Lotus Elise review

Getting into an Elise is a much easier feat than getting into its hard top cousin, the Lotus Exige. That’s because, with the canvas roof off, you can simply step across the wide sills that conceal its bonded aluminium chassis and slide down into a snug, minimalistic interior.

Now if we’re honest, there’s not a whole heap to look at from behind the wheel of an Elise. What there is, though, is brilliantly laid out in a neat, race-car-style dashboard with digital readouts. The steering wheel is fixed, but the seat is comfortable and the driving position superb.

In terms of build quality, the Cup 250 feels pretty well put together. Yes, the switches look very basic and the ancient Vauxhall-sourced column stalks feel flimsy, but the Cup 250 can be spruced up with various option packs that add carbonfibre to the sills, Alcantara suede to the seats, and leather to the doors inserts. There are also some stunning details that engineering fans will love, such as the exposed aluminium door hinges and the open shift gate and tall aluminium gear stick of Lotus’s six-speed manual gearbox. 

Just bear in mind that this car is about excitement rather than comfort, and that a Cup 250 essentially comes as a stripped-out road racer. If you want even basic amenities such as floor mats, a stereo, sound insulation, cruise control, metallic paint or air conditioning, Lotus will want your credit card details.