Lexus CT

Lexus CT at a glance

The CT was the smallest model in the Lexus catalogue for most of its life and the brand's first attempt at a premium hatchback for Europe, where cars of this size sell in large numbers.

Generations and facelifts

The CT never had a second generation. Lexus kept the A10 body for almost twelve years and refreshed it twice. ADAC's German catalogue splits the run into three phases:

The 2014 facelift, announced in 2013, brought Lexus's spindle grille to the CT. The 2017 update (2018 model year) added a new design of full-LED lighting as an option and made a larger version of the spindle grille standard on all models. Length grew slightly over the years, from 4,320 mm for the 2011 car to 4,355 mm for the 2017 version, according to ADAC.

Sales in the United States and Canada ran from March 2011 to the 2017 model year; Lexus announced the end of US sales in May 2017. Imports to the UK ended in 2020, German sales in 2021, and Australia dropped the car in November 2021 when stricter crash rules arrived. Global production ended in October 2022 with a Japanese special edition called Cherished Touring.

Hybrid drivetrain and performance

The CT is a series-parallel hybrid: the petrol engine and the electric motor work through a planetary gear set that acts as a continuously variable transmission (eCVT). It cannot be charged from a socket. ADAC quotes 0-100 km/h in 10.3 seconds and a top speed of 180 km/h, and says the car can drive on electricity alone up to 45 km/h.

The F Sport version, available in most markets, did not change the drivetrain. It added sportier bumpers, side skirts, a larger rear spoiler, an F Sport steering wheel, sports pedals and, in North America, a different grille pattern and wheels.

Dimensions, space and boot

With 375 litres, the boot is in the range of a conventional compact hatchback, so the hybrid hardware costs little luggage space. At 4.3 m long and 1.77 m wide, the CT is a size that fits most city parking spaces and garages.

Fuel economy and running costs

Fuel economy was the CT's main selling point. ADAC lists NEDC combined consumption of 3.8 l/100 km and 87 g/km CO2 for the 2011 CT 200h, and 3.6 l/100 km and 82 g/km for the 2017 version. In Australia the official figure was 4.1 l/100 km. The tougher US EPA cycle gave 5.6 l/100 km combined (42 mpg US), which is closer to what drivers can expect on fast roads. ADAC gave the 2011 car five stars in its Ecotest. The fuel cost calculator turns these figures into annual costs.

Trims, equipment and prices

German list prices according to ADAC:

Lexus cut the entry price for the last facelift, so a 2017 base car cost EUR 2,450 less than in 2011. Standard equipment in most markets included dual-zone climate control, 17-inch alloy wheels, keyless SmartAccess, Bluetooth and a six-speaker audio system. A pre-collision system with radar cruise control was an option on earlier cars.

Safety

Euro NCAP published its CT 200h test in 2011, using a right-hand-drive Comfort grade car with a kerb weight of 1,410 kg; that result was obtained under the protocol of the time and cannot be compared directly with current ratings. All versions had stability control and eight airbags as standard. In Australia, ANCAP's tests from 2011, 2013 and 2017 gave 15.13 out of 16 points in the frontal offset test, the full 16 in the side impact test and 2 out of 2 in the pole test, with pedestrian protection rated "Adequate". Our safety section explains how crash ratings have changed since then.

Reliability and known issues

The CT uses a hybrid layout that Toyota has built in very large numbers, and the sources used here list no model-specific defect pattern. As with any older hybrid, a used buyer should check the service history and ask a dealer to test the hybrid battery. No breakdown statistics for the CT are published in ADAC's survey.

Sales

Lexus had sold 267,000 CTs worldwide by March 2016 and 380,000 by March 2022. In 2011 the Union of Concerned Scientists ranked it top among luxury hybrids for environmental improvement, jointly with the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid.

Rivals

The CT competed with the Audi A3 Sportback, BMW 1 Series, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Volvo V40, all of which offered a wide choice of petrol and diesel engines. The CT offered only one drivetrain, and its official rating of 82-87 g/km CO2 was its strongest argument. Its natural successor inside the brand is the UX crossover. The comparison tool shows the alternatives side by side.

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