Lotus averages 20.3 mpg combined across 6 petrol and diesel models (1984–2027). The best on record does 24 mpg, the thirstiest 14 — a yearly fuel gap of about $1,143.
What that actually costs
What a Lotus costs to feed, at 12,000 miles a year and $3.20 a gallon.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Average combined | 20.3 mpg |
| Fuel per year | $1,892 |
| Most frugal on record | 24 mpg — $1,600 a year |
| Thirstiest on record | 14 mpg — $2,743 a year |
Lotus models by gas mileage
From the most frugal down. The yearly figure is what the fuel actually costs at 12,000 miles.
| Model | Average mpg | Best / Worst engine | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lotus Elan | 24 / 23 | $1,620 | |
| Lotus Elise | 23 / 22 | $1,692 | |
| Lotus Exige | 23 / 22 | $1,692 | |
| Lotus Evora | 23 / 20 | $1,803 | |
| Lotus Emira | 21 / 21 | $1,829 | |
| Lotus Esprit | 19 / 14 | $2,220 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
Lotus rests on 49 EPA ratings covering 6 models from 1984 to 2027. The laboratory numbers are EPA's and go in unchanged; the money is ours, at 12,000 miles a year and $3.20 a gallon. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average Lotus gas mileage?
20.3 mpg combined across 6 models and 49 EPA ratings, from 1984 to 2027 — 43 model years in one figure, which is why it sits below what a new Lotus does today.
Which Lotus model is the most economical?
The Lotus Elan at 23.7 mpg, about $1,620 a year in fuel, against the Esprit at 17.3 mpg and $2,220 — a gap of $600 a year between the two ends of the same badge.
How much does a Lotus cost to run?
About $1,892 a year in fuel, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon. Over five years that is $9,460, before a single service.
Why does the Lotus average look low?
Because it spans 43 model years, back to 1984. Cars built before the mid-2000s were markedly thirstier, and Lotus has 49 ratings from that whole stretch — the recent ones are pulled down by the old.
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