It’s no secret that SUVs are going bananas in terms of sales globally and if a car maker doesn’t offer an SUV, it’s a sales nobody. Much like other sports car brands, Lotus has had to venture into the SUV space to survive and not even Ferrari has been able to escape. Known as the 2024 Lotus Eletre, the now-Chinese owned company has produced an electric SUV that it claims to say is just what the market needs. But is it truly a Lotus at heart? Let’s find out.
The Lotus Eletre doesn’t have too many rivals currently on the market: the Mercedes-Benz EQS, the Audi SQ8 E-Tron and the BMW iX – and perhaps the Porsche Panamera Cross Tourer as well. Lotus positions the Eletre above these rivals and promises to offer a more performance and luxury-oriented experience. Does it deliver?
How much does the Lotus Eletre cost to buy?
Built in a brand new factory in Wuhan China, the Lotus Eletre is a huge step sidewards for the brand that up until recently only made lightweight sports cars. The Eletre is priced from $189,990 plus on-road costs for the entry level model known simply as ‘Eletre’, $209,990 +ORC for the Eletre S and $259,990 for the range-topping Eletre R.
Lotus Eletre standard equipment:
- 20-inch alloy wheels with a tyre repair kit
- Adaptive air suspension
- Automatic dusk-sensing all-LED exterior lighting
- Automatic rain-sensing wipers
- Heated, auto-dimming and auto-folding mirrors that tilt automatically in reverse
- Keyless entry and start
- Power tailgate
- Gloss black exterior trim
- Quad-zone climate control with rear air vents and a PM2.5 air filter
- Leather upholstery
- Heated and 12-way electrically adjustable front seats with memory functionality
- Heated steering wheel with electric column adjustment
- Leather steering wheel with paddles to control regenerative braking and drive modes
- 12.6-inch digital driver’s display
- 8.6-inch climate control touchscreen
- 15.1-inch touchscreen with an inbuilt eSIM for 5G connectivity and over-the-air updates
- 29-inch augmented reality head-up display
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring
- Satellite navigation with live traffic
- AM/FM/DAB+ digital radio
- Wireless phone charger
- 4x USB-C charging ports
- Various driving modes
- Automated regenerative braking
- Auto-dimming rear mirror
- Type two/mode three charging cable
- Heat pump
Lotus Eletre standard safety equipment:
- Seven airbags (including a front centre unit)
- Auto emergency braking (AEB) in forward and reverse
- Forward collision assist
- Adaptive cruise control
- Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert
- Front and rear parking sensors
- 360-degree surround view camera
- Door open warning
- Driver attention detection
- Lane departure warning with lane keep assist
- 24-pixel Matrix adaptive high beam headlights
The 2024 Lotus Eletre range received is yet to be tested by ANCAP or Euro NCAP.
Eletre S adds over Eletre:
- 21-inch diamond cut wheels
- Six-piston front brake callipers
- Active adjustable rear spoiler
- Soft-close doors
- Ambient lighting
- Rear privacy glass
- Glass roof
- 23-speaker 2,160-watt KEF sound system
- Fully automated self-parking
- Heated washer jets
- Hands-free electric tailgate
Eletre R adds over Eletre:
- 675kW/985Nm outputs
- 21-inch alloy wheels
- Six-piston front brake callipers
- Two-speed transmission
- Lotus Anti-Roll Control
- Rear wheel steering
- Track mode
- Carbon fibre exterior detailing
- Hands-free electric tailgate
- Configurable interior ambient lighting
- Active rear spoiler
Lotus Eletre colour range:
- Stellar Black: $2,720
- Solar Yellow: $3,930
- Akoya White: $2,720
- Blossom Grey: $3,930
- Galloway Green: $3,930
- Cinnabar Red: $3,930
- Kaimu Grey: no cost
Eletre interior colour themes:
- Jasper (red and black) nappa leather: $8,050
- Gold (tan and black) nappa leather: $8,050
- Magnetite (grey and black – standard on Eletre and Eletre S) nappa leather
- Ruby (red and black) nappa leather: $9,060
- Quartz (light grey and black – standard on Eletre R) vegan leather: $6,030
- Malachite (green and black) nappa leather: $9,060
Eletre options:
- Glass roof (Eletre and Eletre R): $3,200
- Intelligent glass roof: $4,670 (Eletre and Eletre R) – $1,470 (Eletre S)
- Roof rails (only without intelligent glass roof): $1,340
- Rear privacy glass (Eletre): $1,070
- Extended carbon package: $26,270 (Eletre and Eletre S) – $15,740 (Eletre R)
- Black Lotus badges: $910 (Eletre and Eletre S) – $540 (Eletre R)
- Carbon ceramic brakes with 10-piston callipers: $21,200 (Eletre S and Eletre R)
- Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres: $1,870
- 21- to 23-inch wheels depending on model: $3,340 – $11,340
- Side cameras (to replace side mirrors): $5,330
- Alcantara and carbon fibre steering wheel: $1,470
- Touring package (Eletre only): $4,670
- Homelink garage door opener: $540
- KEF Reference 3D surround sound system (Eletre S and Eletre R): $9,740
- Comfort seat package (Eletre and Eletre R): $6,670
- Executive seat package with four-seat layout (Eletre S and Eletre R): $8,000 – $14,670
- Extended interior carbon pack: $5,330
- Seat belts in either black, red, grey, yellow etc: $1,070
- Parking package (Eletre and Eletre R): $3,340
- Highway assist package: $8,000
- Active aero pack: $5,330
- Dynamic handling pack (Eletre and Eletre S): $17,600
- Electric tow bar: $2,930
What powers the Lotus Eletre?
