One of the first and most successful manufacturers of hybrid cars is Toyota. Currently, the company has several models with a combined power plant, most of which are manufactured under the Lexus brand. One of them is the Lexus CT 200H. Specifications, features, reviews about it are discussed in the following.
Story
The car in question was introduced in 2010. Then sales began. The manufacturer positioned it as the first premium hybrid hatchback. The difference between the CT 200H and most hybrids of the brand is that this car was originally created as a hybrid, while other hybrid cars were modifications of ordinary models. In those days, the manufacturer's lineup was LS 600H L (since 2007), GS 450H (since 2006), RX 400H (since 2005). The exception is the HS 250H, which became the first purely hybrid car Lexus (2009).
Such a machine was focused primarily on the European market and the calculation was justified: a year after the start of sales, the Lexus CT 200H became the most popular model of the brand in Europe. He was also recognized as one of the best cars in the compact segment. However, on the local market, on the contrary, the car became the least popular among the brand's models, which is why subsequently (in 2015) it ceased to be offered here.
There are two main reasons for this. Firstly, hybrid cars in the local market are generally unpopular due, first of all, to a much higher cost in comparison with analogues equipped with traditional power plants (in European countries, the price difference is offset by benefits so that environmentally friendly cars are more profitable than ordinary ones), and also design complexity. Secondly, sedans are traditionally preferred in the CIS, including in the premium segment, while hatchbacks are very popular in Europe.
In 2013, restyling was performed. The car underwent another update in 2017. In the future, it is planned to remove the model from production.
The cost in the secondary market starts from about 900 thousand rubles and reaches 1.3 million rubles for a 3- or 4-year-old Lexus CT 200H. The new car cannot be officially purchased, since the model has not been delivered to the local market since 2015.
Platform
The car is created on the Toyota New MC platform, used on compact and mid-size Lexus and Toyota models, such as Corolla (E150, E170), Prius (XW30, XW40), RAV4 (XA30, XA40), etc.
Body
Lexus CT 200H is sold in a single body - a hatchback. Its dimensions are 4.35 m long, 1.765 m wide, 1.44 m (1.43 on 15-inch wheels) in height. The curb weight is 1.37-1.465 tons, depending on the configuration, the total weight is 1.845 tons.
It should be noted that during the development a lot of attention was paid to giving optimal weight distribution to the car. For this purpose, body elements such as the rear door, hood and bumper reinforcements are made of aluminum, and many parts made of high-strength steels are present in the design. In addition, the interior was placed closer to the center, and the powerplant battery was located within the wheelbase under the boot floor.
Aerodynamics are of great importance for fuel economy, so the drag coefficient on the CT 200H was brought up to 0.28, and not only due to the design and shape of the body with a long roof and narrow beveled aft: aerodynamic panels are installed under the bottom.
In addition, the Lexus CT 200H has high safety performance. This is confirmed by Euro NCAP: as a result of the tests, the car received the highest rating.
Modification F Sport is distinguished by a front bumper, side skirts, a radiator grill and the presence of a spoiler.
When restyling 2013, the grille and optics were changed. As a result, the length was reduced by 0.03 m and the height - by 0.015 m. In 2017, similar updates were made, as well as increased body rigidity.
Engine
The car is equipped with a power plant, borrowed from the Toyota Prius and presented by the 2ZR-FXE ICE and an electric motor.
The ZR series includes 4-cylinder in-line engines equipped with the 16-valve DOHC gas distribution system and the Dual VVT-i phase shift system. The 2ZR-FXE is a special version of the 2ZR-FE for hybrid powertrains. This is a 1.8 liter engine with cylinders with a diameter of 80.5 mm and a piston stroke of 88.3 mm (as in the original version), which operates according to the Atkinson cycle.
In addition, the compression ratio compared to 2ZR-FE was increased from 10: 1 to 13: 1. 2ZR-FE has 132-134 liters. from. and 174 Nm at 6000 and 4400 rpm, respectively. These modifications led to increased efficiency compared to the original engine, but the performance of the Lexus CT 200H engine was reduced: the characteristics of its 2ZR-FXE are 98 liters. from. power at 5200 rpm and 142 N · m of torque at 4000 rpm. To reduce vibration and noise, the design of the engine mounts and exhaust system was changed on the CT 200H.
The electric motor develops 60 kW and 207 Nm. The battery capacity is 1.3 kW / h. The total capacity of the power plant is 136 liters. from. and 207 Nm. It allows movement both purely on gasoline or electric, as well as in combined modes. A similar power plant was used in the Auris Hybrid, in addition to the Prius and Lexus CT 200H.
Experts say that the character of the CT 200H is very similar to the Prius. So, there is no direct relationship between the acceleration rate and the position of the gas pedal, so the connection between the machine and the driver is blurred. This is due to the variator and switching between engines.
