Which Lotus models fail their MOT less for their age?
In 2024, 87.7% of MOTs on the 5 Lotus models published here passed (85.6% first time, 2.1% after a fix at the test centre), from 9,321 first tests. Allowing for age (not mileage), these Lotus models fail 59% less often than normal: brand MOT Risk Index 41.3 (95% CI 39.3–43.4; 100 = normal).
No single Lotus model has 10,000 first tests, so none is named best or worst here; every model's figure is in the chart and the table (the brand index uses all 9,321 tests).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 25 Sep 2026 · full dataset (v5).
Which Lotus models fail least and most for their age?
Of the 5 Lotus models, 5 fail less often than normal for their age, 0 more often, and 0 cannot be told apart from normal because their 95% intervals include 100.
| Model | MOT pass rate, % | Passed first time, % | MOT Risk Index | 95% interval | First tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lotus Evora | 91.4 | 90.2 | 32.3 | 26.1–39.7 | 804 |
| Lotus Exige | 91.4 | 89.6 | 34.1 | 29.1–39.7 | 1,363 |
| Lotus Esprit | 89.1 | 87.8 | 34.9 | 28.8–42.1 | 760 |
| Lotus Elise | 88.0 | 85.7 | 39.2 | 36.6–41.9 | 5,057 |
| Lotus Elan | 79.6 | 77.0 | 64.0 | 57.9–70.5 | 1,337 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2024 · n = 9,321 (initial tests) · Method: MOT Risk Index = observed first-time failures ÷ failures expected for the same age profile × 100; brand index sums both over the 5 models · Updated: 25 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Where are Lotus models worse than other cars of the same age?
Allowing for age, Lotus models fail on identification of the vehicle more than other cars of the same age: 0.9 failures per 100 tests against 0.7 expected (0.2 more; 95% interval 0.12 to 0.27).
| Failure group | Lotus, per 100 tests | Expected for the same age | Difference | 95% interval | Most common failure on (models) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.9 | 0.7 | +0.2 | 0.12 to 0.27 | 0 of 5 |
| Road Wheels | 0.1 | 0.4 | -0.3 | -0.32 to -0.25 | 0 of 5 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 6.6 | 7.3 | -0.7 | -0.95 to -0.52 | 0 of 5 |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 0.2 | 2.9 | -2.6 | -2.68 to -2.60 | 0 of 5 |
| Steering | 2.3 | 5.6 | -3.3 | -3.47 to -3.22 | 0 of 5 |
| Visibility | 5.1 | 10.8 | -5.7 | -5.89 to -5.51 | 0 of 5 |
| Tyres | 2.0 | 7.7 | -5.7 | -5.85 to -5.62 | 0 of 5 |
| Body, chassis, structure | 1.5 | 12.4 | -11.0 | -11.05 to -10.85 | 0 of 5 |
| Brakes | 7.8 | 19.1 | -11.2 | -11.46 to -11.00 | 1 of 5 |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 13.3 | 28.8 | -15.4 | -15.74 to -15.13 | 4 of 5 |
| Suspension | 4.7 | 22.9 | -18.3 | -18.43 to -18.07 | 0 of 5 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 55,361 (initial tests of the 5 models) · Method: failure items per 100 tests against the rate expected for the same age and kind of vehicle; interval from the count of failures (Poisson); a group is named only when its interval is wholly above zero and it is at least 5% above the expected rate · Updated: 25 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
How to cite this page
MOT Risk Index (2026). Lotus MOT statistics by model 2024 (data release dvsa-2024-v2; full dataset motriskindex-families-2024-v5, DOI 10.5281/zenodo.22975051), updated 25 September 2026. motriskindex.co.uk/cars/brand/lotus/
How the MOT Risk Index and every figure on this page are calculated: methodology.
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