Series 20

Clarkson travels to New Zealand to test whether a Toyota Auris can beat an America’s Cup winning AC45 sailing boat in a race from the Coromandel Peninsula to the northern tip of the North Island. The yacht is crewed by May, Olympic gold medallist Sir Ben Ainslie, and members of Oracle Team USA. Back at the Top Gear Test Track, Hammond compares three hot hatchbacks, the Peugeot 208 GTi, the Renaultsport Clio 200, and the Ford Fiesta ST, to determine which offers the best driving experience. The episode also marks the retirement of the Kia Cee’d as the Reasonably Priced Car, with a Vauxhall Astra Tech Line taking its place. To celebrate the change, Clarkson and Hammond host a party and invite a range of celebrities to set lap times in the new Astra.

Hammond once again investigates whether motorsport expertise and professional touring car drivers can finally settle the question of which taxi in the world is truly the best. Contenders in this global test include the British Hackney carriage, a Volkswagen Beetle taxi from Mexico, the Ford Crown Victoria yellow cab from the United States, a Hindustan Ambassador taxi from India, a Mercedes-Benz E-Class taxi from Germany, a Toyota Hiace taxi from South Africa, and a Lincoln Town Car stretch limousine taxi from Russia. Elsewhere in the episode, Clarkson evaluates the track performance of the BAC Mono and tests the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta on the roads of Hertfordshire. May pays tribute to the soon-to-close BBC Television Centre by staging a race through the building between parkour runners and motorcycle trials champion Dougie Lampkin. The episode also features film director Ron Howard, who discusses the background of Rush before setting a lap time in the Reasonably Priced Car.

The trio travel to Spain for a road trip in three so called budget convertibles, with Hammond driving the Ferrari 458 Spider, Clarkson in the McLaren MP4-12C Spider, and May in the Audi R8 V10 Spyder. As they cross the country, they test how discreet the cars are in everyday use, compare noise levels, and tackle a mountain road through the Sierra Nevada. The journey also includes speed testing and drag racing at the disused Ciudad Real Central Airport, before concluding in Madrid, where the presenters create a temporary street circuit in an abandoned housing development and attempt to beat a lap time set by a Jaguar XKR-S. Elsewhere in the episode, Benedict Cumberbatch appears as the guest, setting a lap in the new Reasonably Priced Car.

The presenters attempt to solve the problem of flooding by converting a Ford Transit van into a makeshift hovercraft, to see whether a vehicle could be adapted to operate on both land and water. After their first attempt sinks, the trio return with a redesigned version known as the Hovervan MK II and attempt to navigate it along the River Avon in Warwickshire, travelling from Stratford-upon-Avon to Tewkesbury. Their ambitious experiment quickly causes disruption and chaos along the river. Back at the Top Gear Test Track, Clarkson compares the petrol powered Mercedes SLS AMG Black Series with the electric Mercedes SLS AMG Electric Drive to assess the differences in performance. The episode also features actor Hugh Jackman, who discusses his film The Wolverine, recalls an awkward experience in Japan, and sets a lap time in the Reasonably Priced Car.

Clarkson and May are reluctantly tasked by the producers with reviewing a pair of compact crossover SUVs to determine which would best suit a caravanner. Clarkson chooses the Mazda CX-5, while May opts for the Volkswagen Tiguan, and the two put their cars through a series of deliberately pointless tests before competing in a towing challenge to see who can reach a caravan site first. The loser is forced to spend the night at the site sleeping in their caravan. Elsewhere in the episode, Hammond drives the Lamborghini Aventador Roadster and the extreme Lamborghini Sesto Elemento at the Imola circuit in Italy. May also reviews the new Porsche 911 Carrera S and examines a bespoke 911 tribute built by Californian tuner Singer at the Top Gear Test Track. The episode’s celebrity guest is Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler, who sets a lap time in the Reasonably Priced Car.

Hammond puts the next generation Range Rover Sport to the test to see whether it truly deserves the Sport badge, while May investigates whether the New Routemaster bus can be as practical and enjoyable to use as a car. Elsewhere in the episode, Clarkson reviews the Jaguar F-Type, and Formula One driver Mark Webber sets a lap time in the Suzuki Liana at the Top Gear Test Track. The programme concludes with a celebration of Britain’s contribution to the world of motoring, highlighting its influence on automotive research, motorsport, Formula One, and British engineered technology exported worldwide, before British manufacturers are invited to bring their vehicles together for a special showcase on The Mall in London.