Lotus Eletre review

Whether it’s Blockbuster, Blackberry or maybe a brand that doesn’t begin with a B that first springs to mind, we can all name companies that failed to move with the times, and went out of business as a result. The Lotus Eletre is intended to ensure that its maker doesn’t join that list.

By their very nature, SUVs are comparatively heavy vehicles, while electric SUVs like the Eletre are heavier still, making them a complete contrast to the lightweight sports cars that Lotus has traditionally specialised in. And yet the simple fact is those sports cars sell in minuscule numbers.

It’s not hard, then, to see why Lotus is diversifying its line-up, with this made possible by the fact the brand is now owned by Chinese giant Geely (which also owns Volvo), so for the first time in years actually has money to spend. But is the Eletre any good?

Well, in this review we’ll be answering that question. Plus, we’ll look at how it compares with high performance electric rivals such as the Audi SQ8 e-tron and Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo, as well as petrol-engined alternatives, including the Aston Martin DBX and Porsche Cayenne.

There are three versions of the Lotus Eletre, with the standard car and the Eletre S both producing 603bhp, and the range-topping Eletre R upping power to a scarcely believable 905bhp.

We drove the S, and it’s undoubtedly fast, covering the benchmark 0-62mph spring in 4.5sec. That said, when you ask for a burst of speed, it doesn’t pin you back in your seat with the same ferocity as the similarly-priced Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo 4S or some Teslas.

Instead, you’re more likely to be impressed by the sheer relentlessness of the Eletre’s acceleration, with the rate at which it builds speed showing no sign of tailing off, even when we pushed the car hard at our private test track.

The Eletre also turns in to bends sharply and resists body lean well (particularly when you switch from Tour to Sport mode), but it doesn’t offer the sort of playful, rear-biased feel that you get with an Aston Martin DBX 707 or Porsche Cayenne. Instead, it grips hard, but ultimately starts to slide from the front end; in this respect, the handling is more reminiscent of the Audi SQ8 e-tron.

Fortunately, the Eletre is more comfortable than the SQ8 e-tron on the motorway, where it’s able to soak up imperfections and undulations without ever getting floaty.

It’s just a shame the ride rather falls apart at low speed, with urban bumps and potholes causing abrupt body movements that mean you’re often jostled in your seat. Indeed, all of the Eletre’s key rivals are better at dealing with these sort of imperfections.

The sense of calm is further undermined by the excessive road noise the Eletre generates on the motorway; you’ll find yourself raising your voice to speak to other occupants.

Whichever Eletre you go for, you get a 109kWh (usable capacity) battery, which is enough for an official range of up to 373 miles in the Eletre and Eletre S, while the R manages 310 miles. By comparison, the Taycan Cross Turismo offers 304 miles as a 4S and 285 miles as a Turbo S, and the SQ8 e-tron manages just 284 miles.

A maximum charging speed of 350kW means the Eletre's battery can go from 10-80% capacity in as little as 20 minutes.

Driving overview

Strengths Strong performance; comfortable at speed

Weaknesses Too much road noise; you’re jostled in town

The interior of the Eletre is unlike anything we’ve seen from Lotus before – and we mean that as a compliment. Instead of feeling cheap and being built from other manufacturers’ hand-me-downs, construction seems rock solid and everything is bespoke.

Okay, the silver plastic air vent at the base of the centre console lets the side down a little, but the other materials are very appealing, with most surfaces swathed in Alcantara, and the various switches made from real metal and operating with slick precision.

Similarly, the huge 15.1in touchscreen is of suitably high resolution for a car of this price. And while it’s disappointing that a lot of the menus are too complex to be easy to operate on the move, you can at least control key systems such as the stereo, climate control and sat-nav via a voice control system; this recognises natural speech instead of requiring you to remember specific commands.

It’s worth noting, though, that our car’s infotainment system suffered from several glitches. For example, the stereo stopped working at one point, before suddenly coming back to life after we’d used the Bluetooth to make a hands-free phone call. The fact that the Eletre is capable or receiving remote software updates suggests these issues could be fixed in time, but it’s still frustrating that they’re there at all given how much you’re paying.

By SUV standards, you don’t sit especially high in the Eletre, but the driving position is fundamentally good, with everything lining up as it should, a wide range of electric adjustment and the front seats striking a great balance between comfortable and sporty.

Forward visibility impresses, too. And while over-the-shoulder visibility is somewhat restricted, there are numerous driver aids to help compensate, including parking sensors, a 360-degree camera and a blindspot monitoring system.

The main touchscreen is complemented by a slim, digital instrument panel and a head-up display that projects key information, such as the car’s speed, onto the windscreen in front of the driver. Meanwhile, the front passenger gets their own small touchscreen for controlling the stereo.

Interior overview

Strengths Feels classy and well built; good driving position

Weaknesses Glitchy infotainment system with overly complex menus

The Lotus Eletre is more than five metres long and around two metres wide, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that it offers lots of interior space.

You won’t feel hemmed in up front, despite the presence of a chunky centre console that features two cupholders and a good-sized storage bin. Plus, even six-footers will find they have plenty of head and leg room in the back.

As standard, you get a three-person rear bench with a backrest that folds flat in a versatile 40/20/40 split. Alternatively, you can specify the Executive Seat Pack, which brings two individually adjustable rear seats that are separated by additional storage and another touchscreen.

At first glance, the Eletre’s boot looks a little shallow, but it’s deceptively large, with a 688-litre capacity, which beats that of the Aston Martin DBX (638 litres) and Audi Q8 e-tron (569 litres), and is only just pipped by the Porsche Cayenne’s (698 litres).

We managed to fit seven carry-on suitcases in the Eletre’s boot. Or, alternatively, you should have plenty of room for a couple of sets of golf clubs.

The main boot is backed up by a small secondary luggage area beneath the bonnet, with this ‘frunk’ big enough to take the car’s charging cables.

Practicality overview

Strengths Lots of space for four; large boot complemented by frunk

Weaknesses Rear seats don’t fold flat if you specify Executive Seat Pack

In Performance guise, the Tesla Model Y will out accelerate any Eletre except the range-topping R, despite Lotus charging around £30,000 more for even the standard version of its car. However, the Eletre is priced competitively with the Audi SQ8 e-tron and Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo, and it looks positively cheap compared with an Aston Martin DBX.

Like its electric rivals, it should also cost less to run than petrol alternatives, especially if you can charge at home overnight. But you’ll still need to budget for hefty tyre and insurance bills.

Reliability is hard to assess at this stage, and not just because Lotus has traditionally sold too few cars to feature in the What Car? Reliability Survey. There’s also the fact that the Eletre is built in a new factory in China instead of alongside the company’s sports car’s in Norfolk.

The independent safety experts at Euro NCAP haven’t assessed the crash worthiness of the Eletre yet, but it comes with lots of kit that’s designed to help you avoid an accident in the first place, including lane-keeping assitance, driver attention monitoring and systems that can prevent you from driving forward or reversing into the path of another vehicle.

Standard security equipment, meanwhile, includes an alarm that meets the top ‘Categroy 1’ standard of the independent assessors at Thatcham.

In addition, all Eletres come with keyless entry and start (including the option for the car to recognise you via your phone), a powered, hands-free tailgate, four-zone climate control, a premium audio system and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto phone connectivity.

Buying & owning overview

Strengths Lots of luxury and safety equipment; priced in line with most rivals

Weaknesses A Tesla Model Y gives you more performance for less money; no reliability data

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here