Lotus Elise car: what owning an Elise Sport 220 was really like

The Lotus Elise is a small, light, two-seat sports car with the engine behind the driver. I owned this one, a green Lotus Elise Sport 220, and it's the same car that ran as number 44 in Targa High Country 2018. I don't own it any more. Here is my honest take on what it was like, with the specs, what it cost to run and who I think the car suits.

What is the Lotus Elise?

Lotus released the Elise in 1996. It's a mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive roadster with a fibreglass body on a bonded, extruded aluminium chassis. Lotus stopped making the Elise in 2021, so if you want a Lotus Elise car today you'll be buying a used one.

Mine was an Elise Sport 220. It has a supercharged 1.8-litre Toyota engine and a six-speed manual gearbox, and it was one of the last versions of the Elise that Lotus released.

Why the Elise feels like a road-going formula car

Day to day it's amazing. It's like driving a small racing car on the street.

Take the composite body panels off and underneath it's basically the same setup as a formula car, anything from Formula Ford through to F1. It uses the same suspension principle, and the engine sits behind the driver. It's light and it's small.

You feel everything through your fingers and the seat. On a twisty road or a track it takes on another dimension.

If you'd like to see one on the road, this 2017 video by A.K Morris is a good look at what an Elise is like to drive.

What is a Lotus Elise like to live with?

It's cheap to run because it's so light. In normal driving I used about 7 to 8 L/100 km.

The Toyota engine is very reliable. I didn't have to replace any parts while I had the car. If I remember right, it was serviced every 10,000 km.

It gets a lot of attention because it's so small, but it's practical. It's easy to park. It has air conditioning, cruise control and a stereo, so the comforts you need for daily driving are there.

It is raw, though. There isn't much sound deadening and it isn't a soft ride. Still, considering what it is, it's enjoyable even on rough roads.

Should you buy a Lotus Elise car?

You have to be a driving enthusiast. You need to enjoy pure driving, without lots of electronic gadgets between you and the road.

If that's you, you won't stop smiling. On any corner or twisty road the car comes alive like nothing else on the road.

If you're looking at a used one, evo's buying guide says to check that the servicing has been done properly, including the supercharger on the 1.8-litre cars.

What other Lotus owners say

I'm not the only one who feels this way. These are from other owners of Lotus sports cars.

“A single word to describe my Elise would be ‘purity.’ No ‘aids’ or ‘assistance’ of any kind diluting my experience, input yields immediate, unfiltered output.”
Tristan Atkins, Lotus owner

“Drive any Lotus and it will surprise you. Drive it hard and you will surprise yourself. No other brand involves the driver like Lotus and you will feel like a hero, smiling all the way.”
Michael M., Lotus owner

“It doesn’t pander to your needs, it’s a car for the driver. I think the Elise has evolved quite a bit since my S1 rolled off the production line in 1997, but I’m happy with mine just the way it is. It’s uncivilized, and I love it.”
Rob, Lotus owner

The Lotus community in Australia

There's a big Lotus community in Australia, with track days, social events and a very active Lotus club. You can see what's coming up on the Club Lotus Australia events page. In Sydney there's a very active group that runs super sprints and track days through the year. It's inclusive.

Typical Lotus owners are humble. They're not like Ferrari, Porsche or Lamborghini owners. They don't want to stand out. They want a pure driving experience from the first turn of the wheel.

I took this car rallying too. It ran as number 44 in Targa High Country 2018. If you're thinking about a tarmac rally in your own car, read my Targa story first.

Lotus Elise Sport 220 specs

My own 7 to 8 L/100 km in normal driving sat close to the official figure.

About these photos

These are photos of my own Elise, taken in Sydney. I think the shots with the trees behind the car were taken at Mona Vale Beach.

A car like this deserves good photos, whether you're selling it or just want to remember it. If you'd like your own sports car photographed, I offer car photography in Sydney. A car photo shoot is from $295 inc GST within 15 km of Epping, with up to 40 minutes on location and 10 edited photos.