Road Test: Lexus CT 200h 1.8 F-Sport 5dr CVT Auto

The old CT200h wasn’t very… good, suffering as it did from a bit of an identity crisis. Sure, it had a nicely finished cabin and promised sub-100g/km of CO2, but it sat at odds with an awkward drivetrain and uncomfortable chassis. The ride was poor.

Now it seems Lexus has listened. The new CT200h is less firm, thanks largely to an increase in body rigidity (there are 20 new spot welds around the place) that allowed Lexus to retune the spring rates, insert a new shock absorber valve, reduce the diameter of the rear anti-roll bar and fit a lateral damper across the front (on the F-Sport model).

The drivetrain has been remapped, too, so the engine note matches the throttle response a little better than before, plus it’s got better aero, new sound-absorbing materials in the cabinand benefits from a minor facelift (new steering wheel, changes to the switchgear and new grille).

All this amounts to a slightly nicer car, and something a little more focused on comfort. The ride is noticeably softer (and therefore better) than before, it’s a bit more refined and the drivetrain is a little easier to engage with. So a case for it becomes a little easier to make.