1.8 Advance E-Cvt 5dr Hatchback

Exceptional economy, quality, comfort and quiet, with sharp performance.

I selected the Lexus CT as the lease cost and company car tax was only 2/3rds of an equivalent Audi, BMW or VW and the first time I drove one was when it was delivered! However, over the intervening 2 1/2 years and 40,000 miles, I have come to love it.
Key points:
Comfort - I initially found the suspension very hard and the car found every pothole, but quickly came to appreciate the smooth ride on better surfaces and the go-cart like handling on corners and roundabouts. The seats are the best. Ever. All day in the car and there's no fatigue. Controls fall to hand and the driving position is relaxing, with the front passanger enjoying similar comfort. The back is a little cramped, but no more so than others in the class, and seating is supportive but not overly firm.
Economy - Usual mainly urban driving gives 50 - 53 mpg, motorway cruising just over 60 mpg, which for an 1800 petrol car is outstanding. The quoted economy is, in my experience, unacheivable. I have the Lexus service package, which I reccommend as it covers all service items for a monthly fee, but this is reasonable at £30 per month including tyres. The Lexus customer experience has to be seen to be believed - other brands don't come close (how about an RC300 as a loaner?).
Quality and quiet - You don't hear the engine, except on acceleration (more of that later) and there is very little wind noise. However, as a result you can hear the road noise, particularly on poor surfaces, but this is no more than other premium hatchbacks and there is no droning diesel engine to drown it out. Build quality is excellent, with nothing breaking, squeaking or rattling in 40,000 miles, no warranty work required either. The interior plastics and materials are as good as new.
Performance - it's an automatic, so don't expect to drive it like a manual. It's easy to change driving modes as the fancy takes you and, in sport mode, I've never been beaten off the lights to 40 mph - easily enough to make a point in urban driving. Beyond 50, acceleration is fine but won't light the world up. However it is sufficient for safe lane changes and overtaking at motorway speeds. Reaction to throttle input is fine in all modes. The hybrid system is very easy to live with and the electric motor dips in and out as required to maintain smooth progress. It is very smooth and you can barely notice the engine switch off and restart. Sneaking along in electric-only mode is great fun!
It's not perfect, the boot is quite restricted in that it's not as deep as others due to the hybrid gubbins and the road noise can be quite intrusive at times.
In summary, it's a great car and has exceeded my expectations at every level.

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