2 used Lexus CT cars for sale

Holding the title as the world’s first ‘full hybrid’, the Lexus CT has had a huge influence on the direction of the hybrid vehicle market. Its launch in the UK in 2011 brought an entirely new car to the market: a hybrid hatchback with a premium feel and a luxurious interior to match.

Lexus CT updates and facelifts

As an upmarket division of Toyota, Lexus brings cars to market that are not only well made but include an impressive array of technological features to enhance the driving experience. The CT is no different, with a sophisticated cabin complimenting the cutting-edge technology used to power it. A single 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine is available, with an electric motor that generates 122bhp.

During its time in production, from 2011 to 2020, the Lexus CT underwent several updates that tweaked both its interior look and feel, and the power beneath the bonnet.

In 2014, a facelift saw revisions to the power of the CT’s S Model, increasing its efficiency from 68.9mpg to 78.5mpg. A later update three years later saw aesthetic updates that gave the CT a sportier look and feel, with a larger and more muscular grille added to the front, while the bumpers were also updated.

The Lexus CT was in production until 2020 in the UK, and over the near decade-long period in which it occupied the market, its popularity resonated with family drivers navigating urban landscapes, as well as motorway drivers seeking impressive returns on mpg. It received the Carbuyer Best Award for Most Reliable Car in 2018.

Practicality and style of the car

While the Lexus CT has a hybrid hatchback label, it has plenty of space throughout the cabin and in the boot. Often, hybrid vehicles will sacrifice significant capacity to fit in the battery, but the boot of the CT offers 375 litres of space despite this. This beats the 352 litres of the Hyundai i20, the Peugeot 208’s 311 litres, and the 292 litres of the Ford Fiesta.

Fold the rear seats down, and the Lexus CT adds significant numbers to its capacity, too. 965 litres are made available, so you can easily add in a large amount of luggage. Another neat feature is that the trunk floor remains flush with the boot lip, making slotting large items in much easier. Capping off the practicality of the trunk is the 60/40 split capabilities of the rear seats. With this feature, you can include one or two rear-seat passengers while packing in extra luggage – perfect for weekends away with the family.

Space throughout the Lexus CT’s cabin is good, with the battery having minimal impact on headroom. The rear seats can easily fit two adults, while the front seats are plush with space. The spacious legroom – particularly in the front seats – enhances comfort further while the hybrid synergy system helps to ensure the CT remains quiet at low speeds. The ride is smooth, in part thanks to its four-point suspension system that uses rubber mounts to suppress noise and vibration.

Running costs

The Lexus CT also offers good running costs. Its insurance typically falls between groups 17 and 18, which compares to the Peugeot 208, which sits between insurance groups 5 to 26. Road tax is also reasonable and ranges from an annual rate of £0 for the electric engines to a maximum of £170 for the hybrid engines. This is slightly less than the Ford Fiesta, which has the standard annual road tax of £180 per year.

How a used Lexus CT drives

The Lexus CT is a premium hatchback that offers a fun and engaging ride, both in tight urban streets and on the UK’s sprawling motorways. Its single engine option is a 1.8-litre, four-cylinder petrol hybrid, and really demonstrates the CT as a car that offers quality over quantity in its offering.

The 1.8-litre hybrid engine has power on its side, too. With 207Nm of torque, its fairly quick off the mark, hitting 0-62mph in 10.3 seconds. The engine alone delivers 96bhp, but with the addition of the electric motor that number rises to 132bhp. Its four driving modes – Normal, EV, Eco and Sport – offer drivers a wealth of options to run the CT depending on the landscape, with the EV option keeping it fully electric and emitting 0g/km of CO2.

Normal driving mode reverts to the petrol engine, and Eco mode adjusts the internal systems in the car, like air conditioning and throttle, to deliver the most efficient performance possible. Sport mode boosts power from the electric motor and bumps up the weight of the power steering, while adding additional sharpness to the throttle. Higher trim levels of the CT include performance dampers, which absorb vibration and enhance driver comfort.

