Lotus Elise review – is the featherweight sports car as good as ever? - MPG and running costs
The Elise, with exceptional feel and control as well as compliance and ride quality, couldn’t be anything other than a Lotus
MPG and running costs
The Elise is one of, if not the, cheapest sports car to run. The little 1.6-litre returns an impressive 44.8mpg on a combined cycle, and the 1.8-litre’s figure – even in the more powerful Cup models – of 37.7mpg is remarkable in light of the performance on offer. Of course, being liberal with the throttle will see the figures drop into the lower 30s and prolonged track sessions could slash the trip-computer readings even further into the 20s.
> Get to know just how the Lotus Elise Cup 250 drives in our full review
The Elise range sits on a staggered setup of sticky Yokohama Advan Neova tyres, 16-inch upfront and 17-inch at the rear. Their modest size, compared to most modern sports cars, means a new set of boots won’t dent your bank account too significantly with a full set available for less than £350.
