Used Lexus CT for sale: everything you need to know

The Lexus CT - also called the Lexus CT 200h, since it was available in only one engine variant - had a good long run on the market, sold from 2011 to 2022. While not as good to drive as other premium hatchbacks, it found plenty of favour with buyers seeking typical Lexus levels of quality and reliability, with the ease of use and economy that came with its standard hybrid drivetrain.

There’s clearly still demand for the CT too, since used prices have always been strong - rivals like the Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series depreciated far quicker than the Lexus has. If you accept that a used CT will cost more than one of the German alternatives of equivalent age, you’ll still reap the benefits of its quality build, long-lasting reliability, and excellent urban economy figures.

As well as the Audi and BMW mentioned above, cars like the Mercedes A-Class and Volkswagen Golf were also CT competitors, while if the CT’s hybrid power appeals, you can have it in a different form with the Toyota Prius, Auris, and Corolla hybrids.

Should you buy a Lexus CT?

The Lexus CT never sold in huge numbers in the UK, but it was still among the brand’s best-selling models, and for good reason. For one, it was the most affordable way into a new Lexus for most of its time on sale, but as effectively an upmarket version of cars like the Toyota Prius and the Corolla and Auris hybrids, it was an appealing purchase for urban buyers who wanted high mpg and low emissions with a premium image.

That’s likely to be true if you’re considering a used CT, too. Electric cars have raised the bar for cutting emissions and running costs, but if you don’t have new-car money then a CT will likely fit the bill nearly as well. It’s going to be quieter and smoother around town than the diesels it was competing against when new, too.

What the CT could never quite do was compete head-on with cars like the Audi A3, BMW 1 Series and Mercedes-Benz A-Class, each of which was sportier to drive, offered variants with much more performance, and had a more thrusting image. The CT was never that exciting to drive, and even the F Sport didn’t improve things much - certainly given it offered no more performance.

The CT was (and still is) quiet though, and a slightly firm ride on some surfaces aside, largely comfortable. Front seat space is good, but rear seat passengers have to contend with a slightly gloomy environment and limited space. The view out of the back is limited too - the CT surely has one of the world’s tiniest rear windscreen wipers, given the very narrow glass area. Boot space is reasonable, though.

Aside from the German alternatives, other potential CT rivals include the more mainstream VW Golf (whose plug-in hybrid GTE version was much sportier than the CT), and the well-trimmed Mazda 3 which punches above its mainstream billing with a premium feel. If hybrid power is your main goal though, then you could save some money and opt for a Toyota Prius, or the older Toyota Auris and newer Toyota Corolla Hybrid instead, the latter pair closely related to the CT.

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What’s the best used Lexus CT model to buy?

As far as engines go, Lexus has made your choice for you, as there’s just the one. That means choosing based on trim level instead, and the options are fairly clear cut here too, with a well-equipped entry level model, a sporty one (the F Sport) and a more luxurious option (the Takumi, named after Japanese master craftspeople).

If your budget stretches to it then the Takumi’s full leather seating and larger infotainment screen and Mark Levinson audio all make it the most appealing of the bunch, though it’s worth pointing out that leather was offered on some other models earlier in the CT’s run, so you may not need to spend Takumi money if you’re after hide trim.

Used Lexus CT fuel economy and performance

• Lexus CT: Just one engine was offered throughout the CT’s time on sale: a 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine connected to Toyota and Lexus’s hybrid drivetrain. It developed up to 136PS, for a brisk but far from sporty 10.3-second 0-62mph time. Combined economy was up to 55.3mpg on the later, more accurate WLTP test cycle.

What used Lexus CT trim levels are available?

Lexus offered the CT in several trim levels over its 11-year run, but the models we’ve detailed below cover those on the most recent cars, starting with an unnamed entry-level trim and rising through the sportier F Sport and luxurious Takumi grades. Equipment levels didn’t change hugely over time though, with features like air conditioning and an infotainment screen standard throughout - but later cars did get a larger screen and a marginally better method for controlling it than earlier cars. The equipment levels below cover 2021-on models.

• The Lexus CT wore 17-inch alloy wheels, and got electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, halogen headlights with LED daytime running lights, fabric trim, manually adjustable front seats (6-way driver, 4-way passenger), 6-speaker audio with a 7-inch infotainment display, a reversing camera, and a suite of safety features.
• The Lexus CT F Sport got special 17-inch F Sport alloys, sports bumpers, a larger rear spoiler, aluminium pedal faces, heated sports seats, and sports suspension settings.
• The Lexus CT Takumi added quite a lot of equipment, including a sunroof, automatic LED headlights, leather upholstery, an 8-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat and 4-way electric passenger seat, a 10-inch navigation screen, 13-speaker Mark Levinson audio, and front and rear parking sensors.

Used Lexus CT dimensions and boot size

The Lexus CT’s dimensions are:

• Length: 4355mm
• Width: 1765mm (without mirrors), 2020mm (with mirrors)
• Height: 1455mm

The Lexus CT’s boot size is:

• 375 litres
• 985 litres with the rear seats folded

Used Lexus CT road tax

Prior to April 2017 you’re in luck, because the CT’s low CO2 emissions (94g/km on the old NEDC test procedure) mean it qualifies for free road tax. While the car didn’t change much after April 2017, the government’s tax calculations did, and WLTP fuel economy regulations meant a change in CO2 figures too. For these cars, you’ll pay a flat rate of £170 per year, as the hybrid CT is considered an ‘alternative fuel vehicle’.

How much is it to insure a Lexus CT?

The CT’s insurance groups have changed a little over time, but for the most recent ones, a base model begins in group 17, while the Takumi sits in group 21. For comparison, the current front-wheel drive BMW 1-series starts in group 16, while the Toyota Prius with its similar engine to the CT started from group 13 before it went off sale.

Read our full Lexus CT review