Engines and official MPG

Please refer to the table below for a comprehensive list of engines and their official MPG figures.

2011 - 2021

Engine	Official NEDC MPG	Official WLTP MPG
1.8 Hybrid	64.2-74.3 mpg	53.2-55.3 mpg
1.8 Hybrid S	74.3-78.5 mpg

Features you can expect to find in a Lexus CT

Interior

There’s an impressive number of storage options throughout the interior, with a lidded centre storage console and door buckets helping to reduce any clutter. The addition of an air-conditioned glovebox also offers a premium touch.

The Lexus CT was marketed as a premium hatchback, and the look and feel of the car’s interior attest to its luxurious nature. The soft-touch plastics throughout the cabin combine with a leather and chrome finish to create an upmarket feel as soon as you step foot inside the CT. Three screens, including a sleek infotainment system, create a modern feel, and the materials used throughout feel sturdy and of high quality.

Technology

With a range of tech features to support drivers, the Lexus CT takes its premium offering of a well-designed, well-made hybrid and tops it with tech that makes the driving experience enjoyable and easy. Rain-sensitive wipers and LED daytime running headlights maximise visibility even in the most challenging conditions, and higher-level trims add electronic folding and auto-dimming mirrors. You can also expect helpful additions like parking monitoring, smart entry and a rear-view camera on the premium trims.

The facelift in 2014 also brought a raft of tech updates. Bluetooth, USB connectivity and dual-zone climate control are included as standard, while all but the entry-level trim include heated front seats. Higher entry trims add a fully black leather interior, while the most premium option upgrades the entertainment to a Mark Levinson 13-speaker sound system and HDD sat nav.

Safety

The Lexus CT achieved a full five-star safety from Euro NCAP when it was tested on its release in 2011. This came with a highly impressive 94% adult occupant safety rating, and a child occupant safety rating of 84%.

Alongside its automated driver assistance, the Lexus Safety System+ includes automatic high beam for challenging nighttime driving conditions. There are eight airbags throughout the Lexus CT, and the front seats are designed specifically to reduce whiplash. It also includes Electronic Brakeforce Distribution in its armoury.

Lexus’s Safety System+ also includes a raft of automated driving assistance systems. Autonomous emergency braking is included, along with pedestrian detection, and there is also traffic sign recognition and lane keeping assist to help drivers keep to the speed limit and stay in lane. In keeping with its reputation as a premium family car, the Lexus CT includes two ISOFIX mounts in the rear, making the installation of child seats simple and efficient.

Trims available on the Lexus CT

The majority of Lexus CTs on the road today are the post-2017 update versions. Prior to this update, the Lexus CT had trims called the SE, Luxury, F Sport and Premier. In its latest iteration though, these trims are called the CT, CT F Sport and CT Takumi.

Lexus Standard CT

While the CT is the entry-level trim for the Lexus CT, the car’s premium nature means that buyers get a good range of attractive features. 17-inch alloy wheels are included as standard, while adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist are also part of the package. Sat nav also comes with the CT trim, as well as rear parking sensors and even a reversing camera linked to the seven-inch infotainment system.

Lexus CT F Sport

As you might expect from the name, the CT F Sport gets a host of sporty upgrades compared to the entry-level CT. 17-inch alloys get a firmer suspension set up, while front-on the CT F Sport looks more powerful thanks to its black mesh front grille. A sports steering wheel gives the interior a similarly sporty feel, and heated front seats are added along with rear seat privacy glass.

Lexus CT Takumi

The top-entry trim is the CT Takumi. The infotainment system is bumped up to ten inches in size and parking sensors are added on the front. A 13-speaker Mark Levinson sound system gives impeccable audio entertainment, and a sunroof tops the CT Takumi off in style.

Whether you’re looking to finance a Lexus CT or purchase one, we have a wide range of used Lexus CT cars available to buy online safely with Click & Collect and home delivery options available.

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