One year after my first test drive with the V6 Manual I had the chance to test drive the i4 last weekend.
The car had the touring suspension. I liked the suspension a lot. Probably a lot more than the sport suspension. But that is difficult to judge after more than a year since I drove the sport suspension. It was more comfortable than the suspension in my Alpine A110S without more body role compared to the Alpine. The Alpine's supsension is a great compromise but the Emira Touring suspension is even better.
Engine was also a good fit for the Emira. Maybe I like it more because it has more Torque in lower revs. But the sound of the i4 is nowhere near to the V6. I expected a bit more sound tuning from Lotus.
The Transmission on the other hand is a K.O. criteria for me. How can it be so slow? I watched some videos from the A45S and its transmission is definetly a lot faster. I also did not notice any DCT effect. No matter what I would do with the gas and brake, the downshift is always slower than the upshift. But even the upshift is too slow. I felt very little connection to the engine because of the transmission. Completly different feeling in the Alpine which as a superb and very fast DCT. I do not get how the Merc with the same transmission works...hopefully Lotus will fix this for next year when they bring the tuned i4 to Europe.
After test-driving two different Emira configurations in 2023 and 2024 — first the V6 Manual with Sport Suspension and Cup 2s, then the i4 DCT with Touring Suspension and Goodyears — I had the opportunity to spend extended time with a third and completely different setup:
V6, Automatic, Sport Suspension, Goodyear tires.
This longer test gave me the chance to go beyond first impressions and really focus on the finer details of the car.
Transmission: Surprising Character from the V6 Auto
The torque converter auto in the V6 isn’t lightning fast or buttery smooth like modern DCTs. Compared to the gearboxes in my BMW M2 or Alpine A110S, it’s definitely more old-school.
That said, I was genuinely surprised. In my 2024 i4 DCT* test, the transmission was my biggest disappointment: it revved too high in auto mode (especially in city driving), and manual shifts felt slow — particularly on downshifts, no matter the driving mode.
The V6 auto, by contrast, had more personality. In manual mode, it felt quicker and, more importantly, more engaging. There's a rawness to it — when you pull the paddle, it kicks. It's not refined, but it adds drama. And that drama gives the Emira the kind of emotional edge I was looking for.
Cruising calmly? It can do that too. The auto revs noticeably lower than the DCT and drives smoothly if you're gentle, especially on the motorway.
Suspension & Steering: Sporty, But Not Punishing
If you're worried that the sport suspension will break your back — don’t be. While comfort is subjective, I found it livable. I did a 9.5-hour motorway trip and I felt good afterwards. The seats help as well, soaking up a fair amount of road harshness.
In return, you get super sharp front-end from the sport suspension, a planted feel through corners (more than my A110S), and fantastic road feedback through the steering wheel. It genuinely feels like a go-kart on twisty roads, and I can only imagine how good it is on track (though I haven’t tracked it yet).
That said, the same qualities have their downsides. In traffic or tight urban spaces, the steering felt heavy and less forgiving. And at high autobahn speeds (180+ km/h), the ride felt busy.
Bottom line: if you’re daily-driving your Emira, the touring suspension is probably the better choice. But if you want a pure driver’s car for back roads and mountain passes, sport suspension delivers a truly unforgettable experience.
Infotainment & Interface: Surprisingly good
With more time in the car, I finally explored the infotainment system — and it really impressed me. The software looks clean and modern, and it’s intuitive to use. It doesn’t try to do too much, but everything it offers works well and feels smartly connected.
The digital dials and different driving views are beautifully integrated. I found the steering wheel controls surprisingly effective, especially considering it’s a hybrid touch-physical setup.
Even the built-in navigation was better than expected — though the lack of live traffic puts it a step behind CarPlay. The KEF audio system is decent too. It might perform better in a quieter cabin, but that would mean more sound-deadening and, most likely, less engine noise — and who wants that in a car like this?
Interior & Seating: Road-Trip Approved
My long motorway drive also gave me a solid impression of the seats. They’re not the most supportive in fast cornering, but they are soft, and comfortable, making them ideal for long journeys.
The rest of the interior? Genuinely lovely. Materials feel premium, and everything you touch feels thoughtfully chosen. I did notice a few creaks and noises from the trim. But I don’t mind it. It adds to the Emira’s character — it feels like a focused sports car, not an over-insulated luxury cruiser.
Conclusion: Making the Right Choice isn’t easy
Four years on, and three test drives later, the Lotus Emira still catches me with its design and presence. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that choosing the right configuration isn’t easy.
Every review seems to suggest the same thing: Get a manual or if you want an Auto, the DCT is the car to choose. But after driving both, I’m telling you something different.
If you want an automatic that fits the soul of the car — something a little raw, a little dramatic, and genuinely fun — the V6 Auto might just be the perfect choice. That’s the one I chose.
After years of reading, watching, and dreaming... I finally bought an Emira — V6, Auto, Sport Suspension.
* The i4 i have tested in 2024 was a european 364 hp version, not a 400ps / Turbo SE (transmission might have been improved by Lotus since then)
