several trim levels.

Entry-level SE gets 16in alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control and Lexus's infotainment system complete with a 7.0in screen, a DAB radio, Bluetooth and USB.

SE Plus Pack comes with 17in alloy wheels, rear parking sensors, sat-nav and a wealth of Lexus's safety systems.

Luxury provides keyless entry, part-leather upholstery, heated front seats, tinted rear windows and front parking sensors.

F-Sport gives the CT a sporty bodykit and gunmetal grey alloy wheels.

With F-Sport Premier Pack, the CT is given a dose more luxury, including a leather upholstery, premium sat-nav, LED headlights and a Mark Levinson sound system.

Topping the range is Premier, which adds electrically heated and folding wing mirrors to an already rather comprehensive package.

Our favourite Lexus CT: 200h 1.8 SE

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of practical space </li> <li>Low running costs </li> <li>A comfortable ride </li> <li>A healthy equipment list </li> <li>Quality materials and thoughtful touches inside </li> <li>Rock-solid reliability</li></ul>

Family cars arguably have the toughest brief of all: they have to be good at pretty much everything. They’re used as the daily drive, on the school run or work commute (often both), and have to be able to cope with a family’s clutter on weekends and holidays.

The Skoda Scala is a relative newcomer, but it's&nbsp;already carved out a name for itself in this segment.&nbsp;If you're looking for a moderately priced car that combines a supple ride, neat handling, a spacious interior and a capacious boot&nbsp;it's well worth a look.&nbsp;Alternatively, if you're looking for entertaining handling then the&nbsp;BMW 1 Series may well be for you. It's great to drive, rides well&nbsp;and also comes with a top-notch interior, featuring one of our very favourite infotainment systems.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Toyota Corolla&nbsp;is another great choice. This latest version of one of the world's best-selling cars of all time can be had with a choice of two different petrol-electric hybrid engines, both of which should mean&nbsp;potentially lower fuel bills. It's comfortable, well equipped and should be very reliable, too.&nbsp;

Family

A CT will likely have been used in town and in tight car parks, so check the bodywork for scuffs and dents and the alloy wheels for kerb damage.

On paper, the idea of a small, premium hatchback like the CT, built by Lexus and harbouring a petrol-electric hybrid drivetrain underneath its compact bodyshell, seems like a very good idea indeed.

To combine modern technology with the reliability and luxury the Japanese firm is known for, and to be able to sidestep the fraught issue of diesel engines, seems very desirable in these uncertain times. But to succeed at this premium price level, a car must still be able to perform like a BMW, have the refinement of an Audi and be at least as desirable as either.

Alas, the CT, which shares much of its hybrid technology with the iconic Toyota Prius, drives rather poorly, with lacklustre performance from its 1.8-litre engine and electric motor which, combined with a CVT automatic gearbox, make the car noticeably unrefined when accelerating. True, it can cruise around town on electric power alone, but not for long, and when the engine joins in, things begin to get too noisy. Add in quite a lot of road noise and a choppy ride that on some of the trims with larger wheels is actually downright uncomfortable, and suddenly the CT seems to lose a lot of its on-paper charm.

Things aren’t much better, perhaps surprisingly, inside the car. It feels well-built and some of the materials look and feel of a high quality, but rivals from Audi and BMW still have it beaten for overall class and finish. There’s enough room up front, but rear passengers will be cramped, especially if they’re tall, and while the boot is a good size, it’s not as practical and as large as those of some rivals.

The CT is an expensive car, too, even when bought used, and although its claimed official average fuel consumption is a healthy 68.9mpg, our experience suggests that you won’t get anywhere near that figure in real-world use.

So, the CT, however well priced a good used example may be, appears to offer some of the refinements of an upmarket compact hatchback but in everyday use is compromised by its drivetrain and unable to match its rivals' better all-round abilities.

Its trump card is its outstanding reliability record, which means a used example should still be pretty dependable, and that peace of mind will be worth a great deal to a great many potential owners.

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Used Lexus CT 2011-present review

Alternatives

What alternatives should I consider to a used Lexus CT hatchback?