Category: Roadsters 
Price Range: £25,712 to £32,067
Still one of the best driver's cars on sale at any price. Now, with the availability of the S model, there's a great-value entry-level model too, complementing the high-performance R. The Elise is more desirable than ever.
It can't match 'softer' rivals for comfort, but then, that's not its remit. Just be aware that it's noisier, less cosseting and harder than a Boxster.
The perfect example of evolution. It just gets better as the years pass.
Back in 1996, Lotus created something quite fantastic in the Elise. A small, lightweight, simple car that was infused with a rare brilliance; it looked great, felt spot-on and handled like nothing else at the time. And today? The story remains the same - only with greater polish. Over the years, Lotus hasn't stood still, perfecting the original formula just as Mr. Stradivari couldn't stop fiddling with his violins.
The latest Elise offers a choice of two engines sourced from Toyota, rather than the now-defunct Rover K-Series it was launched with. And while both cars visually look almost identical, they have very different characters. The 134bhp S is the all-rounder, while the 189bhp R is the road-going racer. Importantly, both are focused to appeal to defined market groups, as Lotus looks to clarify and demystify its model ranges.
So, the Elise has never been more comfortable, is available with air conditioning - heavens, even the floors can be carpeted if you want. Purists may wonder if it's losing its overall edge. Need they be worried? Read on...
Latest Readers' Drives About the Lotus Elise
wrote on 22 12 2007
wrote on 18 09 2007
wrote on 30 03 2007