Minor controls are few, but somewhat randomly placed and in every case cryptically marked if marked at all. This is not a car you can get into late at night for the first time and instinctively know how to operate. Horn buttons are in the two steering wheel spokes and are hard to find in an emergency. There is even a regimen for disarming the alarm and immobilizer that requires explanation in advance; and we've found it can go off on its own accord. The standard Alpine audio is fair at best. Worse, its 1-DIN layout, microscopic controls and low placement in the dash make it difficult to operate and adjust while underway; then there's the annoying, flashy LED. Then again, there's enough engine and road noise to drown out music or talk anyway.
The air conditioning system features rudimentary controls in the form of three round alloy knobs that sometimes fall off and two small supplementary black buttons. The light indicating whether the A/C is on is difficult to see. The heater works acceptably well. The A/C is outclassed in warmer climates, particularly when the car is traveling at slow speeds and there is insufficient ram air passing through the front-mounted condenser. Cold? Put on a sweater. Warm? Take the top off!
By their very definition, Lotuses are small. They've always been small. Small on the outside is great, as small makes them nimble, lightweight, fast and efficient. Small on the inside is more delimiting. Many people over 6 feet simply don't fit in this car. And some under 6 feet, particularly those of broader beam, don't fit very well. The ProBax seats are tight and confining; thinly padded and light weight to the core. They're ideal for track and aggressive street use where you really want to be held in place. They can be accommodating and supportive if you're the right size to start with. If you're outside the envelope, they're tight and unyielding.
Even more an ergonomic factor than physically sitting in the vehicle is entry-egress, getting in and out. Elise was originally planned without doors. Practicality prevailed at some point in the development process, and doors were added. These mask and cover a high alloy sill. The sill is great for maximum structure and solidity at the lightest possible weight, and contributes significantly to side-impact safety. It also represents a fairly substantial threshold in both entry and, even more significantly, egress. For the small and limber, no issue. For the larger and less flexible, a challenge bordering on job-stopper. Another issue is the comparatively short door, which means having to hook leg and foot around and across a curved alloy hinge to get out. Easy for some but more difficult for others Next Page