Top Gear

10 Best Episodes of Top Gear

This fast-paced and stunt-filled motor show tests whether cars, both mundane and extraordinary, live up to their manufacturers' claims. The long-running show travels to locations around the world, performing extreme stunts and challenges to see what the featured cars are capable of doing. The current hosts are Paddy Mcguinness, Chris Harris and Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff.

Written by Sophie and last updated on feb 12, 2023.

PS: The following content contains spoilers!

PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!

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Top Gear - S9E3

#15 - USA Special (Season 9 - Episode 3)

In this American special, Jeremy, James and Richard are on a fly-drive holiday with a difference. Instead of hiring a car, each has to buy a car for no more than $1000. Starting in Miami, they travel through Mississippi and Alabama and end their journey in New Orleans.

The episode was rated 8.38 from 258 votes.

Top Gear - S20E5

#14 - Lamborghinis and Caravaning (Season 20 - Episode 5)

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Jeremy Clarkson and James May investigate an increasingly popular type of tall hatchback often referred to as a 'crossover'. After deducing that these cars are designed entirely to appeal to caravanners, the pair pick examples from Mazda and Volkswagen then use them to spend a couple of days living like the kind of person who would buy one. Meanwhile, Richard Hammond is in Italy driving a pair of Lamborghinis, the sensational Aventador Roadster and a 2 million pound, 570 horsepower riot of carbon fibre and space age styling called the Sesto Elemento. Plus, James May is at the test track to drive a modern recreation of the classic Porsche 911 and Aerosmith legend Steven Tyler is the rock star in the Reasonably Priced Car.

The episode was rated 8.39 from 632 votes.

Top Gear - S15E5

#13 - Why Ayrton Senna was the Best (Season 15 - Episode 5)

Richard takes the Volkswagen Touareg 4x4 to Sweden for a race against some snowmobilers. James travels to Germany where he attempts to break his personal speed record in a brand-new version of the Bugatti Veyron. Jeremy Clarkson looks at the reasons why Ayrton Senna is considered the best driver of his generation.

The episode was rated 8.40 from 208 votes.

Top Gear - S17E3

#12 - Cheapest Car in the UK (Season 17 - Episode 3)

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Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond find second-hand bargains for the price of Britain's cheapest brand new car, the Nissan Pixo. James May is in Nevada to test the toughness of the Range Rover Evoque and chauffeuring a megastar through Las Vegas. Also, the McLaren MP4-12C is compared with its rival, the Ferrari 458.

The episode was rated 8.42 from 261 votes.

Top Gear - S7E5

#11 - The Bugatti and the Plane (Season 7 - Episode 5)

James and Richard are once again trying to beat Jeremy in another of their now famous races. This time, the race is on to see who will be the first to get from Alba in northern Italy, to the NatWest Tower in London. James and Richard are in a light aircraft piloted by James - Jeremy has to make-do with a Bugatti Veyron. Former F1 and Indycar World Champion Nigel Mansell gets the chance to set a fast lap in the Liana.

The episode was rated 8.44 from 168 votes.

Top Gear - S10E4

#10 - Botswana Special (Season 10 - Episode 4)

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The boys travel to Africa with a mission: they must each buy a car – but not a 4x4 – for no more than £1,500. They must then drive the cars they buy across fairly unforgiving terrain in Botswana. Also, Stig’s African cousin makes an appearance.

The episode was rated 8.46 from 330 votes.

Top Gear - S21E6

#9 - Burma Special (1) (Season 21 - Episode 6)

In the first of the all-new two-part special, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May are on a mission to build a bridge over the River Kwai in Thailand. However, in order to do so, they must first drive across a country that has been largely closed to Westerners for over 40 years: Burma. The trio must make this trip in three trucks that have been bought for a limited budget. Unsurprisingly, they are not quite as the presenters might have hoped or expected…What follows is an epic journey of beautiful scenery, regular adversity, ongoing malfunction, and the constant bickering between the three hosts.

The episode was rated 8.48 from 916 votes.

Top Gear - S14E6

#8 - Bolivia Special (Season 14 - Episode 6)

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Jeremy, Richard and James are dropped deep in the Bolivian rainforest armed only with three shabby 4x4s which they bought untested over the internet from local small ads for a maximum of 3500 pounds each. They attempt to drive them from the heart of Bolivia to the coast of Chile, encountering local drug lords, the debilitating effects of high altitude and the terrifying sheer drops of the infamous Death Road along the way.

The episode was rated 8.48 from 434 votes.

Top Gear - S19E6

#7 - Africa Special (1) (Season 19 - Episode 6)

In the first of a two-part Top Gear special, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May are in Africa with a simple mission - to find the definitive source of the Nile. Over the years many explorers claim to have already done just that, but the Top Gear trio believe that they can do better by travelling further and faster than any exploration team in history using only grit, ingenuity and three ageing estate cars.

The episode was rated 8.50 from 566 votes.

Top Gear - S7E7

#6 - Winter Olympics Special (Season 7 - Episode 7)

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The lads are in Lillehammer for their version of the Winter Olympics. So expect amongst other things: car ice-hockey - with Suzuki Swifts - Jeremy trying to drive the new Jaguar XK around the rink faster than a speed skater and Stig riding a snowmobile down the ski-jump. James and Jeremy compete against each other in a biathlon using an Audi Q7 and a Volvo XC90, with the loser having to eat yellow snow. There's also a spectacular attempt to send a rocket-powered Mini down the ski-jump.

The episode was rated 8.50 from 143 votes.

Top Gear - S20E4

#5 - Hovervan (Season 20 - Episode 4)

Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May bring relief to flood-stricken areas of Britain by building a car that can turn into a hovercraft. After a bumpy start, the presenters demonstrate the brilliance of their creation with an eventful journey down the River Avon. Also in this show, Jeremy is on the track in the insane Mercedes SLS Black and the 739 horsepower SLS Electric, while Hollywood star Hugh Jackman is the star in the Reasonably Priced Car.

The episode was rated 8.50 from 629 votes.

Top Gear - S21E7

#4 - Burma Special (2) (Season 21 - Episode 7)

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Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May continue their journey in three ancient and barely functioning trucks, heading toward their final challenge - building a bridge over River Kwai in Thailand. Having climbed mountains and endured a Burmese trucker stop, they must now venture into the Shan state, an area rife with civil war and normally closed to Western TV crews.

The episode was rated 8.52 from 858 votes.

Top Gear - S12E8

#3 - Vietnam Special (Season 12 - Episode 8)

Arriving in Vietnam, Jeremy, Richard and James have to travel the entire length of the country in just eight days. But first they have to buy some suitable transport for the trip, and despite having several million Dong in their pockets, this proves to be rather more difficult than they expected, especially in one of the most expensive car markets in the world.

The episode was rated 8.56 from 364 votes.

Top Gear - S18E7

#2 - Motor Racing for Less than it Costs to Play Golf (Season 18 - Episode 7)

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Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May set out to discover if you can go motor racing for less than it costs to play golf. Richard is also out on the Top Gear test track in the brand new BMW M5 and there is a double helping of stars as rock legend Slash and Lotus F1 driver Kimi Raikkonen are let loose in the reasonably priced cars.

The episode was rated 8.58 from 316 votes.

Top Gear - S19E7

#1 - Africa Special (2) (Season 19 - Episode 7)

In the second part of the Top Gear special, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May continue their epic African odyssey. Having survived insane traffic, lethal mudslides and some distinctly dubious map reading, the trio and their ailing estate cars reach the climax of their quest to find the definitive source of the Nile.

The episode was rated 8.59 from 511 votes.

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