Owner reviews for the Lotus Exige
No edits, no filters—just real feedback from verified vehicle owners to help you make confident decisions.
Overall rating 3/5The Lotus Exige is an uncompromising track-focused weapon designed to extract the very best lap times at whichever circuit it heads to
No edits, no filters—just real feedback from verified vehicle owners to help you make confident decisions.
Overall rating 3/5As a more hardcore spin-off to the Lotus Elise, the Exige is there for drivers who want even more involvement and a raw, uncompromised driving experience. First launched in 2000, the Exige wowed drivers with its unending levels of grip and scintillating performance.
One of the most popular was the S3, made between 2012 and 2012. It introduced a bigger engine than before but remained just as focused and sharp-edged as before. The cabin is somewhat cramped, loud and not particularly inviting, but it all adds to the Exige's uncompromising ability and its visceral driving experience.
The Lotus Exige can be equipped with airbags as an option, so make sure that this has been equipped if you’re particularly safety conscious. The Exige also gets a full anti-lock brake system to help bring the car to a stop effectively.
Whereas previous generations of Exige have used a four-cylinder engine, the S3 adopts a more powerful V6 instead. It’s the only engine available on the Exige, in fact, and it can only be linked to a manual gearbox.
Many of the features that you’ll find in a used Lotus Exige will have been picked as optional extras - the standard car didn’t come with very much. For the best levels of comfort, look for cars with air conditioning, while additional sound insulation and floor mats can help the Exige to be a little quieter at speed.
You can expect to see around 28mpg during mixed driving in the Exige, though more spirited driving will see this figure drop quickly.
As an out-and-out performance car, there’s lots to check on the Lotus Exige. Aspects such as brakes and tyres should be looked over - as they should on most used cars - but it could be worth asking the owner if they’ve been on many track days with the car. Too many trips to the circuit could imply that many areas of the car have suffered higher wear than if the Exige had been kept largely on the road. With a car as highly-strung as the Exige, it could be a good idea to take out an AA Vehicle Inspection. A trained engineer will then be able to look at the Exige you’re thinking of buying before highlighting some of their findings in a detailed report.
Lotus Exige cars are quite reliable. The engine is sourced from Toyota and has a good reputation for reliability, while much of the rest of the car can be replaced and repaired easily should it need to be. Should you need some more information about a car you’re looking to buy, then an AA Vehicle Inspection could be a great help, too.
The Lotus Exige S3 has a 3.5-litre V6 engine