Ranking The 28 Cars In Jeremy Clarkson’s Garage
Jeremy Clarkson keeps adding cool new cars to his garage every year. Here’s how they stack up against each other.
Jeremy Clarkson has driven just about every auto under the sun from a Toyota Hilux to a tiny Peel P50 to a McLaren P1 to a Brutus Bomber BMW. From microcars to trucks to supercars, Clarkson has driven them all. There isn’t anything on four wheels that he won’t review. It’s only when it comes down to two wheels that he draws the line, and he often mocks Hammond and May for their love of motorcycles. So, if Clarkson gets to drive anything he wants then he must be very picky when it comes to what he buys for himself. He has to love a car, or he won’t buy it.
He has bought extremely practical cars like the VW Golf GTI, but he has also bought extremely impractical cars like the Ford GT, which is almost impossible to use as a daily driver. Clarkson doesn’t keep everything he buys. He often sells cars after he has nearly destroyed them. He has sold some of his favorite cars after he realized they were simply too finicky and not suitable for use on anything but the track. Here’s a look at 28 cars that Jeremy Clarkson has owned over the years.
28. 2003 Volvo XC90
Average Used Car Price: $3,293 – $5,288
This is perhaps Clarkson’s favorite auto of all time because he has owned multiple Volvo XC90 midsize luxury SUVs over the years. He has reportedly owned as many as four different first-generation XC90s.
According to Business Insider, at first, Clarkson was skeptical about the second-generation Volvo XC90, but he has since said that the well-appointed, stylish, spacious interior; and whisper-quiet diesel engine make it a real winner. We expect him to continue to buy XC90s for many years to come. “If you let the driving aids do their thing, it becomes quite relaxing, because the 2-liter engine is far quieter than in the old model,” said Clarkson in his Sunday Times Driving column.
Specs
| Engine | 2.0-liter Twin-turbo I4 |
| Horsepower | 235 |
| Torque, lb-ft | 354 |
| Top Speed, MPH | 112 |
27. 2011 Ford Focus
Average Used Car Price: $4,220 – $6,230
“What we’ve got is one of those 11-year-old wonder kids that have just graduated from Cambridge with a degree in quantum physics,” opined Clarkson about the dependable and sporty Ford Focus in his Sunday Times column. “What people want from a family car is safe, heavy, but also economical and fast. They want total reliability and air conditioning standard, and they won’t pay 15,000 pounds for it. It’s a chocolate cake that makes you thin, a cigarette that cures cancer, and classical literature that’s fun to read” said Clarkson on one of his DVD specials.
Clarkson clearly wants to dispel the myth that the Ford Focus isn’t a fun option for families. It’s a better choice than a minivan according to Clarkson, and it’s the ultimate family car.
Specs
| Engine | 1.6-liter turbocharged I4 |
| Horsepower | 148 |
| Torque, lb-ft | 177 |
| Top Speed, MPH | 131 |
26. 1998 Jaguar XJR 4.0 Supercharged
Average Used Car Price: $9,590
“The nightmare on Elm Strasse, the supercharged fist in an iron glove,” Clarkson wrote of the Jaguar XJR 4.0 Supercharged limited edition sports sedan in The Sunday Times column when he reviewed this luxury sports car.
Not only did he own the XJR V8 in 1998, but before that, he also owned the Jaguar XJR 4.0 in 1995, which was extremely powerful thanks to its supercharged 4.0L engine in the sport-oriented model. Clarkson might just love Jaguars as much as he loves Mercedes.
Specs
| Engine | 4.0-liter supercharged V8 |
| Horsepower | 358 |
| Torque, lb-ft | 372 |
| Top Speed, MPH | 155 |
25. 2002 Lotus Elise 111S
Average Used Car Price: $9,640 – $13,041
The Lotus Elise 111s is a fun driving machine that certainly seems more like a car that Richard Hammond would drive, but Clarkson did own one of these tiny sports cars. The 111S had a VVC Rover K-Series engine with a modified head and VVT-type technology, which produced 158 brake horsepower.
If you wanted something sporty and fun, and you were on a budget then this was one of the best sports cars you could get at the time. The ‘chip cutter’ front grille gave this car a sexy and sleek look, and it really stood out.
