The Lexus CT 200h: Style without Sacrifice

My father would always say, “Kung gusto mong pumorma, magtiis ka” or “If you want to be stylish, you have to make sacrifices.”  Whether it’s walking around the office in high-heeled stilettos that kill your feet, or freezing in an air-conditioned ballroom because you refuse to wear a coat over that plunging low-back dress, or cutting on your other expenses to splurge on a designer bag…style usually comes at a cost. 

I find that the same principle applies to cars, but the sacrifices usually center on financial and environmental costs. Driving that beautiful sports or luxury car will dent your bank account—upon purchase because of its expensive price tag and thereafter, as its powerful engine requires gobbling up petrol fuel. Driving sports or luxury cars may also leave a larger amount of carbon footprint than smaller, less powerful cars. 

The Lexus CT 200h is a stylish compact executive electric hybrid that defies the “sacrificing for luxury and/or style” principle.

For a luxury hatchback, the environmental cost of driving the CT 200h is zero to minimal. This is because all Lexus hybrid vehicles are “Full Hybrids.”

“Mild Hybrids” use a petrol or diesel engine as the main power source, with the electric motor merely assisting the engine. Full Hybrids, such as the Lexus CT 200h, have combustion engines and electric motors that work together seamlessly.

Putting the CT 200h on “EV mode” generates zero carbon emissions and zero noise pollution because it drives on purely electric power. For those who associate sports cars with loud engines, this is an aspect you will miss from the CT 200h. The Lexus CT 200h is extremely quiet. I usually have to double check if the engine has already turned on when I start the car. 

The “Eco” and “Normal” modes use a combination of gas and electric power, thereby allowing for higher speed driving with minimal emissions. 

“Sport” Mode alters the throttle for more direct acceleration, increasing battery power from 500 to 650 volts. Electric Power Steering, Vehicle Stability Control and Traction Control also adjust at Sport Mode for a dynamic drive. Put simply, driving the CT 200h at Sport Mode is like driving a non-hybrid, sports car. 

But even at Sport Mode, there is no need to worry about the financial cost of constantly fluctuating gas prices because the CT 200h is fuel-efficient. Its 1.8 liter, 4-cylinder Atkinson Cycle petrol engine features Exhaust Heat Recovery and Variable Valve Timing-intelligent (VVT-i) technologies, which enable the CT 200h to drive at a preliminary combined cycle fuel consumption of 3.81L/100km. 

When the CT 200h is utilizing its supreme engine power, its carbon emissions are still at a low of CO2 87g/km.

The absence of re-charging stations in the Philippines is not a problem for the Lexus CT 200h. The regenerative braking technology used in the CT 200h harnesses the kinetic energy from braking or decelerating, and converts this into electrical energy for storage in the hybrid battery. This dispenses with the need to recharge the CT 200h.

For a luxury car, the price point for the Lexus CT 200h is also reasonable.

There seems to be no sacrifice in driving the Lexus CT 200h, but is there style? 

The CT 200h is very sleek—streamlined profile, long roofline, tapered cabin sides and curved bumpers that all contribute to an aerodynamic design which lessens drag, reduces wind noise and enhances fuel efficiency. The LED headlights complement the sporty look of the bumper.

The cabin is decked in contemporary design with extensive use of metallic finishes and dark, soft touch materials. 

The standard model CT 200h is upholstered with high-grade fabric, while the F-sport model is upholstered in leather.

It is customary for the CT 200h to be equipped with a 6-speaker Lexus Premium Sound System that features bio-sourced bamboo charcoal resin speaker diaphragms. The system has USB and audio jack plug connectivity for portable music players.

Overall, the Lexus CT 200h is a prime example of beauty combined with functionality, high performance and efficiency. It’s a car that embodies style without sacrifice—just like wearing high heels that don’t hurt my feet. If that analogy doesn’t make sense to the male reader, then I suggest that he tries driving a CT 200h instead. 

Karen Jimeno is a junior partner at Jimeno Cope & David Law Firm and a law professor in various law schools. She is also a TV host for LegalHD at Solar News Channel. She graduated from UP Law School and Harvard Law School and is licensed to practice law in the Philippines and in New York. She is currently the Director for Communications & External Affairs of the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation & Recovery of Yolanda affected areas.