13 Cool Alternatives to the Lotus Evora GT That Won’t Break the Bank
It’s now roughly three years since Lotus serenaded us with the Evora GT super sports car. The GT is another “special” in the many special editions from Project Eagle. The standard Evora launched in 2008 for the 2009 model year, looking as stunning as anything the sports car world ever saw in the modern era. It was born on an all-new proprietary platform that ensured the marque’s tradition of lightweight and intoxicating handling.
Project Eagle had a special appeal. It broke away from Lotus’ culture of track-focused, light-and-fast sports cars to introduce a more practical, road-specialized machine anyone with a fat wallet can enjoy legally on the regular roads. Even so, the Evora GT is a dream car that many knew off the bat they’d never be able to afford, not with its nearly $100,000 starting price in 2021.
A quick look at online listings revealed the Evora GT is rare and valuable, going for as much as $160,000 in the used car market. For those not prepared to offload that kind of cash, here are 13 alternatives you can turn to for an experience pretty close to the GT’s minimalist interior, engaging handling, and stylish design, all at less than $50,000.
Mazda MX-5 Miata
You’re not surprised to see the Miata take the top spot on this list, are you? Lotus Cars is synonymous with light and sweet, two attributes that fit Mazda’s iconic Miata like a T. The MX-5 has, from the beginning, been known for its lightweight design, simple interior, and fun-to-drive nature, same defining characteristics that made the Evora GT an intoxicating driver’s car.
The Miata is even significantly lighter than the GT, with a curb weight starting at approximately 2,341 lbs for the soft-top version. The latest Miata looks supremely stunning if not as aggressive as the Evora. The latter owes its famous handling to a low center of gravity, mid-engine layout, and carefully tuned suspension setup.
It boasts a near 44:56 front-to-rear weight distribution. For around $30,000 to $42,000, the Miata offers perfectly balanced 50:50 weight distribution, responsive steering, compact dimensions, and lower mass to make mince meat of twisty sections of the track or regular road with minimal body roll.
Subaru BRZ
For around $30,000 starting price, the 2024 Subaru BRZ delivers an experience pretty close to the Evora GT’s sporty manners with a minimalist design approach. With a curb weight of around 2,850 lbs, the BRZ is lighter than the Evora, many thanks to its smaller, naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine and a lightweight chassis designed for agility.
While the Evora flaunts sharp feedback to driver input with its tantalizing assemblage of a double-wishbone suspension, Eibach springs, and Bilstein dampers, the BRZ offers a front-engine/ rear-wheel-drive layout with a near-perfect 53:47 weight distribution. The MacPherson struts at the front and double-wishbone at the rear translate to a sweet balance between ride comfort and sharp handling.
Toyota GR86
The 2024 Toyota GR86 asks for less than $30,000, and yours for the taking is a sports car, like the Evora, built with a focus on driving experience. Lotus Evora GT delivers with a supercharged 3.5-liter V6 producing 416-hp and 317 lb-ft of torque (332 lb-ft with the automatic transmission), allowing it to vroom from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 188 mph.
Toyota’s GR86 is a much humbler sports car powered by a 2.4-liter flat-four that makes 228-hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, but what the GR86 lacks in raw power it makes up with a fun-to-drive experience, emphasizing balance, control, and driver feedback over outright speed.
Ford Mustang EcoBoost (Base Model)
The 2024 EcoBoost Fastback starts at around $32,000, making it a more accessible option for those who crave the Lotus Evora GT’s stunning looks and nimble road manners without the $100,000 average price.
The Evora is lighter than the Mustang EcoBoost, but not by much. It weighs around 3,175 lbs, which is notably impressive considering its supercharged V6 mill, while the ‘Stang weighs approximately 3,500 lbs, thanks to its larger dimensions and heavier steel frame.
We chose the EcoBoost as the more appropriate Mustang alternative to the Evora because it is the lightest in the Mustang lineup and uses a turbocharged 4-cylinder mill. Both cars promise a rewarding driving experience, though in different ways: The GT prioritizes track-like performance for everyday roads, while the EcoBoost delivers a versatile package with performance, comfort, and practicality.
MINI Cooper Hardtop 2-Door
The MINI looks nothing like the Evora, but it’s a mistake to restrict your search to 2-door sports cars if what you really want is the Evora’s minimalist design, lightness, responsive steering, and agility around corners. The MINI Cooper Hardtop 2-Door can offer a similar experience for less than half the Evora money.
It matches the Evora GT’s exceptional handling with its legendary “go-kart” handling characteristics. The car even has a Go-Kart mode that triggers a “stiffer steering feel and increased accelerator pedal sensitivity.”
It reminds us of the Evora GT with its compact dimensions, light weight, and straightforward interior. The Cooper 2-Door “starts at $25,800 for the Cooper engine variant, $29,100 for the Cooper S engine variant, $30,900 for the Cooper SE Electric engine variant, and $35,400 for the John Cooper Works engine variant.”
Hyundai Veloster N
Now discontinued, which is a huge, colossal shame, the Veloster N is worth seeking out in the used car market if you’re a budget shopper looking for something with exceptional handling capabilities. It’s not a traditional sports car and looks nothing like the Evora GT, but the N variant is a performance-oriented sporty hatchback.
