We say The Europa isn't as practical or luxurious as Lotus claims, it’s a bare bones thrill machine – a typical Lotus, then.Performance Although 197bhp may sound measly, with the Europa weighing under a tonne it is more than enough to get you excited. Decent torque of 200lb-ft make acceleration strong.Emissions 229g/km is okay for what it is, as is over 30mpg combined.Driving The Europa handles extremely well; tonnes of grip, low body roll and amazing agility.Feel The Europa is loud, but not as loud as an Elise. Wind and road noise tends to seep into the cabin regardless.Space It’s very cramped upfront and the boot is quite small at 154 litres.Equipment Leather trim, air conditioning and a sat nav are all fitted as standard to the Europa.Price The Europa isn’t cheap – you can get an Audi TT for the same price – but running costs are manageable.Quality While a very reliable car, the Europa’s cabin houses lots of cheap plastics and the fit and finish isn’t up to par.Safety The Lotus Europa features just front airbags and anti-lock brakes, which isn’t good enough for a car aiming to be a genuine day-today grand tourer.Pros Running costs are fairly low and it’s very reliable. It drives like nothing else and the standard kit is better than most Lotus cars.Cons Cheap and nasty interior, lacks space, not very refined.Alternatives Audi TT, BMW Z4, Porsche Cayman