Specs
| Engine | 1.8-liter I4 |
| Horsepower | 156 – 158 |
| Torque, lb-ft | 129 |
| 0-60 MPH time, sec | 5.9 |
24. 1995 Jaguar XJ6
Average Used Car Price: $10,593
“If you want a relaxing and stylish ride, nothing even gets close to the Jaguar,” Clarkson once wrote in his Sunday Times driving column. The car journalist has made it no secret how much he loves Jaguars.
He is always giddy and excited when he gets behind the wheel of any Jaguar, and the XJ6 – which was part of the “Experimental Jaguar” line was no exception. It’s one of many Jaguars he has owned throughout the years since he has been reviewing cars. He just can’t help wanting to buy a new Jaguar whenever he tests one.
Specs
| Engine | 4.0-liter I6 |
| Horsepower | 237 |
| Torque, lb-ft | 277 |
| Top Speed, MPH | 147 |
23. 1999 Jaguar XJR V8
Average Used Car Price: $11,644
Jeremy Clarkson has never shied away from gushing about Jaguar. He loves the British (now Indian) car manufacturer, and he has been a diehard fan of many of the automaker’s finest autos – including the Jaguar XJR, which first appeared in 1988.
He once owned a 1999 Jaguar XJR with a V8 engine, but it has since sold at auction. Clarkson is so confident in the quality of the Jaguar XJR that he drove a 2000 XJR through the snowy Colorado countryside in an episode of The Grand Tour.
Specs
| Engine | 4.0-liter Supercharged V8 |
| Horsepower | 358 |
| Torque, lb-ft | 372 |
| Top Speed, MPH | 155 |
22. 1989 Honda CR-X
Average Used Car Price: $16,144
Clarkson has owned a Honda CR-X, and it’s no surprise considering the pedigree of this Japanese sport compact. The CR-X had it all: Nimble handling, superior performance, and impressive fuel economy. This was a speedy and sporty car, and it was extremely popular, especially with gearheads.
So, Clarkson naturally gravitated towards this car. “CR-X” supposedly stood for Civic Renaissance X, and that makes total sense because the CR-X was a renaissance for the drab and plain Civic. It was far sportier and much cooler in almost every way.
Specs
| Engine | 1.6-liter I4 |
| Horsepower | 158 |
| Torque, lb-ft | 112 |
| 0-60 MPH, sec | 6.9 |
21. 1979 Volkswagen Scirocco
Average Used Car Price: $16,250
Clarkson once owned an Mk1 Scirocco (produced until 1981) and an Mk2 Scirocco, but things have changed a lot over the years. He despised the Volkswagen Scirocco 2.0 TDI and called it a moose. He even put it on his “worst of” list in a Sunday Times column in 2016.
“Truth be told, I didn’t really want to drive the new Scirocco, for all the reasons that you read about on the Dear Deidre page in The Sun. You know how it goes. You enjoyed a year-long relationship 35 years ago. You hook up again, thanks to Facebook. And she has turned into a moose. Nobody wants that in their lives. Better to keep love from the past as a memory,” he wrote.
Well, at least he has fond memories of the first Scirocco he owned.
Specs
| Engine | 1.6-liter I4 |
| Horsepower | 109 |
| Torque, lb-ft | 101 |
| Top Speed, MPH | 115 |
20. 1999 Toyota Land Cruiser
Average Used Car Price: $16,977
Clarkson owned a Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon from 1999 to 2004. For a guy who supposedly loves cars he sure does hate a lot of them. He really didn’t like this full-size SUV.
Contrary to Toyota’s world-renowned reliability, the Land Cruiser Amazon SUV was not dependable according to Clarkson, and he really regretted not springing for the extra warranty. “As it was designed to go from Adelaide to Darwin, it should be able to manage the school run without exploding in a maelstrom of cogs and wire,” Clarkson said.
Specs
| Engine | 4.7-liter V8 |
| Horsepower | 230 |
| Torque, lb-ft | 320 |
| Towing Capacity, lbs. | 6,500 |
19. 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI
Average Used Car Price: $17,990 – $21,990
In 2015, Volkswagen got in a lot of trouble with its diesel emissions scandal. It leaked that Volkswagen installed emissions software allowing cars to cheat on EPA emissions drive cycle tests.
Clarkson didn’t care about the scandal at all, and he tweeted that he loved his Golf GTI right around the time the scandal broke. However, the Volkswagen Golf GTI was not actually one of the Volkswagens that included the deceptive software used to bypass emission standards. While people complain that VWs are now muted and dull, Jeremy still gives his old GTI credit.
