In-depth reviews

Lotus Elise owner reviews

"With incredible handling and thrilling performance, the Lotus Elise is one of the most successful and popular British sports cars of its generation"

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_4059a016m3r6ivhn { display: none !important; }

by Richard Ingram

20 Sep 2016

.polaris__post-meta--date { display: none; } .polaris__post-meta--date.no-script { display: block; padding-left: 45px } 20 Sep 2016

Carbuyer Rating

2.6 out of 5

Owners Rating

4.8 out of 5

Reviews

Owner Reviews

5 out of 5
4 out of 5
3 out of 5
2 out of 5
1 out of 5

88%of people would recommend this car to a friend

Common Problems

Electrics (3 cases)
Engine (3 cases)
Suspension (1 case)
Other (2 cases)
Suspension, Other (1 case)
Gearbox / clutch (1 case)

Review 1 of 25

Tell us what you think about your car?

Brilliant drivers car, easy to drive

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Fantastic everyday car, surprisingly good with fuel and lots of fun

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Great

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

A fantasticly enjoyable car to drive. What it lacks in practicality is more than made up for by the acceleration and cornering ability/feel and the fact that it can be used as a genuinely thrilling track toy too.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Awesome catch me if you can

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

I've put 3k miles on this car in just a few months. Had no issues, thoroughly enjoying the superb drive, and handling. Not as practical as my mk1 MX-5, but this car is in a different league of handling and grip. The ride is more comfortable than passengers expect it to be when the step into this very basic and low to the ground roadster. I wouldn't use one as a daily driver, but as a true fun wind in the hair sports car it's superb.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Can't get more bangs for the buck.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Utterly amazing. Puts a smile on my face every time i look at it &/or drive it.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Excellent

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Its great

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

It makes me smile every time i drive it

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

For what it is designed to do and the market that it is intended to target, my car is superb; in my opinion, the best that money can buy. Most people find my car uncomfortable and impractical. Consequently, many motoring journalists dismiss it in favour of heavy, larger engined, german/japanese models. I have used my lotus on a daily basis for more than 10 years and have grown to love it more and more. There is nothing on the market that i would swop it for, except perhaps a new one!!

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Excellent performance,looks,excellant with the roof down on a hot day.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Fantastic

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Fantastic fun and stylish, would like to upgrade to a elise r or sc

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

If you want build quality or practicality buy a porsche cayenne. if you want an economical light tactile british quick sublime handling performance car with a few "character" traits, then buy an elise. does what it says on the tin, critically acclaimed for good reason.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Very impressive but not the car for every occasion !! Difficult and not practical to use it for its designed purpose on the road... Need to take it on the track to really explore its capabilities.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Almost perfect, good economy, performance, fun, but a bit delicate, stonechips, hood, etc..

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

The s1 lotus elise is a great sports car, with outstanding handling, and a surprising practicality and easiness of drive. However, it's rather poor in build quality and quite unreliable.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

My car provides a great amount of driving pleasure, and as i predicted - because the limits of the car are higher than mine, it will not lose its appeal as soon as a more powerful car (that i previously owned) which you can simply jump in and any mug can drive to dizzying speeds very easily. i wanted a lighter vehicle than previous, and there aren't too many truly light cars around without going to the extremes of caterham's and atoms. Lotus was the only manufacturer that seemed to have an answer to my lightweight/some practicality dilemma. I now enjoy driving so much i can go out for a blast with no aim at point b! I have no regrets moving from a 250bhp- v6 engine to a 1.8 4- cylinder. At the end of the day, the broad range of benefits of lighter weight seem to answer all the calls of modern motoring society. Thank you lotus!

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Absolutely superb. For the level of performance its not expensive to run, the handling is absolutely first class, and its part of a great british brand.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Can use it everyday but my wife has to have a family car for shopping trips and diy shop runs

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Most Popular

Car tax

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_4059a016m3r6ivla { display: none !important; }

Tips and advice

4 Nov 2024

Car tax: VED rates and increases explained 2024/25

Jaguar GT EV prototype front quarter

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_4059a016m3r6ivlb { display: none !important; }

News

14 Nov 2024

New Jaguar GT spotted: does upcoming EV point to the future of Jag?

Ford Puma EcoBoost front

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_4059a016m3r6ivlc { display: none !important; }

Tips and advice

5 Nov 2024

Ford EcoBoost engines: reliability, problems and should you buy one?

Tips & advice

Car dashboard symbols and meanings

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_4059a016m3r6ivld { display: none !important; }

Tips and advice

21 Oct 2024

Car dashboard warning lights: what does each symbol mean?

Charging station

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_4059a016m3r6ivle { display: none !important; }

Tips and advice

23 Jul 2024

Electric car charging stations: public networks, charger types, apps and maps

PCP vs HP

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_4059a016m3r6ivlf { display: none !important; }

Tips and advice

17 May 2022

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?

Average speed cameras: how do they work?

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_4059a016m3r6ivlg { display: none !important; }

Tips and advice

21 Mar 2024

Average speed cameras: how do they work?

Best cars

Peugeot 208 hatchback

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_4059a016m3r6ivlh { display: none !important; }

Best cars

25 Jun 2021

Top 10 best car interiors

Best electric cars

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_4059a016m3r6ivli { display: none !important; }

Best cars

16 May 2024

Top 10 best electric cars 2024

The best cheap-to-run cars 2023

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_4059a016m3r6ivlj { display: none !important; }

Best cars

2 Jan 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024

Fastest hot hatchbacks hero

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_4059a016m3r6ivlk { display: none !important; }

Best cars

2 Jan 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024