Top Gear: The 15 Funniest Episodes

Sept. 27, 2022, 2:30 p.m.

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Top Gear: The 15 Funniest Episodes

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Summary Top Gear episodes include challenges to create better police cars with humorous results, showcasing the trio's comedic talents.

Season 19, Episode 1 features Clarkson attempting to build a tiny car and pitching it on a business show for laughs.

Season 14, Episode 2 highlights the trio's attempt at building an electric car resulting in comedic failures and a low rating.

Years after their Top Gear glory days, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May, show no signs of slowing down, and there are the best episodes of the top car show for fanatics. The presenter trio is still living dangerously, with May crashing into a tunnel at 75 mph while filming one of the best Top Gear specials of The Grand Tour in Norway. While some aspects of Top Gear are fake, which episodes of Top Gear come out on top?

Over the years, the experts on the great car repairing show have gladly participated in several dangerous stunts. Still, even though their driving skills are unmatched, the endless laughter they bring is what sets them apart from other car show presenters. Whether through dialogue or comical moments, Clarkson, May, and Hammond have dragged the humor with them wherever they have gone. Which episodes of Top Gear are best?

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15 Season 11, Episode 1

Guest Star: Alan Carr

The challenge of making a better police car ranks high on the best Top Gear episodes. In it, the gearheads are given £1,500 to buy any used car and turn it into an epic police cruiser superior to the Vauxhall Astra diesel that the UK police use. Hammond and the crew had their work cut out for them, but there were entertaining results.

The episode’s comedy germinates from the decision of the presenters to go the James Bond gadget route instead of making realistic police cars. May places a rear-mounted paint gun on his Lexus LS400, which is unlikely to help catch criminals, while Hammond fixes a self-deploying spike strip on his Suzuki Vitara, which doesn’t work as he hoped. Plus, there’s a more amusing moment where the trio goes after a “most wanted” criminal who turns out to be none other than the show’s test driver, Stig.

14 Season 19, Episode 1

Guest Star: Damian Lewis

Undoubtedly, season 19, episode 1, is one of the funniest installments. In the season premiere, Clarkson attempts to build something smaller than one of the world’s tiniest cars, the Peel P50. The fact that Clarkson thinks of the tiny P50 as “too big” sums up just how fun a presenter he is. Driving the P45 through Britain’s streets and highways proves dangerous, but the daredevil does it anyway.

The fact that Clarkson thinks of the tiny P50 as “too big” sums up just how fun a presenter he is.

The golden moment comes when he goes as far as to pitch his invention to the panel of one of the best business reality shows, Dragons' Den. Clarkson lets his delusional side get the better of him, and the fact that he seriously thinks of the P45 as revolutionary cracks everyone up. As expected, no one invested in the P45.

In the same episode, Hammond puts the Pagani Huayra to the test, with The Stig setting a record lap time on the track, lasting for over 1,200 days. Actor Damian Lewis from Homeland takes on the Kia Cee'd as the star in a reasonably priced car, setting the slowest time. However, it's the P45 that takes the cake for entertainment value.

13 Season 14, Episode 2

Guest Star: Michael Sheen

Season 14, episode 2, is definitely one of the funniest Top Gear episodes, featuring the hosts building their own electric car. Feeling that the G-Whiz was not a good enough electric car, the presenters decided to build their own, which they first named Geoff before renaming it the Hammerhead Eagle i-Thrust. The presenters can always be expected to botch such an attempt for comical purposes, and as such, they build a box-like car that could be considered one of the world's ugliest.

Instead of leather seats, there are plastic garden chairs, and to troll Hammond, a transparent roof box is included to accommodate his “big head.” To further prove that they are not serious, the presenters cheat through the EU road legality test and even use Stig’s weird-looking cousin, who prefers to have solar panels on his helmet, as a test driver. An Auto Magazine review of the car at the end of the episode gives it a 0.5 out of 5 rating.

12 Season 8, Episode 6

Guest Star: Brian Cox

When the trio goes vacationing in a caravan, everything goes wrong, but it's one of the most entertaining Top Gear episodes. The episode marked the end of a hiatus due to the World Cup. Clarkson, Hammond, May, and The Stig hosted the show with guest star Brian Cox. The episode kicked off with Clarkson showcasing the 3-litre V6 version of the Ford Mondeo, urging viewers not to overlook this "underrated" car.

From the dog getting ill to Clarkson accidentally setting fire to the caravan while making French fries, there is no shortage of crazy moments.

The humor in the episode feels inspired by some of the best Rowan Atkinson movies, given how events play out. From the dog getting ill to Clarkson accidentally setting fire to the caravan while making French fries, there is no shortage of crazy moments. And as if getting sick wasn’t stressful enough for the dog, he and Hammond get kidnapped by a female fan, leading to a rather amateurish rescue mission.

