Acceleration

Exige S	Class Average
10	9.2

The supercharged engine provides strong, fairly linear acceleration even at lower engine speeds. Power takes a noticeable jump above 6000 rpm to the roughly 8500-rpm redline. Lotus claims 0-60 mph in a quick 4.1 seconds, which seems feasible. A light clutch and precise, toggle-switch shifter are a joy to use, and though the Exige is intended as a weekend racer that can be driven to the track, it's perfectly behaved in stop-and-go traffic.

Fuel Economy

Exige S	Class Average
5	2.4

No opportunity to measure, but EPA estimates of 20 city/26 highway are probably about as good as a car of this performance potential is going to achieve. Premium-grade gas is required.

Ride Quality

Exige S	Class Average
1	5.7

Stiff to be sure, but short of punishing--at least on the uncratered roads of our test-drive route. However, it's highly recommended that snow-belt potholes be avoided.

Steering/Handling/Braking

Exige S	Class Average
10	8.8

Exige was bred as a track car, and it shows. Non-power steering affords terrific road feel, yet isn't overly heavy at parking-lot speeds. Corners are carved with cat-quick reactions and indiscernible body lean. This is probably as close to a true race car as most people will ever drive.

Quietness

Exige S	Class Average
1	5.6

Soft-spoken passengers will go unheard. Any wind or road noise is drowned out by the constant wail of the engine--which is snarling away right behind your head. But one person's noise is another person's music, and though it would probably grow tiring on an extended freeway jaunt, driving enthusiasts will likely find the engine's sweet song more stimulating than annoying.

Controls

Exige S	Class Average
3	6.4

Considering the cozy confines, the simple-to-adjust radio buttons and low-mounted, recessed climate-control knobs aren't as handy as they should be, and some of both are obscured by the steering wheel. Gauges are easy to read.

Details

Exige S	Class Average
2	8.2

"Spartan" doesn't adequately describe the interior ambiance. Hard plastic and uncovered structural metal (actually aluminum) prevail, and nothing you touch except for the steering wheel and seats is padded--and the seats just barely so. But on the positive side, it all adds to the race-car intentions of the mechanicals.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

Exige S	Class Average
1	6.8

An Exige is no place for the large or ungainly. Six-footers will (barely) fit, but they'd best be trim and limber. A wide door sill, low roof, and floor-height seat make entry extremely awkward at best, and if getting in was tough, getting out may require surgical removal. The Exige's Elise sibling is better in this regard, as the top can be readily removed, which significantly eases entry and exit. The narrow, thinly padded seat is designed more for holding the driver in place during fast race-track turns than cushioning their body over bumps, and it shows. The cockpit is extremely narrow, so even trim adults sit shoulder-to-shoulder. Visibility is fine to the front and sides, but non-existent to the rear corners or straight back, as the wide rear pillars and the engine's roof-mounted air scoop conspire to leave not even a small portal of vision; the car comes with an inside rearview mirror, but it's utterly useless. This, too, is better in the Elise, which lacks the roof-mounted air scoop and thus offers at least some view straight back. Since difficult ingress and egress and lack of rear visibility are the primary deterrents to enjoying the Exige as a relatively thrifty and wildly entertaining daily driver, its Elise stablemate makes far more sense for most people.

Room/Comfort (rear)

Exige S	Class Average
0	3.2

(No rear seating)

Cargo Room

Exige S	Class Average
2	2.3

Quite reasonable, considering the car's size and intent. There's a decent-sized trunk behind the engine, though the body-height liftover makes loading awkward, and heat transferred from the engine compartment makes it a poor place to keep anything cold. Cabin storage is restricted to an under-dash bin and smaller bins at each end of the dash. There is no glovebox, center console, or map pockets.

Value within Class

Exige S	Class Average
5	6.4

Exige is essentially a street-legal race car, with all that implies--both good and bad. While base prices of less than $65,000 make it a bargain exotic, it doesn't compare well against high-end but lower-priced sports cars such as the Chevrolet Corvette, BMW Z4 M, or Porsche Cayman for road use. Its Elise sibling is better in that regard, but any Lotus remains a car narrowly focused on exciting one's inner Andretti.

Total Score

Exige S	Class Average
40	65

Scores for all Exotic Cars

Low Score		40
Average Score		65
High Score		84