£42,300
Engine 2494cc 4cyl + AC motor, RWD, 220bhp, 221lb ft Performance 0–62mph in 8.6secs, 118mph, 47.5mpg, 114g/km CO2 Weight c. 1750kg
Distressingly, the Lexus RC300h looks sporty, but very much isn’t. Oh, there’s an interesting exterior and rear-wheel drive, squinty headlights and brilliant seats, but once you get going, it falls off a cliff of desirability. The hybrid system is fair enough plodding along and being efficient, but as soon as you ask for even the smallest amount of vim, the E-CVT drags the engine response down, the noise flatlines and life becomes one shade greyer. The chassis – now with various improvements – isn’t bad at all, and the ride is good, but the engine and transmission package simply frustrates at all but the slowest speeds – at…