Transmission
The vehicle in question is equipped with a CVT variator and is only available with front-wheel drive.
The testers note a peculiar control scheme for the transmission selector without locking in the extreme positions and without the possibility of switching directly to power mode B from P.
Chassis
The front suspension is a Lexus CT 200H designed by McPHerson, and the rear is a double wishbone. To reduce vibration, the machine is equipped with additional struts with shock absorbers installed at the spare wheel niche and between the pillars of the front struts.
The F Sport and Luxury versions have stretch front struts and rear shock absorbers. The gauge is 1.525 m in front and 1.52 m at the rear (on machines with 15-inch wheels wider by 0.01 m). The wheelbase is 2.6 m, the clearance is 140 mm (130 mm on 15-inch wheels). During restyling, the chassis settings were changed.
The steering is equipped with electric power.
The car has 15-inch wheels with a size of 195/65 in the initial configuration and 16-inch wheels with a size of 205/55 in the rest. For the domestic market, 17-inch wheels of 215/45 size are also available, and in the USA they are standard equipment.
Brakes - disc on all wheels, on the front axle - ventilated.
Top Gear testers noted the good handling of the CT 200H, due to small rolls, sharp steering, especially in sport mode, a slight understeer and stability on the line in the absence of swing. However, this affected the comfort: due to the considerable mass, the developers had to make the suspension stiffer to give control. Therefore, the machine has an average smoothness. However, according to motor.ru, the CT 200H is still comfortable for a golf class. From this we can conclude that the suspension is stiffer than other Lexus and Toyota Prius models, but soft for a golf class. About the same say and reviews of car owners.
Drivers also note the high performance of the Lexus CT 200H brakes. The review of the car at the same time indicates a stepwise deceleration when the pedal is pressed evenly, which is typical for cars with a recovery system: first, the electric motor slows down to store energy, and then the brake system is activated. At the same time, experts still note that the transition is well smoothed for a hybrid car.
Performance
CT 200H is considered the most economical in its class. So, according to the manufacturer, fuel consumption in all modes is less than 4 liters. This is due to modest dynamic indicators: the maximum speed is 180 km / h, and acceleration to 100 km / h takes 10.3 s.
Experts believe that the dynamic capabilities of the car are enough in an urban environment. It is difficult to move on the track due to its low power and considerable mass. In addition, they note that even in the standard Normal mode, reactions are very blurry, not to mention economical. At the same time, at low speeds, car owners note the Lexus CT 200H's good traction provided by an electric motor. Responses of owners and journalists indicate that fuel consumption in real conditions is an average of 6.5 liters.
It should be noted that the machine has a drive mode controller that controls the power steering, power plant, and stabilization system. It includes 4 modes. EV provides movement only on the electric motor. Eco involves low engine speeds, smooth reactions to gas, a light steering wheel, full control of the stabilization system, limiting the voltage in the power plant to 500 V, energy-saving mode of the climate system. In Sport mode, the revolutions and responsiveness of the power plant increase, the voltage rises to 650 V, the steering wheel becomes heavier, and the stability control is reduced. Normal assumes balanced parameter settings.
Interior
The Lexus CT 200H has a 5-passenger compartment measuring 1.765 m long, 1.47 m wide and 1.135 m high. Its decoration and equipment corresponds to the premium segment, and according to these parameters, the car surpasses many classmates. With the update of 2017, finishing materials were changed and the display of the media system was increased.
Trunk volume - 375 L (985 with folded seats). Because of the battery located at the back of the battery, it has a high floor, but since the battery is within the base, there is another compartment under the floor.
Testers say a significantly lower landing than the Prius, similar to the IS. At the same time, the front seats have even better lateral support compared to the latter. The back row is spacious in height, but there is little room for knees. Especially uncomfortable for the average passenger due to the armrest box. In addition, the rear doors open at a small angle, and on the right side there is a battery cooling fan that makes noise. Finally, there are only floor deflectors for the climate system.
In general, experts consider the salon to be very high quality and sophisticated for the golf class due to the combination of many textures. In addition, they praise the audio system.
The cabin is not very quiet, especially in comparison with other Lexus models. This is mainly due to fuel-efficient tires. Also, according to reviews, you can hear both motors.
Equipment
The standard equipment includes an audio system with 6 speakers, 8 airbags, a stabilization system, etc. The maximum versions have a navigation system, an accident prevention system, adaptive cruise control, a multimedia system with a screen, with navigation and 13 speakers, leather trim, LED headlights , rear view camera, electrically adjustable seats, etc.
Reviews
Owners respond well to the CT 200H. His rating on the site drom.ru is 9 and 4.8 on auto.ru.
As the advantages, car owners note low fuel consumption (5-8 liters), low tax, reliability, cheap service, good driving performance, design, interior quality, ergonomics.
The disadvantages include a cramped interior, a small trunk, low clearance, insufficient sound insulation, especially wheel arches.