Certified Benz & Beemer Compares 2005 Lotus Elise VS 2005 Acura NSX Near Scottsdale, AZ
2005 Lotus Elise
VS
2005 Acura NSX
Safety Comparison
Both the Elise and the NSX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags and four wheel antilock brakes.
Warranty Comparison
The Elise’s corrosion warranty is 3 years longer than the NSX’s (8 vs. 5 years).
Reliability Comparison
The camshafts in the Elise’s engine are driven by a hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs. The NSX’s camshafts are driven by a rubber belt which eventually needs to be replaced. If the NSX’s cam drive belt breaks the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.
Engine Comparison
As tested in Car and Driver the Lotus Elise is faster than the Acura NSX (manual transmissions tested):
Elise
NSX
Zero to 60 MPH
4.4 sec
4.8 sec
Quarter Mile
13.2 sec
13.4 sec
Fuel Economy and Range Comparison
The Elise gets better fuel mileage than the NSX (23 city/27 hwy vs. 17 city/24 hwy).
Brakes and Stopping Comparison
The Elise stops much shorter than the NSX:
Elise
NSX
80 to 0 MPH
188 feet
220 feet
Road & Track
70 to 0 MPH
160 feet
162 feet
Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH
108 feet
120 feet
Motor Trend
Suspension and Handling Comparison
The Elise handles at 1.06 G’s, while the NSX-T pulls only .89 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.
The Elise goes through Road & Track’s slalom 10.5 MPH faster than the NSX (72.6 vs. 62.1 MPH).
Chassis Comparison
The Lotus Elise may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1200 to 1250 pounds less than the Acura NSX.
The Elise is 2 feet, 1.2 inches shorter than the NSX, making the Elise easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.
Ergonomics Comparison
The Elise’s entire steering wheel hub sounds the horn, facilitating hitting the horn in an emergency. The NSX has two small spoke buttons. These buttons can be hard to reach in an emergency.