Lotus Esprit
The Lotus Esprit is a sports car built by Lotus Cars from 1976 to 2004 at their Hethel, England factory. It has a rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. Together with the Lotus Elise / Exige, it is one of Lotus' most long-lived models.
| Manufacturer | Lotus |
|---|---|
| Production | From 1976 |
| Body type | Coupé |
Generations
Other Lotus models
Similar Coupé models
Common problems & reliability
In the UK, 88% of Lotus Esprits pass their MOT test first time, based on 797 inspections in 2023. (2023 is the most recent annual release published by the DfT.)
Based on real owner complaints and inspection data — not an editorial rating. Sources: DVSA MOT (UK, Open Government Licence).
Recalls & safety
No recorded recalls for the Lotus Esprit in EU Safety Gate or NHTSA (US).
Sources: EU Safety Gate (European market) and NHTSA (US market). See all Lotus recalls.