Skip advert
Advertisement

Lotus Europa S

Lotus's Europa S is more practical than the Elise and will have no trouble finding buyers

Overall Auto Express rating

4.0

How we review cars
Find your Lotus Europa
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

If you’re in the market for a refined sports car, the Europa S isn’t it. It’s still a true Lotus, with direct steering, a firm ride and track-inspired handling. The looks aren’t quite right, but it is more practical than the Elise and features a punchy, turbocharged engine. With only limited sales, Lotus should have no trouble finding buyers prepared to pay the £5,000 extra over an Elise.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Want to drive a Lotus, but think the Elise is too impractical and the Esprit far too expensive? The good news is that the Norfolk-based manufacturer claims it has the answer with this – the Europa S.

Designed as a more versatile, comfortable and refined alternative to the firm’s little roadster, but without losing its fun appeal, the hard-top Europa goes on sale next month, priced £32,995.

Positioned against rivals such as Audi’s TT, BMW’s Z4 M Coupé and the Porsche Cayman, the Europa S is being launched into a tough market. Can it compete, and is it still an uncomprom­ising machine for enthusiasts? Auto Express took a test drive to find out.

One thing’s for sure when you lay eyes on it for the first time: it’s not quite as elegant as the Elise. There’s nothing wrong at the front – the new headlights and air intakes look great – while the roof and rear window are neat, too. But the fussy rear end spoils things.

Based on the same aluminium chassis as the Elise, yet with a slightly longer wheelbase, the Europa S offers a little more room inside. A taller roof makes access easier, while the boot capacity goes up from 112 to 154 litres.

Luxury

Inside, there’s more equipment, too, and a greater emphasis on luxury. Leather upholstery, air-con and satellite navigation are all standard, although the cabin is largely unchanged from that of the Elise, and is still more stripped-out sports car than sophisticated coupé.

Factor in the roof, plus the extra kit, and weight has increased 135kg to 995kg. But with a new 197bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged engine from Vauxhall, the Europa S still covers 0-60mph in 5.6 seconds, 0-100mph in 13.6 seconds and has a top speed of 150mph.

With lots of torque, very little turbo lag and a longer-geared six-speed transmission, the new model is far less frantic than the Elise, but it still feels very fast. However, it’s a shame Lotus didn’t fit a V6, which would have made a better noise and proved more powerful.

Nevertheless, the Europa S is quite refined, and with slightly softer suspen­sion, there’s definitely more compliancy to the ride, which means long journeys are a less tiring proposition. But Lotus makes no apologies for the fact that this is still a track-inspired sports car, with lightning reactions.

While this model won’t really appeal to mainstream buyers, it’s certainly an intriguing newcomer that should be a hit with Lotus fans wanting more practicality. And it promises to be a rare sight, too. The brand expects to sell only 500 models worldwide a year, making the Europa S a very exclusive coupé.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

RRP £26,495Avg. savings £1,831 off RRP*Used from £15,519
Volkswagen Polo

Volkswagen Polo

RRP £15,255Avg. savings £1,848 off RRP*Used from £7,649
Nissan Juke

Nissan Juke

RRP £19,785Avg. savings £3,331 off RRP*Used from £9,600
Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £24,625Avg. savings £2,261 off RRP*Used from £13,211
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price
BMW X7 - front

Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price

German firm’s flagship SUV could never be called cheap but it is exceptional value at £735 a month – making it our Deal of the Day for Sunday 27 April
News
27 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025