Lotus Elise/Exige MPG by year — every rating on record
The Lotus Elise/Exige has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 7 model years, from 2005 to 2011. Across those years its best rated version returned 23 mpg (2007) and its thirstiest returned 22 mpg (2005). The EPA record holds 12 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Two Seaters.
In the EPA record this nameplate also appears as Elise/Exige and Elise/exige. The figures below cover every one of them.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 1 | 22 mpg | 22 mpg | #4 of 37 (92th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Two Seaters |
| 2006 | 1 | 22 mpg | 22 mpg | #3 of 39 (95th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Two Seaters |
| 2007 | 2 | 23 mpg | 22 mpg | #2 of 36 (97th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Two Seaters |
| 2008 | 2 | 23 mpg | 22 mpg | #5 of 46 (91th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Two Seaters |
| 2009 | 2 | 23 mpg | 22 mpg | #8 of 41 (83th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Two Seaters |
| 2010 | 2 | 23 mpg | 22 mpg | #7 of 35 (82th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Two Seaters |
| 2011 | 2 | 23 mpg | 22 mpg | #8 of 42 (83th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Two Seaters |
Where it has stood in its class
Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Lotus Elise/Exige placed highest in 2007 at #2 of 36, and lowest in 2009 at #8 of 41. It spent 7 of its 7 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 12 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.
| Year | Configuration | Engine detail | City | Highway | Combined | Gallons/yr | Barrels/yr | EPA fuel cost/yr | CO2 g/mi | GHG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 1.8L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium | 1.8L 4-cyl, supercharged | 20 | 26 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $3,500 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 2011 | 1.8L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium | 1.8L 4-cyl | 21 | 27 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $3,350 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
| 2010 | 1.8L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium | 1.8L 4-cyl, supercharged | 20 | 26 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $3,500 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 2010 | 1.8L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium | 1.8L 4-cyl | 21 | 27 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $3,350 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
| 2009 | 1.8L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium | 1.8L 4-cyl, supercharged | 20 | 26 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $3,500 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 2009 | 1.8L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium | 1.8L 4-cyl | 21 | 27 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $3,350 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
| 2008 | 1.8L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Regular | 1.8L 4-cyl, supercharged | 20 | 26 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $2,850 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 2008 | 1.8L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Regular | 1.8L 4-cyl | 21 | 27 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
| 2007 | 1.8L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Regular | 1.8L 4-cyl, supercharged | 20 | 26 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $2,850 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 2007 | 1.8L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Regular | 1.8L 4-cyl | 21 | 27 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
| 2006 | 1.8L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium | 1.8L 4-cyl | 19 | 27 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $3,500 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 2005 | 1.8L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium | 1.8L 4-cyl | 20 | 25 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $3,500 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
How the rating has moved between model years
Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 1 of 1 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.
| Change | Best combined | Delta | Gallons a year at the newer rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 → 2007 | 22 → 23 mpg | +1 mpg | 500 gal |
What Elise/Exige fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2011 Lotus Elise/Exige burns 500 to 523 gallons depending on configuration. Below is what that costs at three pump prices, and how much more the thirstiest configuration costs than the most efficient one.
| Pump price | Most efficient | Thirstiest | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3.00/gal | $1,500 | $1,568 | $68 |
| $3.50/gal | $1,750 | $1,830 | $80 |
| $4.00/gal | $2,000 | $2,091 | $91 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 2011 model year is $3,350 to $3,500 a year in fuel, or $5,500 more than the average new vehicle over five years.
How it compares with other Two Seaters
Across the 263 nameplates EPA classifies as Two Seaters, the median best combined rating is 18 mpg. At 23 mpg the Lotus Elise/Exige is 5 mpg better the median, which is worth about $486 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- All Two Seaters rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.
Other Lotus nameplates
Every Lotus model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.