Specs
| Engine | 2.0-liter turbo I4 |
| Horsepower | 220 – 230 |
| Torque, lb-ft | 258 lb-ft |
| 0-60 MPH time, sec | 5.7 – 6.4 |
18. 1986 Alfa Romeo GTV6
Average Used Car Price: $19,279
This was a bit of a love-hate type of relationship. Jeremy Clarkson said that the ultra-rare Alfa Romeo GTV6 – which was produced from 1981 to 1987 – was both the best and worst car that he had ever owned. “It simply never worked, but I loved it to death. It was like a really badly behaved dog” said Clarkson in an interview with News Corp Australia Network.
That seems to be a recurring theme with Clarkson and his cars. He buys cars that he loves, but they never seem to work properly. Consistently it seems that the funnest ones to drive compromise on dependability.
Specs
| Engine | 2.5-liter V6 |
| Horsepower | 155 |
| Torque, lb-ft | 150 |
| Top Speed, MPH | 130 |
17. 2009 Range Rover Vogue
Average Used Car Price: $21,078
“This is the automotive equivalent of France, the Sony Bravia, The Sunday Times, and Mick Jagger – It is the answer,” wrote Clarkson when he reviewed Land Rover’s full-size flagship SUV, the Range Rover, in 2009. We can assume he must mean classy, and sophisticated, but still very hip and cool. Clarkson doesn’t just drive the Range Rover on a regular basis, but he also insists there be a fleet of them when he is filming any motoring show.
They are very useful in hauling around production staff and equipment, keeping up with fast cars, and also keeping up off-road.
Specs
| Engine | 4.4-liter V8 |
| Horsepower | 302 |
| Torque, lb-ft | 324 |
| Towing capacity, lbs | 7,700 |
16. 2007 Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG
Average Used Car Price: $22,964
There are many reasons to buy a luxury car – for fun, to have a nice car to drive daily, or to take to the track and put the pedal to the metal. However, who would have thought that spite would be a reason to buy a car? Well, Clarkson.
He said he bought the Mercedes SLK 55 AMG – a V8-powered car only 2 inches longer than the Miata – because he wanted to annoy his co-star James May. May bought a Boxster and Clarkson said he wanted a better and faster car.
Specs
| Engine | 5.4-liter V8 |
| Horsepower | 355 |
| Torque, lb-ft | 376 |
| 0-60 MPH time, sec | 4.8 |
15. 2021 Toyota GR Yaris
Average Used Car Price: $28,000 – $29,000
In 2021, Toyota released an insanely powerful beast based on their extremely underpowered compact car… the Yaris. This was part of Toyota getting much more playtime with their relatively new in-house tuning company, Gazoo Racing. So what is it like to drive a car that weighs less than 2,500 lbs and gets about 100 horsepower to each of its 3 pistons?
According to Jeremy Clarkson, the GR Yaris is brilliant. He loves the car, raves about it, even named it the car of the year and yes… he even owns one now. All this makes us in the United States all the sadder that we didn’t get one over here.
Specs
| Engine | 1.6-liter Turbocharged I3 |
| Horsepower | 268 |
| Torque, lb-ft | 273 |
| 0-60 MPH time, sec | 4.6 – 5.2 |
142003 – 2008 Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG
Average Used Car Price: $28,378
Clarkson really loves his Mercedes, and he described the Mercedes SL 55 AMG – the fastest production car of its time – as the Swiss Army knife of the automotive world because of all its capabilities. “It’s a top-down funster, a long-distance cruiser, a muscle car, a Messerschmitt, (and) pose mobile,” he said of the car when he reviewed it on Top Gear.
He reportedly sold the car in 2014 for a mere $18,000 according to the Daily Mail. That’s one heck of a deal for whoever bought the luxury auto.
Specs
| Engine | 5.4-liter supercharged V8 |
| Horsepower | 510 |
| Torque, lb-ft | 531 |
| 0-60 MPH time, sec | 4.3 – 4.5 |
13. 1993 Ford Escort RS Cosworth
Average Used Car Price: $72,740
“Late at night, when all I wanted to do was to get home, it would be sitting there, angry and spoiling for a fight,” Clarkson said of this car in his Sunday Times driving column. The Ford Escort RS Cosworth is a rally-special hatchback with superior handling and plenty of get-up-and-go, so we can see why Clarkson would have one of these cars in his personal collection.
