Lotus Elise vs. Tesla Roadster
iSeeCars' unbiased and data-driven comparison of the Lotus Elise and Tesla Roadster contrasts the two cars across a broad spectrum of vehicle specifications to determine which car is better. In addition to comparing pricing and specs, iSeeCars uses all the ratings, rankings, and insights from its comprehensive analyses of each vehicle model, including calculations of reliability, safety, depreciation, value retention, and the vehicle's projected lifetime recalls (based on analyzing over 25 billion data points). This in-depth evaluation is used to identify which vehicle represents a better overall choice for shoppers who are considering both the Lotus Elise and the Tesla Roadster.
When we compare the Lotus Elise's and the Tesla Roadster's specifications and ratings, The Tesla Roadster has the advantage in the area of base engine power. Based on this comparison of the Lotus Elise's and the Tesla Roadster's specifications and ratings, the Tesla Roadster is a better car than the Lotus Elise.
Engine Power and Fuel Efficiency Comparison: For engine performance, the Lotus Elise’s base engine makes 189 horsepower, and the Tesla Roadster base engine makes 288 horsepower.
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
-
Starting MSRP:
$51,845
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
N/A
Category Starting MSRP Range:
N/A
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
-
Starting MSRP:
$109,000
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
N/A
Category Starting MSRP Range:
N/A
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
$31,686
Price Range:
$21,900 - $42,425
Category Avg Price:
N/A
Category Avg Price Range:
N/A
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
1
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
17,529
# Good or Great Deals:
0
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
Price Range:
-
Category Avg Price:
N/A
Category Avg Price Range:
N/A
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
1
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
6,917
# Good or Great Deals:
0
Lotus Elise Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
Not available
Reliability:
Not available
Retained Value:
Not available
Safety:
Not available
Tesla Roadster Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
Not available
Reliability:
Not available
Retained Value:
Not available
Safety:
Not available
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Lotus Elise
Remaining Life Expectancy (years):
Typical Category Remaining Life Expectancy:
N/A
Category Remaining Life Expectancy Range:
N/A
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Tesla Roadster
Remaining Life Expectancy (years):
Typical Category Remaining Life Expectancy:
N/A
Category Remaining Life Expectancy Range:
N/A
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
1.6
Typical Category Recalls:
N/A
Category Range for Recalls:
N/A
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
20.7
Typical Category Recalls:
N/A
Category Range for Recalls:
N/A
Lotus Elise Rankings
Not yet available
Tesla Roadster Rankings
Available Body Styles
Convertible
Available Body Styles
Convertible
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Available Drivetrain Options
Electric
Lotus Elise Trim Levels
Base, SC
Tesla Roadster Trim Levels
Base, Sport
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
3 years / 60000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
2 years
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
3 years / 36000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
3 years / 36000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
3 years / 36000 miles
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
Not yet available
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
Not yet available
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
189 hp @ 7800 rpm
Torque:
133 foot-lbs @ 6800 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.094 hp per pound
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
288 hp
Torque:
273 foot-lbs
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.106 hp per pound
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
1.8 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Manual
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
RWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
21 / 27 / 23
MPGe:
Not applicable
Range (city/hwy):
242 / 311 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Gasoline
Battery Size/Capacity :
Not applicable
Maximum Charging Rate:
Not applicable
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
Not Applicable
Engine Configuration:
Not Applicable
Number of Cylinders:
Not Applicable
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
RWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
Not applicable
MPGe:
Not yet available
Range (city/hwy):
245 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Not yet available
Battery Size/Capacity:
53 kWh
Maximum Charging Rate:
3.5 hours (240V)
Standard/Optional Features
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control:
N/A
Air Suspension:
N/A
Alloy wheels:
N/A
Android Auto:
N/A
Apple CarPlay:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Bench Seats:
N/A
Bluetooth:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Heated Seats
N/A
Heated Steering Wheel:
N/A
Internet Radio:
N/A
Leather Upholstery:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Navigation System:
N/A
Paddle Shifters:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Parking Sensors:
N/A
Power Lift Gate:
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roadside assistance:
N/A
Roof Rack:
N/A
Satellite radio:
N/A
Sunroof/Moonroof:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Voice Recognition:
N/A
Wifi:
N/A
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
N/A
Standard/Optional Features
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
N/A
Power outlet:
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control:
N/A
Air Suspension:
N/A
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Android Auto:
N/A
Apple CarPlay:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Bench Seats:
N/A
Bluetooth:
Standard
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Heated Seats
Standard
Heated Steering Wheel:
N/A
Internet Radio:
N/A
Leather Upholstery:
Standard
Massage Seats:
N/A
Navigation System:
Available
Paddle Shifters:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Parking Sensors:
Available
Power Lift Gate:
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roadside assistance:
N/A
Roof Rack:
N/A
Satellite radio:
Standard
Sunroof/Moonroof:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Voice Recognition:
N/A
Wifi:
N/A
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
N/A
Safety Features
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Backup camera:
N/A
Blind Spot Monitoring:
N/A
Driver Attention Monitoring:
N/A
Forward Collision Warning:
N/A
Lane Departure Warning:
N/A
Lane Keeping Assist:
N/A
Pedestrian Detection:
N/A
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
N/A
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Safety Features
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Backup camera:
N/A
Blind Spot Monitoring:
N/A
Driver Attention Monitoring:
N/A
Forward Collision Warning:
N/A
Lane Departure Warning:
N/A
Lane Keeping Assist:
N/A
Pedestrian Detection:
N/A
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
N/A
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
Not yet available
Front Leg Room:
Not yet available
Front Shoulder Room:
Not yet available
Rear Head Room:
Not yet available
Rear Leg Room:
Not yet available
Rear Shoulder Room:
Not yet available
Cargo Space:
4 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
Not yet available
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
36.7 inches
Front Leg Room:
42 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
26 inches
Rear Head Room:
Not yet available
Rear Leg Room:
Not yet available
Rear Shoulder Room:
Not yet available
Cargo Space:
Not yet available
Overall Interior Volume:
Not yet available
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
2010 lbs
Width:
72.8 inches
Height:
44 inches
Length:
149 inches
Wheelbase:
90.5 inches
Ground Clearance:
5.3 inches
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
2723 lbs
Width:
72.9 inches
Height:
44.4 inches
Length:
155.4 inches
Wheelbase:
92.6 inches
Ground Clearance:
Not yet available
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
Not yet available
Wheel Type:
Not yet available
Tire Size:
Not yet available
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
16.0 x 6.0 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
175/55R16
Exterior Colors
Black
Phantom Black / Starlight Black
Blue
Aquamarine / Laser Blue / Liquid Blue / Persian Blue
Gray
Carbon Gray / Graphite Gray / Quartz Silver / Storm Titanium
Green
British Racing Green / Isotope Green
Orange
Burnt Orange / Chrome Orange
Red
Ardent Red / Canyon Red
Silver
Arctic Silver
White
Aspen White / Ice White
Yellow
Solar Yellow
Exterior Colors
Black
Jet Black
Blue
Electric Blue / Glacier Blue / Twilight Blue
Gray
Obsidian Black / Thunder Gray
Green
Lightning Green / Racing Green
Orange
Very Orange
Red
Fusion Red / Radiant Red
Silver
Sterling Silver
White
Arctic White
Yellow
Brilliant Yellow
Interior Colors
Beige
Biscuit / Creme
Black
Black
Red
Red
Brown
Not available
Gray
Not available
Interior Colors
Beige
Beige
Black
Black / Black Microfiber
Red
Not available
Brown
Saddle
Gray
Dark Gray
