Lotus Eletre 2023 Review

In recent years, the options in Malaysia's luxury electric SUV market have gradually expanded, but models that combine brand racing heritage and everyday practicality still remain rare. As a brand known for its driving dynamics, Lotus has launched its first all-electric SUV, the Eletre, which has garnered significant attention since its release—it aims to retain Lotus's sporty essence while meeting the needs of family users for space and configuration. This time, we tested the entire lineup of the Eletre, with the main objective being to determine whether this "track-level electric SUV" is just a gimmick or if it truly balances performance and practicality.

From the exterior design, the Eletre does not resemble the bulkiness of traditional SUVs at all. The overall lines are low and streamlined, with a sloping front end paired with a large-sized grille, as well as sharp LED headlights on both sides, resulting in high recognizability. The body’s side profile features a waistline that extends from the front fender to the rear, combined with 22-inch large wheels (front tires: 275/40 R22, rear tires: 315/35 R22), exuding a full sense of sportiness. The rear end features a through-type LED taillight and diffuser design, further emphasizing its performance attributes. Notably, the standard configuration across all models includes automatic headlights, daytime running lights, and front fog lights, offering significant practicality in daily use, especially improving visibility in rainy or foggy weather.

When stepping into the interior, the Eletre's design leans towards a minimalist, tech-centric style. The center console centers around a 15.1-inch touchscreen, with smooth system operation and clear menu logic, ensuring most daily functions can be accessed with a single touch. The standard equipment across all models includes a HUD head-up display and a fully digital instrument panel, which intuitively presents information such as speed and navigation directly in front of the driver, reducing the need to divert their gaze while driving. As for materials, the seats and door panels are wrapped in soft-touch materials, offering a comfortable tactile experience. Regarding space, the Eletre boasts a wheelbase of 3019mm, providing approximately two fists of legroom in the rear even after adjusting the front seats for a comfortable driving position—comfortably accommodating three adults without feeling cramped. The trunk offers a regular storage capacity of 688L (R version: 688L, Standard and S versions expandable to 1532L), making it sufficient to store two 28-inch luggage cases without issues. The rear seats can be folded down in a 60:40 split, accommodating large items occasionally. Furthermore, the standard equipment including rear-row air conditioning, 220V/230V power sockets, and ISO FIX child seat mounts, makes the vehicle highly family-friendly.

For dynamic driving performance, there are noticeable differences between the variants. Let’s start with the Standard and S versions, which are equipped with dual front and rear permanent magnet synchronous motors, delivering a combined power of 611PS and torque of 710N·m, with an official 0-100km/h acceleration time of 4.5 seconds. During actual driving, power response is swift in the initial phase, providing a clear sense of pushback with just a light press on the accelerator. When overtaking, the power output remains linear and persistent even when stepping harder on the accelerator. Acceleration capabilities at high speeds are also very strong. The performance of the R version is even more exaggerated, with a combined power of 917PS and torque of 985N·m, achieving a 0-100km/h acceleration in just 2.9 seconds. The explosive power during startup may even cause mild dizziness for passengers, with even more remarkable performance on the track. However, such extreme performance is rarely utilized on regular roads. On the chassis front, all models equip front and rear multi-link independent suspension, tuned towards sportiness without compromising comfort. When driving over speed bumps or rough roads, the suspension quickly absorbs most of the unevenness, keeping the vehicle stable without excessive bouncing. During cornering, the body roll is well-controlled, and the precision of the steering wheel combined with the four-wheel drive system ensures excellent grip, instilling great confidence in the driver. In terms of noise control, wind and road noise are minimal at high speeds, with the electric motor running almost silently, achieving overall tranquillity consistent with the positioning of a luxury SUV.

In terms of range and charging, although the official figures for range are not provided, in our daily commuting test (50% city + 50% highway), the actual range for the standard version and the S version is approximately 450km, with energy consumption maintained at around 20-22kWh/100km. The R version, due to its higher performance, consumes slightly more energy, achieving an actual range of about 400km. As for charging speed, using a fast-charging station, it takes about 40 minutes to charge from 30% to 80%, which can basically meet daily charging needs.

Overall, Eletre's core advantages are clear: First, the handling performance brought by the Lotus genes, which places it in the top tier among electric SUVs in its class; second, its spacious interior and rich configurations, including standard features like HUD, electric seats, and active safety systems across all trims, making its value-for-money performance quite good in the luxury electric SUV segment; third, the ultimate performance of the R version, catering to consumers who seek speed. Compared with other models in the same category, such as the Tesla Model X, Eletre has advantages in handling and features, while being relatively more affordable.

This car suits two types of consumers: one type includes those who value handling and performance while also needing to meet family car requirements—the balanced performance of the standard and S versions can meet daily commuting needs along with occasional driving pleasure. The other type includes players who pursue extreme performance—the acceleration capability and track performance of the R version will definitely provide plenty of excitement. In summary, Eletre is not a perfect car, but it indeed achieves a balance between performance and practicality, making it a worthwhile choice in the luxury electric SUV market.