Summary
The Lotus Emira is a two-seater, rear-engined sports that was launched in early 2022, and is the company’s first new model since production of the long-serving Evora, Exige and Elise models ended in 2021. Lotus has also claimed that it will be the final petrol-powered car it will ever build as it shifts towards an electric future.
Replacing three separate models is a tall order, but Auto Trader comments that the Lotus Emira is “a massive step forward” for Lotus – “preserving the performance and handling we loved” from the Exige and Evora, “but with the luxuries and technology modern drivers demand.”
In traditional Lotus spirit, the Emira is no slouch. Customers can choose between a 360hp four-cylinder petrol engine which is also found in the Mercedes-AMG A45, or a 400hp supercharged petrol V6 supplied by Toyota. Carbuyer says the latter makes the Emira perform “like a small supercar”.
“It sounds great and looks sensational too”, Auto Express adds, “and has an interior that’s miles better in design and quality than any of its predecessors.”
That said, Parkers asserts that the Emira’s closest market rival, the Porsche 718 Cayman, still has the upper hand when it comes to interior quality, and that the Porsche is the more practical choice for day-to-day travel.
Though, “is it as special as the Lotus?”, Evo asks of the 718 Cayman. “Certainly not to look at and for that sense of occasion. The Emira feels every inch the next-generation sports car Lotus wants and needs it to be.”
As of January 2025, the Lotus Emira holds a New Car Expert Rating of D and score of 56% – a rating hindered by high running costs.
Emira highlights
- Supercar looks and performance
- Class-leading driving dynamics
- Comfortable and refined interior
Emira lowlights
- Former Lotus flagships were more exciting
- No rear seats and rivals are more practical
- Question marks around reliability
Key specifications
Body style: Two-door coupé
Engines: petrol
Price: From £59,995 on-road
Launched: Summer 2022
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Auto Express
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol automatic i4
Score: 9 / 10
“This new four-cylinder Emira is the best all-round Lotus. The steering is crisp and the car has a broad range of dynamic ability, but there’s no denying the motor sounds coarse, which you don’t expect, given the Emira’s rather high price.”
Author: Stuart Gallagher
Read review
Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“The new Emira isn’t a game-changer, but it’s attractive, good to drive, and better-built than any Lotus before it.”
Read review
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Emira is a massively important car for Lotus and, by and large, it makes a decent fist of being Britain’s alternative to the Porsche 718 Cayman. It goes well, sounds great, looks sensational and has an interior that’s miles better in design and quality than any of its predecessors.”
Read review
Auto Trader
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“A more traditional two-seat coupe in the mould of the Elan, Exige and Evora of recent years. While sharing much of the same spirit it’s a massive step on from those cars as well, preserving the performance and handling we loved but with the luxuries and technology modern drivers demand.”
Read review
Car
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Emira is a giant leap forward for Lotus in so many areas. The interior is so much better than its predecessors, the styling is outstanding and it’s easier to use right down to its surprisingly friendly all-round visibility. No, it isn’t as practical as a Porsche Cayman or as instantly thrashable as an Alpine A110, but the gap has been closed enormously.”
Author: Luke Wilkinson
Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7.2 / 10
“The Emira marks a big step on in terms of design and quality for Lotus, and it’s great to drive.”
Author: Richard Ingram, Antony Ingram
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Carwow
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“With great styling and superb performance, the Lotus Emira is a high-end sports car. Shame it’s not quite as practical as alternatives.”
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Evo
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol automatic
Score: 9 / 10
“The AMG-engined Lotus Emira i4 is the last new internal combustion-engined Lotus sports car, and it’s one of the best.” (Stuart Gallagher)
Read review
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“It takes very few miles to dial yourself into the Emira and after a couple of hundred extra miles you don’t want to get out, it feels every inch the next generation sports car Lotus wants and needs it to be.”
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Motoring Research
Model reviewed: 3.5-litre petrol manual First Edition
Score: 8 / 10
“The Toyota V6 is certainly effective, but its gruff, rather workmanlike voice isn’t as exotic as a howling Porsche flat-six. I’m not wholly convinced by the notchy and slightly ponderous manual gearshift either. Nonetheless, this is the most complete Lotus ever and a reassuring reminder that, even with the electric revolution already underway, Hethel hasn’t forgotten its past.” (Tim Pitt)
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Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The driving dynamics are sensational, the V6 engine is punchy and the overall quality is a massive leap forward for Lotus. However, the Sport chassis option is very firm at low speeds, the manual gearbox is stiff and heavy to use, and the Emira isn’t as practical as its rivals. Quality and – let’s face it – reliability remain big question marks at this stage, too.”
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The Sun
Model reviewed: 3.5-litre petrol V6 First Edition
“Emira is the first Lotus packed with the tech, comfort and practicality required for everyday use. Whichever engine you choose, the Lotus Emira will be an instant classic because this is the last petrol Lotus.”
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The Sunday Times
Model reviewed:
“A a car that is hugely enjoyable on track and much more refined on road than previous efforts from Lotus. It may not be enough to really worry Porsche because the 718 Cayman is so bloody good, but it does give sports car enthusiasts another high class option with similarly impressive performance, refinement and versatility.”
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Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“It’s a fine-handling, enjoyable road car that keeps the driver busy enough while offering vastly better road manners and on-board maturity than any Lotus before it.”
Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
No safety rating
As of January 2025, the Lotus Emira has not been crash tested by Euro NCAP.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of January 2025, the Lotus Emira has not been lab tested by Green NCAP.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of January 2025, we don’t yet have enough reliability data on the Lotus Emira to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively for us using extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the Emira, we’ll publish the score here.
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
Fuel consumption | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
Petrol models | 25 mpg | E | 25 – 25 mpg | E – E |
CO₂ output | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
Petrol models | 243 g/km | D | 243 – 243 g/km | D – D |
Insurance group | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
All models | 50 | F | 50 – 50 | F – F |
We might not have the full picture, we have enough running cost data to declare the Lotus Emira a very expensive car to own and run, thanks to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
The coupé’s is one of the thirstiest petrol cars on the market, though this an expected drawback of providing supercar-beating speeds.
We have no information as of yet on the car’s maintenance costs, but as the Emira’s insurance premiums are in the highest bracket, it is likely that annual servicing will be quite expensive too.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Lotus Emira has received
2023
- UK Car of the Year Awards – Best Performance Car
2022
- News UK Motor Awards – Best Sports Car
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Lotus Emira, you might also be interested in these alternatives
Alpine A110 | Audi TT | BMW Z4 | Jaguar F-Type | Lotus Elise | Porsche 718 Cayman | Toyota GR Supra
Buy a Lotus Emira
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