Overview & Reviews

While two-seat sports cars have become more comfortable, more reliable and safer in recent decades, they have also become rather portly. If you wanted both performance and light weight in one machine, you had to give up that new-car smell and start shopping the classifieds. But all that ended with the introduction of the Lotus Elise roadster to the U.S. market in 2005. It's actually been on sale overseas since '96, but European demand for the vehicle along with stringent U.S. crash standards kept it from crossing the pond until more recently.

Meeting U.S. crash standards required the addition of airbags and other safety features that add weight. But Lotus knew that even sports car fans in this country would have trouble giving up comfort for the sake of extreme performance, so the U.S. Lotus Elise comes standard with air-conditioning, antilock brakes and a CD audio system. But don't look for stability control or power steering on this sports car. Lotus was willing to bend, but not break its "simplificate, then add lightness" rule for American tastes by keeping the U.S. Elise's curb weight under 2,000 pounds. That made it easily the lightest performance car sold in this country.

With so little weight to push around, power requirements are minimal. Most Lotus Elises feature a Toyota-sourced (and Yamaha-built) 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine. It's the same high-revving mill that's been used in Toyotas such as the Celica GT-S and Corolla XRS, but in this case it's been tuned by Lotus to broaden the power band and bump horsepower to 190. That's more than enough power to slingshot the Elise to 60 mph in under 5 seconds. For 2008, a supercharged version debuted, with output bumped up to 218 hp that reduced the 0-60 sprint to a mid-4-second exercise.

There's no doubt the Lotus Elise is a special car -- for the money, you simply won't find a more thrilling driving experience. Just be aware that it's also a no-frills, racetrack-oriented machine. Those desiring an exciting roadster that can provide more day-to-day functionality will want to order the Elise's optional Touring package or check out other more comfortable-riding European rivals. On the other hand, if you want even more excitement, consider the Sport package option or the track-ready Exige.

Current Lotus Elise
The Lotus Elise is a two-seat midengine roadster available in base and SC trim. The interior is understandably spartan, and the standard air-conditioning can be deleted to save even more weight. A few options packages, such as the Touring and Sport packages, offer a bit of customization. To maximize protection, a hardtop roof is available as a stand-alone option.

Power for the Lotus Elise comes from a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission. The Toyota-sourced engine benefits from Lotus-designed intake and exhaust components and a tweaked engine controller. The result is a broader power band and an increase in output to 190 hp at 7,800 rpm and 133 pound-feet of torque at 6,800 rpm. Should the standard Elise be inadequate, there's always the supercharged Elise SC, boasting a 220-hp version of the standard Elise's engine.

As far as safety equipment, don't expect much more than federally mandated items -- antilock brakes are included and traction control is optional, but neither stability control nor side airbags are offered.

Interior accommodations are pure sports car: Lightly padded composite sport seats provide plenty of support and controls are simple enough to keep your attention on the road. The wide door sills and low steering wheel require some fancy body motions and footwork when entering or exiting the vehicle, however. Naturally, the Elise's cockpit emphasizes driving above all else and there are minimal comfort and storage features for longer road trips.

The non-power steering feels as natural as anything we've ever driven and the 1.8-liter engine is indeed tuned to be very responsive, with plenty of torque. Braking is handled by AP Racing and Brembo calipers with 11.5-inch rotors all around. It all adds up to a car that feels as race-oriented, unfiltered and capable as an Italian exotic, at roughly a quarter of the cost.

Used Lotus Elise Models
Lotus introduced the Americanized "111R" version of the Elise in 2005, enabled by a three-year NHTSA exemption as the car had failed to meet U.S. bumper regulations. Changes for 2006 included the option of traction control and a limited-slip differential, lightweight forged alloy wheels and a matte black appearance package. Daytime running lights were made standard, along with LED taillights with integrated reflectors. Inside, the seat padding was upgraded for increased comfort and a new, lighter pedal set was installed to save a few more precious pounds.

For 2007, a set of so-called "bumperettes" were added to the tail to satisfy U.S. bumper regulations. The supercharged Elise SC debuted for 2008. That year also saw a new instrument display with a trip computer, while a value-minded performance package debuted two years later. For the 2011 model year, the Elise received some minor styling updates as well as a few feature availability changes. A Roger Becker special edition Elise also debuted, honoring the recently retired head of Lotus vehicle engineering.

