Doug DeMuro gives the 1991 Lotus Elan a decisively positive 73.2/100 score, praising its stunning design and impressive performance for its size—the clean, fresh styling conveys fun and zippy character, while the turbocharged engine delivers satisfying 6.5-second 0-60 times that outpace the NA Miata. However, the car's front-wheel-drive layout limited its appeal as a Lotus, and serious concerns about poor reliability and questionable parts supply create significant long-term ownership risks that temper the initial excitement. At nearly three times the price of a Miata at launch, this rare oddity (only 600 sold in North America) is best suited for collectors who value quirky British-Japanese engineering and styling over dependability.