The entire Lotus Eletre range is equipped with a 112kWh battery with a 800-volt architecture. The entry level Eletre and mid-spec Eletre S produce 450kW of power and 710Nm of torque, while the range topping Eletre R makes a whopping 675kW and 985Nm. All Eletre models are fitted with a dual-motor all-wheel drive drivetrain. The claimed 0-100km/h time for the Eletre and Eletre S is 4.5 seconds with a top speed of 258km/h while the Eletre R can shoot from 0-100km/h in 2.95-seconds and onto 265km/h – but perhaps more frightening is the claimed 80-120km/h sprint, which is less than two seconds for all models.
The Eletre’s claimed WLTP range depends on which model and which wheels are chosen – the base model claims between 535km to 600km, the Eletre S between 490km and 535km and the Eletre R between 410km and 450km. The Eletre can be charged at up to 22kW using AC charging and up to 420kW using DC fast charging. Charging from 10-80% in the Eletre takes as little as 20 minutes using DC fast charging at a surreal 420kW and charging from 0-100% using AC charging takes just under six hours.
What is the Lotus Eletre like to drive?
The Eletre variant we drove on the launch day was the mid-spec S model, which makes the ‘lesser’ 450kW/710Nm outputs and from our first impressions it was more than enough for most buyers. The ride in the Eletre is quite good for such a large and heavy vehicle, offering good body control. Cornering in the Eletre is not like most other SUV as the all-wheel drive system does a great job of holding the car to the road and the adaptive suspension firms up in sport mode to make it more engaging. Of course, it doesn’t handle as well as an Elise, but for hi-po SUV, the Eletre handles quite well.
In other aspects of the driving experience, the regenerative braking on the Eletre is up there with the best we have experienced. The left hand paddle on the steering wheel changes the ferocity of the braking and in its highest setting it does a great job of slowing the car down. Even in sport mode when the generative breaking is lessened, it still aids in slowing the car down and can even be beneficial in sporty driving. The steering feel on offer is good as well, and adds to the Eletre’s fun behind the wheel.
How luxurious is the Lotus Eletre?
As soon as you sit in the Eletre, you can tell that the cabin has been very well thought out and is covered in high quality materials with alcantara, leather and glass used throughout. All the touch points are covered in high quality materials and it feels like a very expensive space to spend time. We thoroughly enjoyed the interior of the Eletre and would even go as far as to say it is one of the best in the segment.
Some interesting features worth noting are the pop-out cup holders that disappear when not in use, the slim passenger screen that can show music information, the quad-spoke steering wheel, the electro-chromatic glass roof and the large centre screen.
Speaking of the large centre screen, it’s actually a 15.1-inch OLED screen that is very simple to use. The new Lotus infotainment system is a doddle to get used to. Even connecting the wireless Apple CarPlay takes just 30 seconds. The native maps are also easy to use and look good on the large display. One point of the screen we wish would be improved upon is the reversing camera quality which was a bit grainy. The Lotus Emeya sedan uses the same system.
The rear seat room in the Lotus Eletre is vast with lots of knee and headroom for passengers and it can fit three children across or two larger adults, even three adults at a stretch. There is also a touchscreen in the rear that controls the climate, audio and for those cars with electric/heated/ventilated seats, that as well. The rear seat also features a central armrest, map pockets and big door pockets too.
The front cargo area in the Lotus Eletre can hold 46-litres of storage, which is enough for the car’s charging cables and it’s also 15L more than that in the Emeya. Opening the power rear tailgate reveals 688L of bootspace with the seats in place and 1,532L with the rear seats folded.
What warranty covers the Lotus Eletre?
The Lotus Eletre range is covered by a five-year/150,000km warranty and the battery is covered for eight-years or 200,000km, whichever comes first. There is also five years of roadside assistance.
Lotus is yet to announce service pricing for the Eletre, though its service intervals are once every two years or every 30,000km (whichever comes first).
Should I buy a 2024 Lotus Eletre?
The 2024 Lotus Eletre is a pretty good luxury SUV, there is no doubting that. It’s practical, spacious, luxurious and even quite sporty. What other electric SUV can you get with the dynamic styling and the option of 675kW of power? None, and for that reason we believe the Eletre to be a great offering in the new car market. But is it a Lotus? Well, it may not be as light as the Elise or Exige, but it feels dynamic for its segment and offers a solution to those wanting a sporty car without compromising on practicality.
So should you consider a 2024 Lotus Eletre over the likes of the BMW iX, Audi SQ8 E-Tron or Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV? We absolutely believe that the Eletre should be on your shopping list. It offers performance, comfort, fantastic features and importantly it makes you feel special. For a lot of luxury car buyers, that’s more than enough to get them across the line.
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