Lexus CT200h review - A premium hatchback alternative - MPG and running cost
A frugal choice, but lags well behind German rivals for driving entertainment
The CT's raison d'être is running costs and if that’s your priority then it’s unlikely to disappoint. The base S model has CO2 emissions of just 82g/km, comfortably under the 100g/km road tax threshold, while both it and the 94g/km rating of the rest of the line-up all put it in the 15 per cent company car tax category for 2016/17.
Lexus quotes a combined economy figure of 78.5mpg for that S, and 68.9mpg for the rest of the range. Impressive, but in real world driving you’ll be doing well to get two thirds of that. Service intervals of 20,000 miles help keep costs down, though servicing costs are at the premium end of the price spectrum - a full service costing £345, a 60,000-mile service £445 and a 100,000-mile service £545 (2015 prices). Good residual values offset the premium-badged sticker price though and the CT 200h is potentially no more expensive to run than a mainstream hatchback - particularly taking its company car tax-friendly emissions into consideration.
