Lotus Elise build years & generations
The Lotus Elise spans several build years and named generations (2001-2021). Match a build year to its generation, then see how each group of build years does at its MOT.
Which year is which
Build years & generations, side by side
Find the build years you're looking at and see which generation they are. You'll also see which group of build years the MOT figures come from.
Built 2001-2004
- Generation
- Series 2
- Figures from
- cars built before 2005
Counted with every car built before 2005, so much older cars can affect the figures.
Built 2005-2008
- Generation
- Series 2
- Figures from
- cars built 2005-2008
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2009-2010
- Generation
- Series 2
- Figures from
- cars built 2009-2012
Counted together with Series 2 and Series 3 cars built in the same years.
Built 2011-2012
- Generation
- Series 3
- Figures from
- cars built 2009-2012
Counted together with Series 2 and Series 3 cars built in the same years.
Built 2013-2016
- Generation
- Series 3
- Figures from
- cars built 2013-2016
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2017-2020
- Generation
- Series 3
- Figures from
- cars built 2017-2020
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2021
- Generation
- Series 3
- Figures from
- cars built 2021 onwards
Counted with every car built from 2021.
“Figures from” is the group of build years behind each card's MOT figures. Years where one generation gave way to the next can sit in a wider group until there's enough history to split them.
By build-year group
How each group of build years performs
Each card shows MOT results for one group of Lotus Elise build years. “Age” means the car's age on the day of its MOT, not its build year. “25+” groups every test on cars aged 25 or older.
Built2021 onwards
Series 3 only
All Series 3 cars built from 2021. Newer cars join this group until there is enough MOT history to split it.
Fail rate at 4 years old (latest age)
3.2%
UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 8 (12.5%)
Ages with data
3 to 4 years old
MOT tests counted
128
Chart shows
Age at the MOT
Not the build year
2021 onwards
Series 3 only
All Series 3 cars built from 2021. Newer cars join this group until there is enough MOT history to split it.
Fail rate at 4 years old (latest age)
3.2%
UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 8 (12.5%)
Ages with data
3 to 4 years old
MOT tests counted
128
Chart shows
Age at the MOT
Not the build year
Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 3 years old.
Built2017-2020
Series 3 only
These build years are all Series 3, so the figures are almost all from that generation.
Fail rate at 7 years old
8.0%
UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 6 (17.1%)
Ages with data
5 to 8 years old
MOT tests counted
306
Chart shows
Age at the MOT
Not the build year
2017-2020
Series 3 only
These build years are all Series 3, so the figures are almost all from that generation.
Fail rate at 7 years old
8.0%
UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 6 (17.1%)
Ages with data
5 to 8 years old
MOT tests counted
306
Chart shows
Age at the MOT
Not the build year
Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 8 years old.
Built2013-2016
Series 3 only
These build years are all Series 3, so the figures are almost all from that generation.
Fail rate at 11 years old (latest age)
9.6%
UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 4 (24.9%)
Ages with data
9 to 11 years old
MOT tests counted
281
Chart shows
Age at the MOT
Not the build year
2013-2016
Series 3 only
These build years are all Series 3, so the figures are almost all from that generation.
Fail rate at 11 years old (latest age)
9.6%
UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 4 (24.9%)
Ages with data
9 to 11 years old
MOT tests counted
281
Chart shows
Age at the MOT
Not the build year
Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 10 years old.
Built2009-2012
A mix of Series 2 and Series 3
These build years include both Series 2 and Series 3 cars, so the figures are less exact than for a single generation.
Fail rate at 16 years old (latest age)
15.6%
UK average for cars this age: about 3 in 10 (30%)
Ages with data
13 to 16 years old
MOT tests counted
323
Chart shows
Age at the MOT
Not the build year
2009-2012
A mix of Series 2 and Series 3
These build years include both Series 2 and Series 3 cars, so the figures are less exact than for a single generation.
Fail rate at 16 years old (latest age)
15.6%
UK average for cars this age: about 3 in 10 (30%)
Ages with data
13 to 16 years old
MOT tests counted
323
Chart shows
Age at the MOT
Not the build year
Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 16 years old.
Built2005-2008
Series 2 only
These build years are all Series 2, so the figures are almost all from that generation.
Fail rate at 20 years old (latest age)
12.1%
UK average for cars this age: about 3 in 10 (30.3%)
Ages with data
16 to 20 years old
MOT tests counted
944
Chart shows
Age at the MOT
Not the build year
2005-2008
Series 2 only
These build years are all Series 2, so the figures are almost all from that generation.
Fail rate at 20 years old (latest age)
12.1%
UK average for cars this age: about 3 in 10 (30.3%)
Ages with data
16 to 20 years old
MOT tests counted
944
Chart shows
Age at the MOT
Not the build year
Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 17 years old.
BuiltBefore 2005
Series 2 only
Counts every car built before 2005, so older cars with the same model name can be included as well as the Series 2.
Fail rate at 25+ years old
14.8%
UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 4 (23%)
Ages with data
20 to 25+ years old
MOT tests counted
3,536
Chart shows
Age at the MOT
Not the build year
Before 2005
Series 2 only
Counts every car built before 2005, so older cars with the same model name can be included as well as the Series 2.
Fail rate at 25+ years old
14.8%
UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 4 (23%)
Ages with data
20 to 25+ years old
MOT tests counted
3,536
Chart shows
Age at the MOT
Not the build year
Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 24 years old.