Review of the Lotus Eletre

The Lotus Eletre is an all-electric hyper SUV, Lotus's first SUV. Although oriented towards families, it still stays true to Lotus's performance DNA with breath-taking power, superb handling, and a luxurious interior. 

The Eletre's rivals include the Tesla Model Y, BMW iX, Porsche Macan E, and Audi Q8 e-tron. 

Our Lotus Eletre review covers:

• Slick exterior with unique headlights 
• Sustainable interior and huge central display 
• 688-litre boot 
• 112kWh battery paired with two electric motors 
• Three trim levels 

Pros:

• Superb handling 
• State-of-the-art interior 
• Comfortable to drive

Cons:

• Very expensive 
• Infotainment systems can be glitchy 
• A bit loud for an electric car 

The Eletre is one of those cars that, if you see it on the road, you'll turn your head to have another look. It blends Lotus's racing heritage with modern SUV design principles with a distinctive front grille, a coupe-like roofline, and large alloy wheels. 

The Eletre comes in at more than five metres long and two metres wide. So, it's no surprise there's plenty of interior space. There's a large centre console up front, but even so, there's still plenty of leg and headroom for those over six feet tall. In the rear, there's plenty of space for three passengers, and we'd go as far as to say it's one of the most spacious rears on the market. 

The boot space is 688 litres, which is big on paper but seems even bigger in person. You'll be able to fit pretty much whatever you want in (within reason), and you can also use the front boot for your charging cables. 

The Eletre's interior is in a world of its own. You get a fairly minimalist interior that's complemented by a range of sustainable materials that Lexus describes as 'responsibly luxurious'. You'll get re-fibre materials made from fashion industry cut-offs, a Nappa leather trim, and 20-way adjustable seats. 

Sitting on the dashboard is a 15.1-inch OLED centre console that features a DAB radio, Bluetooth, and Lotus Connect. There's also a 12.6-inch driver and co-driver display and a 29-inch head-up display with semi-augmented reality. It's certainly the most tech-laden interior on the market and pips the Audi Q8 e-tron, but it can be glitchy at times, unlike what you’d find in the BMW iX. 

Three trim levels are available for the Eletre: Standard, S, and R. 

Standard comes with 20-inch five-spoke aero wheels, matrix LED headlamps, four-zone climate control, keyless start, a heated steering wheel, a 15-inch infotainment system, head-up display, and a KEF sound system. 

S has 22-inch alloy wheels, soft-close doors, an upgraded KEF sound system with eight extra speakers, and an active rear spoiler. 

R has gloss black alloy wheels, a two-speed transmission for quicker acceleration, a dynamic handling pack, yellow paint with a carbon fibre trim, and illuminated side sills. 

The Eletre has a big 112kWh battery paired with a dual electric motor. The entry-level option (if you can call it that) is available on the standard and S trims. It has 603hp and can go from 0 to 62mph in just four and a half seconds. You'll also get a range of up to 373 seconds, which is much better than the Audi Q8 e-tron. 

For those wanting more power, the R version ups it to 905hp and goes from 0 to 62mph in under three seconds! The range does take a bit of a hit, dropping to 280 miles, but who cares when you're driving that fast? 

800V battery architecture is available that can charge the battery at speeds of up to 350kW, which adds 250 miles of range in just 20 minutes. Yes, you heard that right.  

Although the Eletre is an electric SUV, it's a Lotus sports car at heart. And what does that mean? It means superb power, excellent drive dynamics, and impressive handling. 

However, it's an SUV, so it also needs to be comfortable around town, and Lotus has done a good job here. Yes, the suspension is still pretty firm, but it's also composed and deals with bumps in the road relatively well. It also comes with a ridiculous amount of advanced driver assistance systems, such as parking assist and Lotus's Pilot Pack. 

As you increase the speed, the Eletre continues to impress. Its handling is fantastic, and there's plenty of road grip, which makes it brilliant for driving in a country lane. We'd go as far as saying it's one of the best SUVs to drive. 

Prices for the new Lotus Eletre start from £89,500.00 OTR* or to lease from £1,110.46 per month.

Looking to get behind the wheel of the Lotus Eletre? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is one of the UK's largest car leasing brokers and offers a range of leasing deals to suit your every need.

Leasing may be cheaper than an outright purchase, thanks to a low initial deposit and fixed monthly rentals.

*' On the road' price correct at time of publication and includes one year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change; always check with your nearest retailer.