Lexus hatches a 'baby' hybrid

The latest Lexus offering in the premium compact market is a hybrid and one that costs just a few grand more than the Prius. So now those after-dinner greenies can not only brag about their cars' efficiency and lack of emissions, as they did insufferably with the Prius, they can have some fun driving their cars as well.

The CT200h's styling polarises opinions. Lexus says it "marries refined elegance with sporting dynamism", with "a distinctive, sharp-edged and resolute appearance". Personally, I liked the wedgy look which looks side on as if it was the progeny of an elicit liaison between the Toyota iQ and the Mazda3. It works, and is all brought together with a frontal treatment that links it with the previous entry-point Lexus, the iS250.

The CT200h combines a front-drive 73kW/142Nm 1.8 litre Atkinson cycle petrol engine with a high-output 42kW/40Nm electric motor for its drive system. A compact underfloor battery and a sophisticated energy management system make sure there is power from the hybrid set-up and its regenerative braking system.

The Lexus Hybrid Drive system's petrol engine and electric motor are contrived to generate a total system output of 100kW - about the same as Toyota's New Zealand market Corolla hatch - but the CT200h has a combined fuel consumption of 4.1L/100km, with a carbon footprint of just 94g of CO2 per kilometre. The new "baby" Lexus will be available with three equipment levels. There's the CT200h at $51,500, the CT200h Limited for $67,600 and CT200h F Sport, $69,000.

Standard equipment in all models includes climate-controlled air conditioning; reversing camera; cruise control; a leather steering wheel with audio controls; chrome and leather gear lever; multi-information display with comprehensive hybrid system information; engine immobiliser; auto dimming inside rear view mirror; a six-speaker audio system with CD player, audio input jack, USB jack and digital audio player holder; and power windows with auto up/down. The Limited and F Sport models boast fitted dedicated sat-nav screens, working through a pop-up Electro Multi-Vision (EMV) screen, while the base car gets a plug-in Tom Tom's system.

There are 16 inch alloy wheels on the base car, as well as LED daytime running lights, emergency brake lights and front and rear parking sensors, while the Limited and F Sport versions each have their own special 17 inch rims.

All models offer driver and passenger dual stage front, front seat side, driver and passenger knee and front/rear curtain shield airbags. Anti-lock braking with Electronic Brake-force Distribution and Brake Assist are standard, along with vehicle stability control, traction control and Hill-start Assist.

Toyota makes much of the car's driving position, and the front seats have been specially designed to improve lateral holding performance while the front edge of the base cushion has been shaped for a large contact area. The sporty, wide-grip steering wheel has a low, 21 degree steering angle, while accelerator and brake pedal angles have been optimised to suit the low hip point.

Seats in the entry level CT200h are covered in a smooth, finely woven fabric with a printed and embossed pattern. All other models have leather seats, perforated for the CT200h F Sport. As always with Lexus, the CT200h's choice of materials is excellent, and I doubt there's a better- finished and executed interior in the premium small car segment.

I found the cabin surprisingly roomy in the back, but couldn't quite get enough legroom up front to get comfortable, and thought the seat base just a little too firm. The car's chassis, apart from the firm ride of the Limited and F Sport models which have 17 inch alloy rims, is exemplary.

The CT200h is a good move by Lexus New Zealand. The entry-point car really lacks only leather and a built-in sat-nav system compared with the Limited and F Sport and I'd rather have a Tom Tom unit I can change from car to car anyway. For a few thousand dollars more than a basic Prius you get an awful lot more car that's actually quite a lot of fun to drive.