30 Best Top Gear Episodes Ranked

Not that long ago, "Top Gear" was one of the most popular shows in the world. Launched in 1977, it was revamped in 2002 with the trio of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May taking on presenting duties with the help of a mysterious test driver known as the Stig. Broadcast in more than 200 countries, it was considered one of the best British TV shows on the air and ensured that the three presenters became household names.

"Top Gear" is not without controversy, and it has faced plenty of criticism over the years. These unpleasant incidents include the cast making incredibly offensive remarks and driving irresponsibly. This controversy culminated in Clarkson being fired from the show in 2015. Shortly afterward, Hammond, May, and executive producer Andy Wilman all left "Top Gear" to create "The Grand Tour" with Clarkson on Amazon Prime. They were ultimately replaced by a series of new presenters, though it's debatable whether any of them resonated with audiences quite like the original three.

Despite all those negative aspects, "Top Gear" was undoubtedly one of the most entertaining shows on television when it was in its prime. Spanning more than 30 seasons and 200 episodes means that picking the very best of the best is a difficult task. Fortunately, we've done the hard work already. You can just sit back and find out which episodes of "Top Gear" are simply unmissable.

The fifth episode of Season 21 saw Hammond travel to Abu Dhabi to test out the Porsche 918 Spyder. This hybrid supercar makes use of a pair of electric motors with a traditional V8 petrol engine to create a stunningly fast vehicle. To put it through its paces, Hammond took it for a spin around the Yas Marina Circuit, home of the Abu Dhabi Formula One race, and compared it to the McLaren P1. In an earlier segment, Clarkson reviewed the BMW M135i and Volkswagen's latest Golf GTI. After that, he and May set about creating a brand-new public information film to promote safety for cyclists in London.

The star in a reasonably priced car for this episode was "Breaking Bad" actor Aaron Paul. He spoke about his time on the iconic AMC show as well as his role in the 2014 movie "Need for Speed." He managed to set a time of 1 minute and 44.7 seconds in the Vauxhall Astra, which put him in first place ... until pop star Olly Murs came along and beat Paul's time in a later episode.

In this Season 22 episode of "Top Gear," the three presenters take a road trip across the Northern Territory of Australia. Each of them picked a fast and comfortable grand tourer for the trip, with Clarkson going for a BMW M6 Gran Coupé, Hammond a Bentley Continental GT V8, and May opting for the Nissan GT-R. Driving across the vast open spaces in Australia, they visited an abandoned gold mine, got to see some of the world's longest lorries, and finally ended the challenge by helping herd more than 4,000 cows in one of the largest farms in Australia. This experience may have come in handy for Clarkson on his later show, "Clarkson's Farm" on Amazon Prime.

Unlike most "Top Gear" episodes, there was no news segment or power test; most of the screentime was devoted to the Australian challenge. However, Canadian actor Kiefer Sutherland did appear as the star in a reasonably priced car, setting a time of 1 minute and 49.2 seconds in wet conditions.

Episode 2 of Season 13 was focused on the team trying to find what would be the best car for a 17-year-old driver. This included examining multiple factors, such as what would reduce insurance costs, be cheap to repair after accidents, and be able to navigate muddy fields and uneven terrains at music festivals in the U.K. May chose a Volkswagen Golf Mark-III, Clarkson picked a turbocharged Volvo 940 Estate, and Hammond selected a Hyundai SCoupe.

In a later segment, Hammond went to Abu Dhabi to try out the Lamborghini Murcielago SV. Impressed with the car, he tested it out against the far more expensive Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722. He later stages a race between the Bugatti Veyron and the McLaren F1, two of the fastest cars on the planet. The McLaren F1 took an early lead in the drag race, but the Veyron ultimately caught up to it and used its superior top speed to take a significant lead. The "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car" segment featured actor, writer, and presenter Stephen Fry.

The third episode of Season 16 saw the "Top Gear" gang head to Albania in order to test out three super-luxurious cars. The ultimate aim was to see what car was best suited for an organized crime boss. The trio originally chose a Rolls-Royce Ghost, a Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG, and a Bentley Mulsanne. Unfortunately for Clarkson, Bentley withdrew from the episode shortly before the start. Circumstances forced him to switch his choice to a Yugo Skala 55, which caused a few issues when the car refused to start during a drag race midway through the episode.

Outside of the challenge, where the group robs a bank, Clarkson tested the Subaru Impreza STI CS400, the latest car from Cosworth. He later compares it to the Ford Focus RS500 and the Volvo C30 PCP. British presenter Jonathan Ross was the star in a reasonably priced car, and he managed to record a time of 1 minute 49 seconds on a wet track.

