Summary
The Lotus Elise is a lightweight, mid-engined, two-seat roadster. The current model is known as the Series 3 and was launched in 2010 2010, although it is a direct evolution of the original Elise that started production way back in 1996. Production finally came to an end in late 2021.
Over the years, the Elise was available in a variety of trim levels and special editions. All of them very much prioritised performance and driver engagement over comfort, so don’t expect
Being a very focussed driver’s car, the Lotus Elise was universally praised for its driving dynamics throughout its entire 25-year lifespan. However, the other compromises required to achieve this have inevitably resulted in mixed reviews overall from the motoring media. Enthusiast titles like Evo and Car have given it outstanding scores, while consumer titles have marked it much more harshly.
The Lotus Elise finally ended production in December 2021 after 25 years. To mark the occasion, Lotus launched one last limited-edition model, the Final Edition, in either Sport 240 or Cup 250 variants.
As of May 2024, the Lotus Elise holds a Used Car Expert Rating of C, with a score of 62%. It was popular with journalists, but its running costs are high and its eco performance is nothing special. But then the Elise is a very niche sports car that doesn’t aim to be a family car, so that’s not surprising.

Key specifications
Body style: Two-door roadster
Engine: petrol
Price: From £41,655 on-road
Launched: Spring 2010
Last updated: Autumn 2017
Ended production: Autumn 2021
Image gallery
Media reviews
Reviews, road tests and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Auto Express
Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 6 / 10
“Lightweight Lotus Elise sports car priorities handling and performance above all else.”
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Model reviewed: S Cup
Score: 8 / 10
“At £6,300 more than a standard Lotus Elise S, the S Cup version isn’t particularly cheap, especially when the base model will be quick, responsive and engaging enough for most. Yet the added visual, aural and mechanical drama makes it one of the most intoxicating sports cars at any price.”
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Autocar
Model reviewed: Sport 240 Final Edition 2021
Score: 9 / 10
“Lightweight sports car bows out with this more potent, last-of-its-kind celebration of an icon.”
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Model reviewed: Cup 250
Score: 8 / 10
“An enduring, brilliant sporting legend — but an increasingly expensive one.”
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Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 8 / 10
“The Lotus Elise is utterly brilliant to drive if you’re in the mood. It has one of the world’s best-handling chassis and exquisite steering. Use the gearbox and you’ll enjoy an eager, unburstable engine in a car whose size renders these assets fantastically usable.”
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Model reviewed: Sprint
Score: 8 / 10
“The Lotus Elise is a unique proposition whose charm has barely diminished over the years.”
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Car
Model reviewed: Sprint 220
Score: 10 / 10
“The damping, the steering, the power delivery, the chassis balance… they’re all extraordinary. Living with a Lotus Elise Sprint 220 on a daily basis wouldn’t be the easiest thing in the world but it would offer thrills that nothing this side of an Ariel Atom could top.”
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Model reviewed: Cup 250
Score: 10 / 10
“If you love Lotus, love sports cars and love trackdays, you’ll love this. It’s eminently capable as a circuit-only car, and still tolerable enough on the road – although, admittedly, the price will keep everyone bar enthusiasts at bay.”
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Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 6.2 / 10
“With incredible handling and thrilling performance, the Lotus Elise is one of the most successful and popular British sports cars of its generation.”
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Carwow
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The Lotus Elise is one of the most no-nonsense sports cars you can buy today. However, newer alternatives with more technology are much better value.”
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Evo
Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 10 / 10
“The Elise, with exceptional feel and control as well as compliance and ride quality, couldn’t be anything other than a Lotus.”
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Honest John
Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 8 / 10
“The Sprint edition of the Lotus Elise has removed 41 kg from the previous model, to reach a benchmark dry weight of just 798 kg.”
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Motoring Research
Model reviewed: Sport 240 Final Edition
Score: 9 / 10
“With its sublime chassis stealing the show, the supercharged four-cylinder engine inevitably feels like a supporting act. Still, your mind will be elsewhere: working the well-oiled gearshift and perfectly spaced pedals. The Elise isn’t a car you drive on auto-pilot, you’re in constant conversation with it. That limits its appeal as a daily driver for many, but I’d gladly accept the challenge.”
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Parkers
Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 8 / 10
“It lacks the practicality and usability to be everyday transport for most, but as an indulgence it’s ideal. Affordable prices and good economy mean it needn’t be expensive to run either.”
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The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: Cup 250
Score: 8 / 10
“Undeniably quick and composed . . . but could it be more fun?”
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Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 8 / 10
“Raw, fast and astonishing fun, but a costly pleasure.”
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Top Gear
Model reviewed: Sport 240 Final Edition
Score: 9 / 10
“There’s nothing else quite like the Lotus Elise. Nothing that drives like it or has the same sense of purity and clarity.”
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Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 8 / 10
“If you really, truly care about driving, the Lotus Elise is about as obvious an answer as water being wet and fire being hot.”
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What Car?
Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 6 / 10
“A proper sports car, full of sensation. The Lotus Elise demands dedication for day-to-day use, but it’s worth the effort.”
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Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
No safety rating
The Lotus Elise was never crash tested by Euro NCAP during its lifespan, which is not surprising given its tiny sales volumes.
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
The Lotus Elise was not lab tested by Green NCAP during its production life.
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of May 2024, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Lotus Elise to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using workshop and extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy, sourced from both official dealerships and independent workshops.
As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the Elise, we’ll publish the results here.
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
Fuel consumption | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
Petrol models | 36 mpg | D | 36 – 36 mpg | D – D |
CO₂ output | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
Petrol models | 177 g/km | C | 177 – 177 g/km | C – C |
Service and maintenance | Cost | Score |
Year 1 | £48 | A |
Overall | £48 | A |
The Lotus Elise is a relatively expensive car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data. However, due to its age, we only have limited data available.
Fuel consumption is not great, especially for such a small and light car. Given that this is the largest running cost of any car, that’s worth considering. We don’t have insurance group data or servicing costs beyond the first year.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Lotus Elise has received
2019
- Autocar Awards – Icon of Icons Award
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Lotus Elise, you might also be interested in these alternatives
Abarth 124 Spider | Alfa Romeo 4C | Alpine A110 | Ariel Atom | Audi TT RS | Caterham Seven | Porsche 718 Boxster | Zenos E10
More information
More news, reviews and information about the Lotus Elise at The Car Expert
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