Which car in recent history is green, delivers excellent mileage and is sporty? Can’t think of one? That’s probably because no one has stepped in to fill that void, at least until recently.

That’s what Lexus has done – with the Lexus CT 200h premium hatchback. The ‘h’ in its name means, of course, that it’s a hybrid. And this is where it gets interesting. The CT 200h is also meant to be sporty, despite having the engine and transmission from the Toyota Prius.

It uses the same 1.8-litre straight-four with a 60-kilowatt electric motor and continuously variable transmission. On paper, its combined fuel consumption figure is an impressive 24.4km/L (just a smidge behind what the Prius is capable of), and that’s where we can clearly see the fuel-efficient part of it. But what about the sporty elements?

Since the CT 200h has its engine in the front and is front-wheel drive, you are probably wondering if this is simply a re-badged Prius. Thankfully, it isn’t.

This car platform is based on the same one used in a Lexus HS (a saloon model that’s available in the US), but has a 10-centimetre shorter. And while the CT 200h uses MacPherson struts suspension at the front (so does the Prius), the rear is supported by a set of double wishbones – an excellent basis for good handling. Read more…