Lotus Exige S

No Performance Car of the Year test would be complete without a Lotus, and we had high hopes the Exige S would put in a great display for the beleaguered British marque.

The lightweight Exige frame and supercharged 345bhp V6 Evora engine is a tantalising combination, so an eighth-place finish is quite a disappointment.

To look at, nothing in our test screamed performance more than the Exige S. To turn it into a racing car, all you’d need is some numbers on the doors.

Inside, it’s as spartan as they come. There’s a neat iPhone dock and decent stereo, but it fights a losing battle with the wonderful noise from the supercharged V6.

This snarling exhaust note can be further enhanced by pushing a button on the steering column, which opens a tailpipe valve for increased aural thrills.

On the road, the Exige S is a phenomenal performer. The engine has a huge wave of mid-range torque. Better still, the steering is dripping with feedback, there’s bags of grip and the perfectly judged suspension strikes a great balance between tight body control and a supple ride.

However, many Exige S buyers are likely to want to use their cars on track days, which is where the Lotus fell down on our test. Yes, it has lots of power, but without a limited-slip diff it couldn’t put this down cleanly on the exit of corners. The 62.9-second lap time was disappointing, especially when you consider that this was matched by the far heavier Mercedes SL63 AMG.

Some suspect build quality and a thirsty engine – with a miniscule fuel tank that forces you to stop to fill up every 100 miles or so – only added to the feeling that the Exige S was the underachiever in this year’s test.

Behind the wheel

Dean Gibson, Deputy road test editor

Driving the Exige S from Lotus HQ in Norfolk to Wales was an experience. Even getting in was the work of a contortionist, due to the low-slung body, narrow door openings and wide sills. Once you’re aboard, though, the huge performance and razor-sharp handling make the Exige great fun. But the tiny fuel tank means you’ll soon be contorting yourself again to get out and fill up...

Recommended

New 2023 Porsche Taycan triple-motor spied without camouflage
Porsche Taycan GT - cornering
News

New 2023 Porsche Taycan triple-motor spied without camouflage

Range-topping Taycan will have hypercar performance
13 Sep 2023
New BMW M850i xDrive 2023 review
BMW M850i - front tracking
Road tests

New BMW M850i xDrive 2023 review

BMW's facelift of the M850i might be minimal, but it's still a well-rounded grand tourer
27 Jan 2023
Track-focused Porsche Taycan model could be on its way to the UK
Porsche Taycan Turbo S - front tracking
News

Track-focused Porsche Taycan model could be on its way to the UK

Porsche's high-performance kit helped the Taycan to set a Nurburgring record, and it could soon be offered to customers
20 Dec 2022

Most Popular

‘Forget leasing a car, a cut-price van should be your next everyday vehicle’
Opinion - Fiat Scudo
Opinion

‘Forget leasing a car, a cut-price van should be your next everyday vehicle’

With some huge savings to be had, Mike Rutherford thinks a van could be the perfect vehicle
3 Dec 2023
Deal of the Day: Spacious Skoda Superb is a peerless estate for £223 a month
Skoda Superb Estate - front tracking
News

Deal of the Day: Spacious Skoda Superb is a peerless estate for £223 a month

The Superb is one of our favourite estates and our Deal of the Day for Monday 4 December
4 Dec 2023
New Renault 5: price, specs, launch and on sale dates
Renault 5 EV concept at 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed
News

New Renault 5: price, specs, launch and on sale dates

Renault’s reborn Renault 5 will start from €25,000 in Europe, suggesting a circa-£30k price in the UK. It's due on sale in the summer of 2024. Here's …
1 Dec 2023