The 145-mph top speed is unbelievable for a sporty little hatchback, and the Ford Escort RS Cosworth’s “third wing” made it really stand out.
Specs
| Engine | 2.0-liter turbo I4 |
| Horsepower | 224 |
| Torque, lb-ft | 220 |
| Top Speed, MPH | 145 |
12. 2011 Aston Martin Virage
Average Used Car Price: $75,573
Originally meant to be positioned between the DB9 and DBS, the Aston Martin Virage was bigger and bulkier than most other Aston Martins, so that would naturally mean it would be a good fit for tall Clarkson and his big potbelly.
The Virage name was used to fill the gap between the old DB9 and the new DB9, essentially just replacing the Virage badge with a DB9 one. It had a powerful V12 engine, and that’s always a positive for a gearhead like Clarkson who is always wanting more power.
Specs
| Engine | 5.9-liter V12 |
| Horsepower | 490 |
| Torque, lb-ft | 420 |
| 0-60 MPH time, sec | 4.3 – 4.4 |
11. 2012 Porsche 911
Average Used Car Price: $88,334
Clarkson is always in the mood for a car that’s fast and sporty, so you would think that the rear-engined icon, the Porsche 911, is right up his alley. However, that’s simply not the case. Richard Hammond and James May love the 911, but Clarkson has bashed the car on numerous occasions.
He even went so far as to say that he was too well-endowed to ever drive a Porsche 911. Despite that, he still ended up buying one and drove it at a Help for Heroes fundraiser in 2013.
Specs
| Engine | 3.8-liter Twin-turbo Flat-6 |
| Horsepower | 500 |
| Torque, lb-ft | 480 |
| 0-60 MPH time, sec | 3.5 – 4.5 |
10. The 2014 Rally “MFB” Bentley Continental GT
Average Used Car Price: $97,951
What happened to the Bentley from The Grand Tour? Jeremy kept it! We see him zipping around in it when the mud comes to his farm in 2020.
Even with its roll cage, lift oversized tires, and other atrocities to the Bentley name, Jeremy kept it the same. Wouldn’t you? The 500-hp Bentley Continental GT was a massive, 6,000-lb luxury coupe with a few mods that make it a prime way to get between your sheep and your farm store.
Specs
| Engine | 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 |
| Horsepower | 500 |
| Torque, lb-ft | 487 |
| Top Speed, MPH | 188 |
9. 1997 Ferrari F355
Average Used Car Price: $103,164
A car collection would not be complete without a Ferrari, so of course, Clarkson chose one of the best for his collection. Clarkson loved the 3.5-liter V8-powered Ferrari F355 so much when he tested it on Top Gear that he immediately went out and bought one for himself.
However, he wasn’t completely happy with his purchase. He lamented not getting a hardtop, and he soon found out he was getting pulled over by the police way too much because it was showier. He also wanted a green one but instead went with the iconic red paint job, which we think was just fine.
Specs
| Engine | 3.5-liter V8 |
| Horsepower | 375 |
| Torque, lb-ft | 268 |
| 0-60 MPH time, sec | 4.6 |
8. 2004 BMW M3 CSL
Average Used Car Price: $106,888
“The CSL is magnificent. Like the Isle of Man, it’s a thorn in the side of the nanny state. It’s BMW at its absolute best” said Clarkson of this car. He took this car to the Isle of Man on Top Gear, and he couldn’t get enough of the 2004 BMW M3 CSL, which stood for “Coupe Sport Lightweight”.
There was a very good reason he test-drove the CSL on the Isle of Man – no speed limits. He was in heaven, and it’s no surprise Clarkson owned this hardcore BMW.
Specs
| Engine | 3.2-liter I6 |
| Horsepower | 355 |
| Torque, lb-ft | 273 |
| 0-60 MPH time, sec | 4.1 – 4.6 |
7. 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG Black Series
Average Used Car Price: $111,446
Clarkson lamented when he sold his Mercedes 63 CLK Black Series. He tweeted, “Sad day. I just sold my AMG black”. He really enjoyed the car, and he praised it when he reviewed it on Top Gear.
However, he did complain when the battery often died on the luxury car. Clarkson reportedly sold the car for about the same price he bought it for in 2007. For reference, the 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG Black Series had a starting price of $135,000 during its release. At least it maintained its value despite Clarkson absolutely pushing the car to its limit.