The fourth episode of Season 20, this entry in the car series saw the three presenters building a car that is able to operate as a hovercraft. Using a Ford Transit van, they created what they dubbed the "Hovervan." The first version of the vehicle proved to be a failure. The second iteration featured an improved design that worked better but still had some notable issues that made it impractical and difficult to control as they traveled down the River Avon.

The show did face some criticism over claims that some scenes featured paid actors rather than genuine members of the public, but that didn't stop the episode from being a hit with fans. Clarkson also reviewed the Mercedes SLS Black along with the Mercedes SLS Electric Drive.

The star in a reasonably priced car for this episode was actor Hugh Jackman. He drove the Vauxhall Astra in a time of 1 minute and 46.1 seconds, posting a time that put him in fifth place on the leaderboard, beating out the likes of Will Smith, Ron Howard, and Margot Robbie.

In this Season 10 episode, Clarkson, Hammond, and May revisited one of their most popular challenges from earlier in the series. Working with a variety of vehicles, they each try to create amphibious cars that work equally as well on the ground as they do in the water. Clarkson used a Nissan pickup that he dubbed the Nissank; Hammond used a Volkswagen as he did in the previous amphibious challenge; May went back to his original Triumph Herald, although he upgraded it with some new materials and features.

Starting off in Sidcup, the group drove to Dover, and then attempted to cross the English Channel and make it to Calais in France. Unfortunately, both Hammond and May had issues with their vehicles in the sea and were unable to complete the challenge as their vehicles sank. Meanwhile, Clarkson's Nissank proved effective, and he eventually picked up his two colleagues.

The star in a reasonably priced car for this episode was musician and presenter Jools Holland. He posted a time of 1 minute and 49.9 seconds. The main review of the episode was of the Audi R8, which Clarkson drove and compared to Hammond's very own Porsche 997 Carrera S. The Audi performed better around the track, but both presenters agreed it lacks soul.

The Season 22 premiere of "Top Gear" saw the gang take part in a race across the Russian city of Saint Petersburg. The race was essentially a recreation of the Season 10 race where the trio competed to get across London. May chose a tiny Renault for the journey, Hammond cycled, and Clarkson used a hovercraft to travel mainly by water. May ended up winning while the Stig failed to finish after struggling to travel on public transport.

Elsewhere in the episode, Hammond reviewed the Huracán, a replacement for the Lamborghini Gallardo. Pop singer Ed Sheeran was the star in a reasonably priced car. Sheeran claimed this was the first time that he had ever driven a car, so he had to use an automatic. He posted a time of 1 minute 54.2 seconds in very wet conditions.

One of the most famous moments of this episode came when a lorry pulled out in front of Hammond while he was cycling. This led to a foul-mouthed tirade against the driver that was mostly cut from the original broadcast. However, the uncensored version was included on the DVD release and has become popular on social media platforms such as TikTok.

Season 22 of "Top Gear" was the last to feature the talents of Clarkson, Hammond, and May following Clarkson's high-profile dismissal from the BBC. Despite the controversy, the eight episodes included in the 2015 season are all rated quite highly by fans. This is the second installment of Season 22 to appear in this article, and there's more from "Top Gear" in 2015 on the way.

This episode sees Hammond testing a specially made watch that is designed to work in severe weather and alert rescue teams when the beacon is activated. However, it ends up alerting Clarkson and May who are forced to rescue Hammond when he gets stuck. The two choose pickup trucks and race to get to their colleague first.

Outside of the main challenge, the episode also featured standard "Top Gear" segments. Clarkson road tested the Lexus RC F coupe. The star in a reasonably priced car for this episode was Gillian Anderson, best known for her roles in "The X-Files" and "The Fall." She set a time of 1 minute and 48.5 seconds, although the track was deemed to be mildly moist.

First broadcast in February of 2007, the "US Special" was the third episode of Season 9. As is usual for specials, this episode features none of the standard "Top Gear" in-studio segments. Instead, it features a 60-minute segment that charts the group's progress as they travel through the United States.

The concept behind the special sees the trio attempting to prove that buying cars would be more enjoyable and cheaper than simply renting a car. Given just $1,000 to make their purchases, Clarkson, Hammond, and May end up buying a 1991 Chevrolet Camaro RS, a 1991 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck, and a 1989 Cadillac Brougham. The route sees them go from Miami to New Orleans and meet the Stig's American cousin, who tests each of the cars to determine their performance.

The episode is perhaps best known for a scene where the group are chased from an Alabama gas station. This was in response to hilarious slogans that the presenters had painted on each other's cars, which included a taunt about NASCAR.

First broadcast in July of 2010, Episode 5 of Season 15 of "Top Gear" stands out for a number of reasons. Chief among them is the fact that both Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz take part in the "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car" segment. The pair were promoting their movie "Knight and Day" and finished in nineth and 13th place, respectively, in what ended up being one of the show's most watched episodes in the U.K. with over seven million viewers.

