To start let’s look at this new Lexus as a car and not a hybrid. Why? Well for 2011 Malaysians, especially urban city dwellers, the hybrid ownership proposition has moved up a few notches due to the exclusion of import tax on hybrid vehicles below 2-litre engine capacity for the 2011 financial year. This has reduced the price of hybrid cars by some 30-35% for 2011. This has allowed Lexus to sell the new CT200h from just RM 167,000.00. Lexus’s sister company, Toyota has also managed to bring down the price of their world popular Prius hybrid to just RM 139,000.00. Now on an average day we can see at least 1 hybrid or 2 on Klang Valley roads in daily commute. In my neighborhood in Petaling Jaya alone the sightings are even higher at 5-6 hybrids a day.

We are testing the Lexus CT200h here and we want to bring you first its review as a ‘CAR’ as most buyers have looked at it as more a car than an environmental friendly vehicle. This is because its selling price allows many middle class Malaysians to own a luxury product which SHOULD be selling for near RM 230,000 plus. Therefore it is an alternative to the popular VW Golf TSI and Mazda3 Sport which costs just a smidgen lower. Both the golf TSI and Mazda3 are sexy well-built and stylish family hatchbacks, but the Lexus CT200h is also a sexy looking 5-door hatchback. It shares a similar nose to the Lexus IS250 and most of the interior bits. A flat squared off rear deck makes for a hatchback. It comes with 16-inch alloys, low profile tires, xenon lamps,, LED lamps and a contoured lower side sill that give it a perpetual body kit. It sits quite low on the ground with a hunkered down look and has a very sporty stance from all angles. » Read more: Review of the Lexus CT200h