Specs
| Engine | 6.2-liter V8 |
| Horsepower | 500 |
| Torque, lb-ft | 465 |
| 0-60 MPH time, sec | 3.8 – 4.1 |
6. 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder
Average Used Car Price: $114,491
Jeremy Clarkson loves his supercars, and he particularly loves the ones with a lot of “pooowwweeeer” and “speeeed.” Clarkson’s motto has always been “go as fast as possible in a straight line.” He regularly pokes fun at Richard Hammond whenever he is driving an electric supercar.
Clarkson loves cars that burn fuel and make a ton of noise. Hence, the Lamborghini Gallardo – powered by a roaring 5.0-liter V10 – was the perfect supercar for him. He bought this Lambo after testing it on Top Gear. However, he has reportedly sold it since 2017.
Specs
| Engine | 5.0-liter V10 |
| Horsepower | 512 |
| Torque, lb-ft | 376 |
| 0-60 MPH time, sec | 3.5 – 4 |
5. 1973 Mercedes-Benz 600 Grosser
Average Used Car Price: $152,000 – $250,000
Who said that a Jezza doesn’t have any class? If that were true why would he buy this luxurious boat? The Mercedes-Benz 600 Grosser is the kind of car you would take for a Sunday drive, only you would sit in the back rather than driving it yourself.
Clarkson searched long and hard for the perfect saloon car, and he finally decided on the Mercedes-Benz 600 Grosser. This behemoth is totally old-school. It uses hydraulics rather than electric motors to move the seats, the doors, and the windows. That’s one of the reasons Clarkson likes it so much.
Specs
| Engine | 6.3-liter V8 |
| Horsepower | 241 |
| Torque, lb-ft | 368 |
| Top Speed, MPH | 127 |
4. 2010 – 2015 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster
Average Used Car Price: $226,551
The Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster is a truly impressive car thanks to its powerful 6.2-liter AMG V8 engine which can achieve speeds of up to 62 mph in a mere 3.8 seconds. The roadster has an impressive top speed of 197 mph.
Clarkson drove this impressive luxury car in 2011. He stopped in Notting Hill for a cup of tea and smoke before getting back into the amazing high-performance sports car. He kept a close eye on the car while he took a break. You would too if you owned something that cool.
Specs
| Engine | 6.2-liter V8 |
| Horsepower | 621 |
| Torque, lb-ft | 737 |
| 0-60 MPH time, sec | 3.7 – 4.1 |
3. 2015 McLaren 675LT
Average Used Car Price: $252,699
It seems as if Clarkson treated himself to an amazing and spectacular supercar after signing his deal with Amazon to make multiple seasons of the Grand Tour. After he signed his new contract, a brand new, bright-orange McLaren 675LT was delivered to his home in London.
With only 500 units made, the McLaren 675 LT is a rare and amazing supercar. After all, sometimes you just have to treat yourself. The $350,000 supercar is a gift that Clarkson deserved to buy for himself with all that sweet Amazon cash.
Specs
| Engine | 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 |
| Horsepower | 666 |
| Torque, lb-ft | 516 |
| 0-62 MPH time, sec | 2.9 |
2. 2005 Ford GT
Average Used Car Price: $385,084
Clarkson bit off more than he could chew when he purchased a rare, 550-horsepower 2005 Ford GT. The powerful American-made supercar seemed like the perfect fit for him, but he soon found out there were too many problems with it to use as a daily driver.
The security alarm kept going off on the car, it couldn’t fit on the Hammersmith bridge, and there were problems with the immobilizer and tracking system. He eventually sold the car because it gave him too many headaches, not to mention he didn’t enjoy the very low sitting space.
Specs
| Engine | 5.4-liter Supercharged V8 |
| Horsepower | 550 |
| Torque, lb-ft | 500 |
| 0-60 MPH time, sec | 3.7 |
1. 2011 Lexus LFA
Average Used Car Price: $845,559
When the LFA first came on Top Gear, Jeremy made fun of it. He had never driven it before. After he did his own review of it, he loved it enough to buy his own! While driving it on the show he admitted that the LFA is the best car he had ever driven! The Lexus LFA’s Yamaha-tuned exhaust note was enough to make any car person cry!
Even though he has since sold it, he has brought it up a few times since, so it clearly holds a dear place in his heart.
Specs
| Engine | 4.8-liter V10 |
| Horsepower | 553 |
| Torque, lb-ft | 354 |
| 0-60 MPH time, sec | 3.7 |