11 Season 17, Episode 4

Guest Star: Rowan Atkinson

The episode where the trio made trains was highly entertaining. Clarkson and company believe there is a need to make cheaper trains, so they attach caravan carriages to cars and put train wheels on them. The work done on the cars is impressive, but what comes after is what triggers all the chuckles. First, the trio decided to go through endless shady burns at each other as they argued whether better between May's "traditional" train (an Audi S8 attached to four caravan carriages) or Clarkson's "Sports Train" (a Jaguar XJ-S Convertible attached to an open-top carriage).

Some of Jeremy Clarkson’s best quotes in Top Gear happened in this episode, and since the superiority contests never end, they decided to race it out. This leads to disastrous consequences for the test passengers, who include members of the railway inspection authority. It became the most popular episode of the season.

10 Season 8, Episode 1

Guest Stars: James Hewitt, Alan Davies, Trevor Eve, Jimmy Carr, Justin Hawkins, Rick Wakeman & Les Ferdinand

The Renault Espace Convertible was a chaotic and fun episode. Events revolve around the trio attempting to make a convertible people carrier by turning a Renault Espace into one. It’s all mayhem for the presenters once again. Despite their best efforts, everything that could go wrong does indeed go wrong, but viewers are always here for such moments. A trip to a safari park to see if the Espace could serve as a tour van only results in the roof getting blown off and being destroyed by a monkey.

Even better is when the tattered roof gets jammed into car wash machines, leading to a fire that forces Clarkson, Hammond, and May to run for their lives. The season's first road test features the Nissan Micra convertible, labeled by Richard as potentially the most embarrassing car in human history. Clarkson decides to introduce a new addition to the show's lineup: the Top Gear Dog, affectionately called TeeGee, a Labradoodle described as a "hybrid." TeeGee, hilariously, is not a big fan of cars or May.

9 Season 9, Episode 4

Guest Star: Simon Pegg

In what can be compared to one of the cheesiest moments in Fast 9, Hammond and May attempt to modify a 1992 Reliant Robin into a Space Shuttle. It went surprisingly well for what could've been a disastrous mission. In this episode, Clarkson starts with a contentious argument, dividing petrolheads into two categories: those who adore the Porsche 911 (like Richard and James) and those, like himself, who prefer Ferraris to the point of fearing for their safety due to potential damage. Richard counters, asserting the 911's superiority as a car over a Ferrari, leading into the first segment.

The Porsche 911 and Ferrari are comparable brands and personal preference usually dictates which is better.

Even the ever-skeptical Clarkson is surprised by how well the whole process goes. Hammond and May have endless clownish moments as they attempt to become space engineers, but in the end, they build something that takes off. Could it go all the way? It doesn’t, with the crash allowing Clarkson to break into his infectious laughter again.

8 Season 10, Episode 7

Guest Star: Jennifer Saunders

In celebration of British Leyland’s Fortieth Anniversary, the presenters purchase three different models from the company, each trying to prove that they made the best choice. This challenge ultimately produced one of the best Top Gear episodes. Despite the producers' dismissal of the company's legacy due to its notorious unreliability and poor build quality, the hosts enjoyed honoring the vehicle. Nonetheless, the trio insists that despite these shortcomings, some of British Leyland's designs were still worthy of recognition and admiration.

The episode’s brilliance lies in the creativity of the challenges meant to test each car’s performance. From filling them with water to see how waterproof they were, to driving with eggs to see how many would break (a test for comfort), the trio sorts jokes and laughs at their misfortunes. Best moment? Hammond’s car fails the handbrake test and rolls down a hill.

7 Season 22, Episode 3

Guest Star: Daniel Ricciardo

Another one of the best Top Gear episodes happened in season 22, episode 3 when the hosts built ambulances and raced to get nuclear waste explosion dummies to A&E. Additionally, the episode featured Richard testing a van, Jeremy driving an old brown Porsche, and James using a telephone. Outside the ambulance building, guest star in a reasonably priced car, Daniel Ricciardo, set the fastest Formula 1 time ever on the show's leaderboard in a Suzuki Liana.

The episode where the presenters are tasked with making their ambulances on a £5,000 budget is a creative test for the team. The trio engages in a challenge to see how each of their ambulances can deliver a “patient” to a hospital. As expected, none of the ambulances is better than what is already being used. The casualties are plenty, but luckily, they are all dummies.

6 Season 13, Episode 2

Guest Star: Stephen Fry

One of the funniest Top Gear episodes is when the presenters pretend to be 17-year-olds buying their first cars. After purchasing the cars, the presenters engage in dangerous teenage-related activities to see how much the vehicles can endure. Naturally, the gearheads are more interested in finding cars that are fun and speedy rather than safe and reliable, similar to the thousands of teenagers who obtain licenses each year.