The Evora showcased impressive weight management by achieving a curb weight of less than 3,180 lbs despite cradling a supercharged V6, thanks to its aluminum chassis and composite body panels. The Veloster N is similar to the Evora in this aspect.
The N is heavier than many hot hatches, but that’s because it incorporates performance components, including an electronically controlled limited-slip differential, sport-tuned suspension, adaptive dampers, and structural reinforcements necessary to achieve its sporty handling. Even so, it’s slightly lighter than the Evora, weighing around 3,106 lbs.
Fiat 124 Spider
The 124 Spider is a markedly different animal from the Fiat 500 range of small city cars. For starters, the 124 shares the Miata’s platform. It may not deliver Evora’s track-level performance, but the 124 promises a fun, spirited drive with excellent feedback.
Unlike the 500 2-door hatchback/convertible, the 124 is a dedicated 2-seat roadster inspired by the original 1966–1985 Fiat 124 Sport Spider. Fiat co-developed the modern 124 with Mazda, ergo, the shared Miata platform. It weighs a mere 2,436 lbs and replicates the Miata’s engaging character with a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout.
It uses a sport-tuned suspension comprising a double-wishbone setup at the front and a multi-link rear suspension, translating to remarkable balance and agility. Produced from 2016 until 2020, the 124 currently goes for an average of $22,767 in the used car market.
Honda Civic Si
It may not be a sports car (it does have a coupe variant) and looks almost the same as the regular Civic, but the Civic Si, lighter and built for the driver, is not your average Civic. With a curb weight of approximately 2,952 lbs, the Si is significantly lighter than many sports sedans and even some dedicated 2-door sports cars.
It combines this compact size with a peppy turbocharged straight-4. In other words, the Civic Si and Evora GT focus on reducing weight to sharpen handling and driving dynamics, but via different perspectives. The heavier Evora achieves this goal with more performance-focused components, while the Si offers the same via a lighter weight, smaller engine, and simpler construction.
Volkswagen Golf GTI
It doesn’t have the Lotus brand prestige and is not nearly as pretty as the Evora GT, but the Golf GTI’s performance and simplicity are the stuff of legends. It is as light as the Evora GT, though one of the heaviest in the hot hatch segment. The curb weight is approximately 3,113 lbs.
While the Evora boasts aerodynamic elements, such as a front splitter and rear diffuser, which helps it generate downforce and high-speed stability, the Golf GTI’s quick steering feedback is well known. For around $33,000, you get to enjoy the GTI’s sporty driving experience while still being practical and comfortable for everyday use.
Mazda3 Hatchback
If you’re big on simplicity and agile road manners, you’ll love the Mazda3 Hatchback’s graceful style, minimalist design approach, compact dimensions, and driver-focused engineering. The best of the Mazda3 breed uses a 2.5-liter inline-four that makes 250-hp and 320 lb-ft of torque, allowing it to reach 60 mph in around 6.4 seconds.
In other words, the Mazda3 is no match for the Evora’s power or acceleration. It offers a pocket-friendly alternative with its engaging handling, practicality, and comfort. The good news is you can get started with less than $29,000 (2024 model).
It weighs approximately 3,000 to 3,200 lbs, depending on the trim. There’s the Preferred, Carbon Edition, S Premium, and Turbo Premium Plus. Though heavier than some small hatchbacks, the Mazda3 compensates with a good balance of comfort and performance.
Nissan 370Z (Used)
The Z line is still going strong after the 370Z bowed out after the 2020 model year. Although Nissan no longer manufactures this legendary coupe, it is, as Nissan notes, “still a widely talked about vehicle because of its legendary features.
Starting with a low center of gravity and short wheelbase for quick response, the 370Z elevates handling with a perfect balance of confidence and control.”
It even comes close to Evora’s performance with a free-breathing 3.7-liter V6 with a rev-matching manual shifter, producing 332-hp and 270 lb-ft of torque. It still falls short of Evora’s top speed and acceleration but delivers strong performance for its class.
Toyota Corolla Hatchback
So many people have no clue that Toyota makes this hatchback version of the Corolla. Costing less than half the price of the Evora GT, the Corolla Hatchback is almost as light (approximately 3,200 lbs) and offers competent handling with its front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout.
It won’t take you to heaven, figuratively or literally, with its leisurely 8-second sprint to 60 mph and 169-hp from a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, but you won’t have to sell your house either.
It’s not exactly your idea of high-speed performance, but the responsive steering and smooth ride are worth the Evora GT comparison. Plus, you get to enjoy the extra practicality of everyday usability.
Kia Forte GT
The Forte GT’s sporty options with a minimalist interior are where its similarities with the Evora GT end, but those similarities are strong enough to warrant a comparison. Though a 4-door sedan, Kia’s Forte GT weighs nearly the same as the Evora GT, with a curb weight of approximately 3,185 lbs.
The Evora is way above the Forte’s league in terms of power and performance, but the latter’s 201-hp is competitive for its class and price point.
