Owner reviews for the Lotus Evora
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Overall rating 3.5/5The Lotus Evora was introduced as a more practical and day-to-day-friendly version of the Elise, offering the same great driver involvement but with more in the way of creature comforts
No edits, no filters—just real feedback from verified vehicle owners to help you make confident decisions.
Overall rating 3.5/5Introduced in 2011, the Evora aimed to address a problem people had with one of Lotus’ most popular models, the Elise. Namely, it simply wasn’t practical enough for day-to-day driving, and with limited luggage space, it wasn’t good if you needed to take something large with you, either.
But Lotus ensured that the Evora still steered and acted as well as the Elise, which is why it was equipped with all manner of mechanical upgrades. Today, it represents a solid used buy for someone after a sports car with a little more practicality.
The Lotus Evora benefits from a suite of airbags throughout the cabin, as well as a full traction control system which can help out when driving in poor conditions. Anti-lock brakes are equipped for all models, too. The two rear seats are also equipped with ISOFIX points, so you can safely mount a child seat.
There’s just one engine available for the Evora - a 3.5-litre V6, originally sourced from Toyota. Originally offered with a manual gearbox, this engine was later available with an automatic ‘box for those who wanted it. Throughout its lifetime the Evora was available in a number of specifications, all of which tweaked and changed the level of power that this V6 engine generated.
Early cars were available in one of three specifications - Launch Edition, Sport and Premium with each tailoring the car to different needs. Sport, for instance, introduced upgraded brakes and a larger spoiler, while Premium added more road-focused features such as heated seats and a reversing camera. Bear in mind that the Evora was refreshed in 2012, at which point more features - including an upgraded infotainment system - were added to this car’s list of standard equipment.
You could get up to 26.7mpg combined in the Lotus Evora, though more spirited driving will see this figure tumble quickly. There’s not too much of a penalty for choosing the automatic version, either, with these models able to return around 25.7mpg.
Being a performance car means that the Evora is likely to have been driven more quickly during its lifetime. Early cars suffered a few issues - including a loose-feeling gearbox on manual versions and poor interior quality - so make sure that the gearbox is changing as it should and that no interior trim pieces are coming away. If you’d like more information about an Evora you’re looking to buy, then consider an AA Vehicle Inspection. With this, you’ll get a detailed report highlighting any key issues on a car that you’re considering the purchase of.
The Lotus Evora has proven largely reliable over the years, with the V6 engine providing particularly strong. As with all performance cars, some parts of the Evora can be put under a lot of strain, but fortunately, repairs shouldn’t cost the earth. However, an AA Vehicle Inspection can help to shine a light on any nasty issues that you might not have spotted. Check out your options for one today.
The Lotus Evora is available with a 3.5-litre V6 engine