User Reviews:

Showing 21 through 30 of 104.00

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  Track this car... please! - 2005 Lotus Elise
  By lotus racer - November 3 - 2:46 am

  Unbelievable, but my wife bought this car because it looks great and she lets me take it to the track. Drives like a race car because thats what it was built to do. Take a racing class if youve never done such a thing. Then take the car out and have some fun on the track. But dont try this on the street. Youll get squashed like a bug when you move fast into the blind spot of just about any car and every truck. Hold on to your seat because youve never had a ride like this before.

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  Elise 06 Review - 2006 Lotus Elise
  By Rugbyduck - October 28 - 7:03 am

  I have found the Elise to be quite comfortable for extended trips. Where the 05 falters in poor seats and poorly spaced pedals the 06 makes up for. Ive never driven a car that puts a smile on my face for so long. Its like having a new toy everyday of the year for the rest of my life! Dealer cooperation leaves a bit to be desired.

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  Best sports car, period. - 2005 Lotus Elise
  By rbalboa - October 26 - 2:10 am

  This is a pure sports car, no frills just raw power in a small package that will shake you up with a great smile.

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  This car begs you to drive it HARD - 2005 Lotus Elise
  By Mike C - September 14 - 5:40 pm

  I cannot state how happy I am with this car. It rewards the driver at every level. This is my first high performance sports car, and initially behind the wheel I didnt know what to expect and drove it very conservatively. It rewarded me at this level and drove very easily. As my sports driving skills have grown, I find there is continuously more ability in this car. As I learn to exploit its performance more, it shows me it has more to give. So far I have not found the bottom of this tall glass of fast and agile! My wife loves driving it too, and she was previously not a car enthusiast. That has all changed. You will fall in love with this car!

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  best car - 2005 Lotus Elise
  By benthebest - August 4 - 10:00 am

  definetly the car to buy

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  Nothing else compares in the price range - 2007 Lotus Elise
  By fishman76092 - July 15 - 4:31 pm

  Ive had mine for about two years. No issues thus far. Hear some build quality complaints on forums- its hit and miss. Its a hand built car that costs $25-40k. The good: Closest thing to a race car for the price, Toyota engine/transmission, so much fun to drive above 5500 rpms. The bad: Getting in and out with top on, people looking at you- wanting to take photos, etc, not many creature comforts. Long story short: If you want a smooth ride, a great stereo, isolation from the road, and a long trip cruiser...buy something else. If you want to enjoy every mile, drive a roller coaster, rip through the gears, wind it up to 9k, turn the stereo off and listen to the engine, buy an Elise.

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  Im stuck in this car - 2006 Lotus Elise
  By ME - July 8 - 3:10 pm

  Had a little trouble first getting into the car. I havent actually gotten out yet for 2 reasons. First - this is the funnest car with the best response and road feel that I have ever been in, really making me NOT want to get out. Second - I physically can not get out of the car. Im typing this on my wireless laptop that I threw in the passenger floor board. If my wife reads this, please come help me get out. By the way, I am NOT fat at 510" and 160 lbs.

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  Best Car Ever - 2005 Lotus Elise
  By Seraph - June 17 - 10:00 am

  no word to describe

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  Perfect Sports Car - 2005 Lotus Elise
  By jkbrill - April 6 - 11:46 pm

  This car is so fun to drive. This vehicle makes everything else I have driven seem like a RV. The car handles, brakes, and looks like a sports car should. The ride is surprisingly good; however the Elise is not a daily driver. However, it is an amazingly fun toy, that is well constructed for a handmade vehicle. It is also pretty zippy, and loves high rpms.

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  Bang for the Buck - 2006 Lotus Elise
  By Mackspane - February 12 - 1:56 am

  In 1998 I was finally established enough to buy a nice new car and purchased a Boxter and I enjoyed it, but 8 years later, after only 22,000 miles, it died. In 2006 I was looking, quite honestly, for the best bang for my buck. Im single and dont drive much and never used the back seats in my old cars, so a 2 seater was ideal for me. Upon seeing the Elise I was sold. In Chili Red with the Sport and Luxury upgrades, I purchased a 2006 brand new and it is quite literally the most amazing car Ive ever owned. Between beauty, performance, and even reliability (with the Toyota engine), this car blew and still blows away anything from twice the price on down. Its truly an awe inspiring vehicle