The humor in the Top Gear episode stems not from the challenges but from the dialogue, notably Clarkson’s hilarious conversation with an insurance representative after discovering that teenage girls have to pay less than teenage boys. Watching the presenters get into endless teenage-like arguments about which car has the most excellent girlfriend-attracting features is a head-nodding experience, too. It's fascinating how certain teenage tendencies never go away, especially when it comes to car aficionados.

5 Season 10, Episode 1

Guest Star: Helen Mirren

In the opening episode of Top Gear season 10, the hosts buckle up for a European road trip adventure, and it didn't disappoint. Clarkson, Hammond, and May unleash their inner speed demons, each piloting a lightweight supercar – a Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera, Porsche 911 GT3 RS, and Aston Martin V8 Vantage N24, respectively. They discovered the pinnacle of driving pleasure by hunting down Europe's most exhilarating roads.

The mountain backdrops and bright-colored sports cars made for an engaging season opener. At the studio, Dame Helen Mirren was featured as the star in a reasonably priced car, putting her driving skills to the test on the Top Gear track. She was a welcome and entertaining addition to the team. This episode provided stunning European landscapes, high-performance vehicles, and the usual comedic antics from the Top Gear trio.

4 Season 9, Episode 7

The Polar Special

The Polar Special is undoubtedly one of the most iconic Top Gear episodes. Clarkson and May embark on a daring mission: becoming the first to reach the Magnetic North Pole by car. This 450-mile challenge throws them into the unforgiving Arctic terrain of Northern Canada. Forget sleek sports cars: here, specially outfitted Toyota Hilux trucks with giant wheels and winches become their trusty steeds to conquer the icy landscape.

It's a battle of man, machine, and canine against the harsh elements, but the Top Gear team is up to the challenge.

The adventure gets even more interesting with the addition of a dog sled team racing alongside Clarkson and May. It's a battle of man, machine, and canine against the harsh elements, but the Top Gear team is up to the challenge. Despite not reaching the exact magnetic north pole due to its shift by 2007, the Polar Special is a classic episode filled with thrills, icy challenges, and the trademark Top Gear humor.

3 Season 12, Episode 8

The Vietnam Special

Also known as the Vietnam Special, in this episode, Clarkson, Hammond, and May are tasked with conquering the entire country in eight days. This challenge pokes fun at the Vietnam War's ten-year military involvement. But before they hit the road, there's a twist: they each get 15 million Vietnamese Dong (roughly $1,000) to buy their own vehicles. Naturally, the gearheads don't make conventional choices.

Navigating the unique Vietnamese car market proves to be an adventure in itself, leading them to some rather unusual and unreliable modes of transportation, including motorbikes. The episode is the perfect blend of the show's signature elements: a road trip challenge, hilarious car banter, and a dash of friendly competition. Furthermore, it's set against Vietnam's stunning landscapes, from bustling cities to gorgeous nature scenes.

2 Season 19, Episode 6

The Africa Special, Part 1

In the first of a two-part Africa special, Hammond, Clarkson, and May head to the expansive continent to get themselves into trouble as usual. The gearheads ditch the usual high-powered rides in favor of grittier cars on a mission to determine the true source of the Nile River. This episode sets the stage for their epic journey as they depart in these practical, wagon-style vehicles, likely chosen for their durability on the challenging African terrain.

However, the challenges of navigating the muddy river still trips up the stalwart hosts. Classic Top Gear humor and challenges abound as they embark on this adventure, encountering the unexpected and showcasing the capabilities and limitations of their unique modes of transportation. Part two is also an entertaining romp through the muddy Nile River, and they hold a venerable place as the best episodes of Top Gear.

1 Season 21, Episode 2

Guest Star: Tom Hiddleston

Top Gear season 21, episode 2, is a classically fun adventure with a military twist. Hammond cruises the scenic shores of Lake Como, testing the agility of the new Alfa Romeo 4C. Meanwhile, Clarkson gets his adrenaline pumping with a review of the mind-blowingly fast McLaren P1 hypercar. May ditches the speed demons for a different kind of horsepower, traveling to a British military base in Afghanistan to explore the army's impressive vehicles.

Back at the studio, actor Tom Hiddleston puts his driving skills to the test on the Top Gear circuit, with the star in a reasonably priced car segment. This episode is hilarious as always and includes a wide variety of entertaining aspects, including a thrilling mix of Italian sports car flair, cutting-edge supercar technology, and a peek into the world of military muscle. Top Gear always knows how to entertain.

Top Gear seasons 27-31 are available to stream on Netflix.