The Lotus Elise is a two-seater built from 2005 to 2012 over 2 generations. Most were assembled in the United Kingdom — 100% of those on record. Between 2006 and 2016 it grew 8 cm longer and gained -41 kg. Engines offered: 4-cyl. Worth buying? It holds up well, with the usual caveat about model years at 4.0/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the Elise is
The Lotus Elise is a two-seater that Lotus built from 2005 to 2012 — 8 model years. Our measurements put it at 2 generations, the current one starting in 2016. It has been offered with 4-cyl power. Its closest siblings in the Lotus range: Emira, Exige, Esprit.
Where the Elise is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 66 Elises on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United Kingdom | SCC | 2005-2009 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Lotus VIN decide which of these 2 lines your Elise belongs to. What every character in a Elise VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Lotus Elise adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
Elise generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the Elise's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the Elise that gives 2 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-2011 | 374 cm | 228 cm | 907 kg | - | - |
| 2016 | 382 cm | 230 cm | 866 kg | +8 cm | -41 kg |
Between 2006 and 2016 the Elise gained 8 cm in length (+2.1%) and -41 kg in weight (-4.5%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the Elise that is -41 kg against 8 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Lotus Elise tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment Elise owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Lotus Elise have? Power & range
The Lotus Elise is offered with 1 powertrain — 1.8L 4-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 1 for the Lotus Elise, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-cyl | 1.8L · 4-cyl | Manual 6-spd | RWD | Premium |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The Elise by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Lotus Elise. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | Elise | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 12 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 72 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.0 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Insurance | $5,417/yr | Estimated full coverage |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Lotus Elise?
The Elise is a two-seater, built from 2005 to 2012 across 2 generations. Engines offered: 4-cyl.
Where is the Lotus Elise made?
Across 66 cars in our records the split is: the United Kingdom (100%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the Elise have?
2 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2016. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the Elise grew 8 cm longer and gained -41 kg.
What is the Lotus Elise warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the Elise reliable?
It scores 4.0/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific Elise?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Lotus
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lotus Emira | 2024–2026 | 1 | 21 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Lotus Evora | 2010–2026 | 8 | 23 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Lotus Exige | 2008–2012 | 4 | 23 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Lotus Esprit | 1981–2009 | 11 | 19 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Lotus Elan | 1990–2009 | 3 | 24 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Lotus ELETRE | 2025–2026 | — | — | 4.5/5 |