Personal view only of course - the M100 Elan is a such a forgiving car to drive, great handling, poise and roadholding. Loved it so much I owned 4.
All the others were a real handful (in all weather conditions), particularly the early Elise and the Europa. And even the Evoras can get tail happy and eat their own tyres.
This - weirdly - is the best of the lot. It's lazier to put the power down, sure, but best grip, best manners and roadholding of any Lotus I have owned. Including in the wet.
But it won't win a race against any of the others (maybe the Elans), although I see this as a GT more than an out and out sports car.
I also recently drove it back to back against a stock S2 and mine has a softer, more compliant ride, goes way quicker, is louder, and handles better, noting that this is a restomod, of course.
I was expecting an old Esprit to be way more rubbish than my last Evora - not to compare at all - and sure it's not as quick, but it is so much more a car I can push with real confidence. With my Evoras I was always wary of the back end stepping out.
So yeah, I do think it's the best handling (not the quickest) car I have ever owned and driven.