2009 Lotus Elise

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Safety - What the Auto Press Says

Neither the federal government nor insurance industry has crash tested the '09 Elise, and it's highly unlikely that either will -- as this is a low-volume, niche vehicle. What's more, it features limited safety technology and some reviewers say rearward visibility is hampered.

The Elise is not alone in its bare-bones approach to safety technology, as the Exige is also devoid of many safety features that come standard in class competitors like the Audi A5 and BMW Z4. However, Lotus shoppers, who tend to prioritize performance over safety and comfort, may not be too concerned. 

• "Visibility forward is fair, though it is not possible to gauge the front end of the car from the driver seat. Visibility to the rear is restricted by tall and wide seat headrests, a shallow backlight and the exterior buttresses.  ... Door mirrors are small and only manually adjustable, which limits both their functionality and field of vision." -- New Car Test Drive