Lotus Esprit statistics

• Licensed in Great Britain 750 +5.5% on a year earlier
• Declared SORN 1,253 Off the road, not taxed
• Rank by number licensed No. 750 of 1,159 models we cover
• Peak year 1999 1,689 licensed
• Declared off the road 62.6% of those still registered are SORN
• Most common fuel Petrol 100.0% of those licensed

How many Lotus Esprits are left in Great Britain?

There were 750 Lotus Esprits licensed in Great Britain at the end of March 2026, and a further 1,253 declared off the road (SORN). That is 55.6% fewer than the peak of 1,689 in 1999.

Lotus Esprit MOT reliability

There were not enough MOT tests of Lotus Esprits in 2025 to publish reliable figures: we need at least 1,000 tests of cars aged three and over. Cars have their first MOT at three years old, so newer models appear once they reach that age. How we work out MOT figures.

Lotus Esprit engine sizes and fuel types

Of the 765 Lotus Esprits licensed in the UK at the end of 2025, 63.8% have an engine of 2,101cc to 2,200cc, and 22.6% have an engine of 1,901cc to 2,000cc. The share with an engine of 1,901cc to 2,000cc has grown from 15.3% in 2014 to 22.6%.

United Kingdom figures from DfT table VEH0220 (licensed cars at the end of each year, SORN excluded), so they differ slightly from the Great Britain counts elsewhere on this page. How we use engine sizes.

Lotus Esprit fuel economy and CO2

The Vehicle Certification Agency’s new car data lists the Lotus Esprit from 2000, when the data begins, to 2005. On the NEDC test (listings 2000 to 2005), official combined fuel economy for its petrol versions ranges from 18.0 to 22.6 mpg, with CO2 of 294 to 366 g/km.

Source:VCA July 2000 to 15 September 2026 Updated 15 Sept 2026

• Official figures from laboratory type-approval tests. VCA says they may not be achieved in real-world driving, and should not be used to rank cars with similar figures.
• Engine sizes are rounded to the nearest 0.1 litre. A version is one line in VCA’s data (description, gearbox, engine and fuel), counted once however many years it was listed. Matched from VCA’s model name “Esprit”. How we use VCA’s figures.

Lotus Esprit safety recalls

We found no recalls for the Lotus Esprit in DVSA’s records since 1992. That does not mean none apply: DVSA sometimes records a recall under a range or chassis name we cannot match to a model. Check a specific car on GOV.UK’s vehicle recall check.

A recall applies to cars built on particular dates or with particular VINs, not to every Lotus Esprit. The details come from manufacturers through DVSA, which says they may be delayed or incomplete. To check a specific car, use GOV.UK’s vehicle recall check or ask the manufacturer or a dealer. How we match recalls to models.

Compare the Lotus Esprit with other Lotus models