Lotus Esprit V8 MPG by year — every rating on record
The Lotus Esprit V8 has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 7 model years, from 1997 to 2004. Across those years its best rated version returned 19 mpg (2001) and its thirstiest returned 15 mpg (1999). The EPA record holds 7 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Two Seaters.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 1 | 16 mpg | 16 mpg | #8 of 13 (42th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Two Seaters |
| 1999 | 1 | 15 mpg | 15 mpg | #13 of 20 (37th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Two Seaters |
| 2000 | 1 | 16 mpg | 16 mpg | #15 of 21 (30th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Two Seaters |
| 2001 | 1 | 19 mpg | 19 mpg | #15 of 28 (48th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Two Seaters |
| 2002 | 1 | 16 mpg | 16 mpg | #20 of 30 (34th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Two Seaters |
| 2003 | 1 | 16 mpg | 16 mpg | #18 of 30 (41th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Two Seaters |
| 2004 | 1 | 16 mpg | 16 mpg | #21 of 32 (35th 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 Esprit V8 placed highest in 1997 at #8 of 13, and lowest in 2004 at #21 of 32. It spent 0 of its 7 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 3.5L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | 3.5L 8-cyl, turbocharged | 14 | 21 | 16 | 718.8 | 18.6 | $4,850 | 555.4375 | n/a |
| 2003 | 3.5L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | GUZZLER, turbocharged | 14 | 21 | 16 | 718.8 | 18.6 | $4,850 | 555.4375 | n/a |
| 2002 | 3.5L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | GUZZLER FFS,TURBO, turbocharged | 14 | 21 | 16 | 718.8 | 18.6 | $4,850 | 555.4375 | n/a |
| 2001 | 3.5L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | GUZZLER, turbocharged | 15 | 27 | 19 | 605.3 | 15.7 | $4,100 | 467.7368421052632 | n/a |
| 2000 | 3.5L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | GUZZLER, turbocharged | 14 | 21 | 16 | 718.8 | 18.6 | $4,850 | 555.4375 | n/a |
| 1999 | 3.5L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | GUZZLER V8 FFS,TURBO, turbocharged | 13 | 20 | 15 | 766.7 | 19.8 | $5,150 | 592.4666666666667 | n/a |
| 1997 | 3.5L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | (GUZZLER) (FFS,TRBO) (MPFI), turbocharged | 14 | 21 | 16 | 718.8 | 18.6 | $4,850 | 555.4375 | n/a |
How the rating has moved between model years
Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 2 of 4 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.
| Change | Best combined | Delta | Gallons a year at the newer rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 → 1999 | 16 → 15 mpg | -1 mpg | 767 gal |
| 1999 → 2000 | 15 → 16 mpg | +1 mpg | 719 gal |
| 2000 → 2001 | 16 → 19 mpg | +3 mpg | 605 gal |
| 2001 → 2002 | 19 → 16 mpg | -3 mpg | 719 gal |
What Esprit V8 fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2004 Lotus Esprit V8 burns 719 to 719 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 | $2,156 | $2,156 | $0 |
| $3.50/gal | $2,516 | $2,516 | $0 |
| $4.00/gal | $2,875 | $2,875 | $0 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 2004 model year is $4,850 to $4,850 a year in fuel, or $13,000 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 16 mpg the Lotus Esprit V8 is 2 mpg below the median, which is worth about $280 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.