Lotus Evora S Review: Style, Performance, and Comfort

Recently, we were invited by Trading Enterprises, the authorized dealers of the Lotus brand, for a day around Dubai in a convoy of Lotus Evoras. The convoy consisted of 4 Evoras, with 3 being the supercharged versions and 1 the naturally aspirated version. Let’s take a look at how the day went and what the car did for us.

Style

I was placed in the first car of the convoy, which happened to be an Evora S, the supercharged version. At first glance, the car looks spectacular! The way the body is styled, properly integrated with the wedges and rear spoiler, is perfect. The car was in an awesome silver color, and the black wheels and blacked headlights complemented the color perfectly. The aspect that attracted me the most about the car is how the intakes are perfectly wedged in the side, giving it that crazy supercar look. Lotus has also included a glass panel to cover the engine, which adds to the supercar feel of the car.

Interior

Being a sports car, the Lotus Evora S features bucket leather seats that are red to complement the rest of the car’s interior. The car feels rather tight inside, especially on the left side of the driver in the footwell. Due to the body curving in towards the middle of the car, the interior does the same, making it uncomfortable for the driver’s left leg. Standing at 1.86 meters tall, I expected the car to be extremely uncomfortable and tight, but surprisingly, it was not as bad as I expected.

The seat setup of the Lotus Evora is 2+2, meaning there are two full-fledged sport seats up front and 2 smaller seats in the back with almost no legroom at all. Personally, I think having the extra 2 seats in the back is pointless, as they are impossible to get into and sit comfortably, and the engine noise will be defining since the Evora’s engine sits right behind these seats, given that it is a mid-engine car.

The interior of the Evora conveys a true supercar feel where:

• The steering wheel has almost no controls.
• The center console has no gear lever; buttons are used to put the car into gear.
• The gauge cluster is very basic, featuring only speed and RPM dials, along with two smaller red dot-matrix screens for additional information.

Ergonomics

One of the standout features of the interior of the Evora S is the attention to ergonomic friendliness. For example, the paddle shifters are curved backward, allowing the driver’s fingers to dig into them, providing easy and comfortable shifting. Additionally, the steering wheel has deep grooves on the inside for the thumbs, enhancing steering grip. There is also a rather large groove along the side of the center console, which provides extra room for maneuvering your right leg.

Drive Performance

Ride and Comfort

Being a sports car, the Evora S is not the most comfortable ride in the world. The suspension is rather stiff, making the ride impractical for everyday drives. You will feel every bump on the road hitting the wheels and traveling into your spine. The engine noise is exhilarating for the first hour or so but can become rather annoying during long drives. The engine’s drone is particularly high on the highway, but all of this is expected since this is a sports car designed for performance, not comfort.

Power and Transmission

The most crucial aspect of the Lotus Evora S is its powertrain. The car is powered by a Toyota-made 3.5 Supercharged V6 engine, delivering an impressive 345 horsepower. This means the Evora S can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.4 seconds! This performance aligns with Lotus's philosophy that a relatively light car doesn't require a huge engine to perform well, as the Evora weighs only 1400 kg.

The engine noise is music to the ears, and the exhaust tone is nothing short of spectacular. The best part is when the supercharger kicks in, accompanied by a surge of linear power!

The Evora’s gear changes are somewhat violent, which, in my opinion, adds to the supercar feel. Driving this car in regular drive mode feels like having a loud set of speakers at the lowest possible volume—pointless and somewhat boring. Therefore, I drove the car using the paddle shifters and in sports mode. In sports mode, the car’s gear shifts are precise and quick, with downshifts perfectly timed and accompanied by a delightful noise. When using the paddle shifters, sports mode becomes even more engaging, as the gear changes are faster, enhancing the feeling of control.

Handling

Lotus cars are renowned for their handling capabilities, and the Lotus Evora S is no exception. During our drive towards the Hatta Oman border, we encountered some tight corners and bends that would challenge other cars. I threw the Evora into a bend at speeds exceeding 150 km/h, and it handled perfectly, with only a slight tire squeal. The Evora’s chassis is excellent and highly responsive, following the driver’s intended path without wobbling off course, a testament to the careful engineering by Lotus during the creation of the Evora.

Verdict

The Lotus Evora S is an exhilarating car to drive and be in. It boasts excellent power and outstanding handling capabilities. Additionally, the fact that it uses a Toyota engine ensures exceptional reliability. While the car can feel tight inside, this is expected from a sports car. With all this in mind, I can confidently say that the Lotus Evora is catching up to the big names like the Porsche Cayman S.