Is the Lotus Elise reliable?

The Lotus Elise has an average MOT pass rate of 91% across 25 years, based on 10,587 tests in 2026. That's 9 points above the national average of 82%. The most reliable year is 2020 with a 98% pass rate.

Which year Lotus Elise is best?

The 2020 Lotus Elise has the highest MOT pass rate at 98%, while the 1997 model has the lowest at 83%. There's a 15 percentage point spread between the best and worst years.

Lotus Elise

Reliability, running costs, and MOT data across 25 years from 10,587 real MOT tests.

Avg Pass Rate

91%

Total Tests

10,587

Best Year

2020 (98%)

Years Covered

About the Lotus Elise

The Lotus Elise has been tested 10,587 times in 2026 MOT data across 25 model years (1996 to 2021), with an average pass rate of 91%. That's comfortably above the national average of 82%, making it a reliable choice. Available as petrol.

Best and Worst Years

The 2020 model is the most reliable with a 98% pass rate from 125 tests. The 1997 model has the lowest at 83%. The 15 point spread between years means reliability varies somewhat, but no year is dramatically different.

Reliability Trend

Newer LOTUS ELISEs show better MOT pass rates than older ones, with an average improvement of 5 percentage points.

Mileage Across Years

The oldest model in our data (1996) averages 58,568 miles, while the newest (2021) averages 6,662 miles.

Estimated Running Costs

Fuel (Petrol, 1798cc)

£1,327

Road Tax

£195

MOT Test

£55

Predicted Repairs

£200

Total per year£1,777

Per month£148/mo

Based on 7,400 miles/year, current fuel prices, and MOT pass rate data. Insurance not included.

Full 2021 details

How reliable is the Lotus Elise?

vs national average+9% (82% avg)

vs Lotus brand average+1% (90% avg)

Best to worst year spread15 percentage points

Reliability trendImproving over years

Lotus Elise by Year

Click any year to see detailed running costs, reliability data, and comparisons with similar cars.

Year	Pass Rate	Tests	Avg Mileage
2021	98%	99	6,662 mi
2020	98%	125	7,895 mi
2019	95%	168	9,957 mi
2018	90%	138	12,770 mi
2017	94%	160	15,467 mi
2016	93%	184	22,486 mi
2015	97%	196	20,795 mi
2014	92%	170	29,609 mi
2013	95%	112	32,059 mi
2011	90%	86	38,630 mi
2010	88%	193	42,034 mi
2009	92%	161	39,212 mi
2008	91%	251	46,048 mi
2007	91%	391	43,309 mi
2006	89%	441	47,541 mi
2005	92%	379	52,160 mi
2004	88%	453	59,878 mi
2003	90%	518	53,891 mi
2002	90%	740	52,926 mi
2001	91%	440	54,642 mi
2000	85%	834	57,132 mi
1999	88%	1,729	58,352 mi
1998	85%	1,897	64,125 mi
1997	83%	642	55,220 mi
1996	90%	80	58,568 mi