The rest of the episode features two segments that involve Hammond and May. In the first, Hammond raced a group of snowmobile pilots in Sweden as he drove the Volkswagen Touareg. Hammond won thanks to the 130-mph top speed of the car. The final segment saw May attempting to set a new world's record for the fastest car using the new Bugatti Veyron Super Sport. He managed to reach a speed of 259 mph while test driver Pierre-Henri Raphanel made it a staggering 267 mph.

Episode 4 of "Top Gear" Season 15 is known as the "Building Motor Homes" episode. Unlike many others in this list, this particular episode is more of a traditional entry in the series, following the usual format rather than that of a special. Airing in 2010, the main challenge for Clarkson, Hammond, and May was to build their own motorhomes. Using cars they purchased — including a Citroën, Land Rover, and a Lotus — they had to modify the vehicles so that they would work as motorhomes as they traveled across the West Country in the U.K. to test out how well they work in typical situations for campervans.

Model Lauren McAvoy also appeared in a segment where she was driven around the test track by Clarkson. Meanwhile, "The Godfather: Part III" and "Ocean's Eleven" actor Andy Garcia was the star in a reasonably priced car. Throughout the episode, the presenters also tested a variety of cars, with the Audi R8 V10 Spyder pitted against the latest version of the Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet.

First aired on November of 2007, "Botswana Special" is a 60-minute episode of "Top Gear" that acted as the fourth episode of Season 10. The trio of Clarkson, Hammond, and May are forced to purchase secondhand cars with just £1,500, and then travel across the salt flats of Botswana. The three presenters were joined by the Stig's African cousin, who tested the cars purchased by the presenters by racing them around a dirty rally track.

The three vehicles used in the special were a Mercedes-Benz 230 E from 1985, a Lancia Beta coupé from 1981, and an Opel Kadett from 1963. A Volkswagen Beetle was kept in reserve as the backup car, as punishment for any presenter whose car became too damaged to drive. The team eventually arrived after a 1,000-mile trip at the Namibian border, where they ultimately declared that the Beetle was the best car as it had needed no repairs during the journey. The setting's breathtaking visuals and unique scenery were particular highlights among the lighthearted and entertaining action of the presenters.

Another two-part special, this "Top Gear" episode first aired in March of 2013. The sixth episode of Season 19, this installment sees the three presenters attempting to find the true source of the great river known as the Nile as they traverse east Africa. Along the way, they had to contend with a variety of challenges and obstacles, including hectic traffic and seeing their vehicles damaged in a multitude of ways.

Clarkson chose a BMW 528i Touring for the journey, Hammond picked a Subaru Impreza WRX Estate, and May drove a Volvo 850 R. Throughout the two parts, the trio also had to deal with mud slides and navigating with limited maps and a distinct lack of skills. Like many of the "Top Gear" specials, this episode lacked the usual studio segments and instead focused fully on the main feature.

In reviews, some critics who admitted they were not fans of the series said they actually enjoyed its "Africa Special." Stuart Heritage of The Guardian noted that the special felt more organic and genuine, with real moments of emotion.

Part of Season 14, the "Bolivia Special" first aired in 2009 shortly after Christmas. Despite being called the "Bolivia Special," the episode actually takes place in several South American countries, as the presenters journey from the Amazon rainforest in the center of Bolivia down to the Pacific coast of Chile.

Given £3,500 to purchase vehicles, the gang ends up with a Range Rover, a Suzuki SJ40, and a Toyota Land Cruiser that are transported up the river on a raft. Before the group can get going, they are forced to find a way of getting the cars off the boat and onto land. Other challenges involved waterproofing the cars so they could cross safely over a river.

The episode ended up being incredibly popular with viewers, becoming the most watched show on the BBC when it aired, attracting 6.4 million viewers in the U.K. alone. Highlights included confrontation with local drug lords and the infamous Road of Death, one of the world's most dangerous roads.

This episode of "Top Gear" was originally due to air in March of 2015 but was delayed following an incident involving Jeremy Clarkson. He was suspended on March 10, just days before the episode was due to hit TV screens. The presenter was ultimately let go by the BBC when the corporation decided not to renew his contract following what it described as an "unprovoked physical attack" on a producer of the show.

The episode itself featured few of the common elements of a standard "Top Gear" episode and opened with May and Hammond explaining that it had been put together using two features that had been filmed for the previous season. It aired in June of 2015, following a lengthy hiatus for the show and was the last to feature the three main presenters before they were replaced for Season 23 by Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc.

The first of the two films saw the trio purchase classic convertible cars for the English summer and learn what it takes to look after the vehicles and the culture that surrounds them. The second feature tasked the presenters with choosing an SUV to take part in a series of challenges designed to test out their abilities.