Lotus Exige: MOT pass rate and reliability data
The Lotus Exige passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 14.2 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 1,314 individual Lotus Exige tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.
The numbers
| First-time pass rate | 90.9% |
| UK national average | 76.7% |
| Difference | +14.2 points |
| Tests analysed | 1,314 |
| Average mileage at test | 28,187 miles |
| Average year of manufacture | 2012 |
| Reliability rank | 558 of 2,005 models |
What this means if you are buying one
A 90.9% first-time pass rate means roughly 9 in every 100 Lotus Exiges presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average Lotus Exige tested had covered 28,187 miles and was built around 2012.
What this means at salvage auction
Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. On a Lotus Exige bought as a repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.
Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.
Looking at a specific Lotus Exige rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see what damaged Lotus Exiges actually sold for at UK salvage auction.
Most common MOT failures on a Lotus Exige
- Emissions levels exceed default limits, 0.8% of tests (2.73x the national rate for this defect)
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 1.8% of tests
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 0.9% of tests
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 0.7% of tests
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer, 0.6% of tests (1.41x the national rate for this defect)
- A tyre seriously damaged, 0.5% of tests
- Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits, 0.4% of tests (2x the national rate for this defect)
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 0.4% of tests
- Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements, 0.3% of tests (1.97x the national rate for this defect)
- A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 0.3% of tests
From 2,503 DVSA-tracked Lotus Exige tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 3.27% of these flagged Lotus Exige defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 4.97% nationally.
Other Lotus models
- Lotus Elise - 87.3%
- Lotus Elan - 78.4%
- Lotus Esprit - 88%
Models with a similar pass rate
- Hyundai I20 Se Connect Mhev T-Gdi - 90.9%
- Vauxhall Corsa Griffin - 90.9%
- Land Rover R Rover Evoque Rdyn Se Dmhev A - 90.9%
- Vauxhall Corsa Ultimate Nav Turbo Auto - 90.9%
- Kia Picanto X-Line S Auto - 90.9%
- BMW 220i Luxury Auto - 90.9%
If this car is a salvage or write-off
- What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
- What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
- Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
Embed this data
Run a site about the Lotus Exige? Embed the real DVSA pass-rate badge free, linked back to this page.
<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/lotus-exige"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/lotus-exige.svg" width="340" height="92" alt="Lotus Exige MOT Pass Rate: 90.9% - Salvage Prophet"></a>