When Amazon announced The Grand Tour following the finale of Top Gear, fans were delighted. However, after an eight-year journey with Amazon, Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond have decided to say goodbye.
While the news has made fans quite sad, we're here to take you on a nostalgic journey of the top The Grand Tour specials that have aired over the years.
We have ranked the top 10 special episodes and while it may not take away the sadness of watching the show end, it will definitely remind you of the good times you had while watching the show.
The article rankings are based on the author’s opinion.
1. One For The Road (Season 5, Episode 4)
The final episode of the show charts at number one for obvious reasons. This episode marked the ending of the 22-year-long journey of May, Clarkson, and Hammond and the trio nailed every aspect of it.
The episode was a perfect blend of adventure, thrill, tenderness, and humor. Everyone working on the episode seemed to have made this their way of saying goodbye to the audience who have been enjoying the ride for the last two decades.
2.Carnage À Trois (Season 4, Episode 4)
This one was an off formula Covid special and the episode, with all its controversial aspects will remain a memorable one. The trio took a look at the French car industry and its weirdness in this episode and it was refreshing to see something like this on a Covid special.
What particularly worked was the obvious excitement of the presenters, who were able to shoot after many months of restrictions. Their infectious giddiness oozed over the screen and made the viewers laugh their hearts out.
Moreover, the fact that it was a completely car focused episode, also appealed to the car enthusiasts.
3. Eurocrash (Season 5, Episode 2)
Despite the roads not being as extreme and remote as other episodes of The Grand Tour, Eurocrash worked well because of the charm of the leading trio.
May, Clarkson, and Hammond had chosen three hilariously contrasting cars for this episode. There was also enough fun to keep the episode going. Moreover, Eurocrash explored some often ignored corners of car culture and motorsports.
4. Survival of the Fattest (Season 3, Episode 13)
This episode stands out because of the unique twist it pulled through. While the presenters had often bought vehicles and then modified them as per their requirements, in this episode, they actually built one from scratch.
The trio was dropped in the middle of a remote part of Mongolia and they had to build their own car to drive back to civilization. Even after they were done building their car, May, Clarkson, and Hammond didn’t stop their antics.
From naming their car ‘John’ to preventing Hammond from driving because of his reckless history, Survival of the Fattest was one of those episodes that just kept getting better with each scene.
5. A Scandi Flick (Season 5, Episode 1)
This episode followed the standard formula of a special episode and yet the trio’s journey into the Arctic Circle in saloon cars that were rally bred satisfied the viewers.
A Scandi Flick got everything on point that makes a Grand Tour special episode great! It had elements that car nerds would love, the scenery was beautiful, the pranks that were executed were legitimately funny. Moreover, there was enough adventure as May drove along a thin sheet of ice.
Despite not breaking any stereotypes or giving anything new, this episode followed the established pattern quite neatly, with great results.
6. Lochdown (Season 4, Episode 3)
This one was the first of the two UK specials that were filmed under Covid restrictions. In this episode, viewers were blessed with the mismatched sight of three American land yachts taking a tour of the rugged beauty of Scotland.
Besides making the best of the location and giving the viewers an adventurous feel, the episode also examined different aspects of car culture, something the fans always appreciate.
7. Sand Job (Season 5, Episode 3)
This recent episode did pretty well in terms of location selection and overall execution. It featured some rather new and high-value cars, which have quite an obvious appeal to a certain section of car enthusiasts.
What stands out is the location of Mauritania as the episode provided honest insight into a country about which not much is heard. Moreover, as the trio retracted the original route of Dakar Rally, the geeky audience was elated.
Their driving side by side to the rally’s waterfront finish had created one of the most stirring sequences in the history of the show.
8. International Buffoons' Vacation (Season 3, Episode 8)
In this episode, which often gets forgotten as a special, May, Clarkson, and Hammond explored the idea of the great American RV vacation with a trip across the deserts of Nevada.
Despite having some fairly contrived setpieces, the episode did well with some genuinely funny mechanical maladies. The trio also did car reviews, which the fans always like.
Moreover, this episode introduced a large chunk of the audience to the honest fun of RV games.
9. The Beach (Buggy) Boys (Season 1, Episodes 7 & 8)
This was one of the very first specials of The Grand Tour, but did fairly well despite some aspects of it feeling forced to make it stand out from Top Gear.
What mostly worked for the episode was the chosen landscape, the beautiful sand dunes of Namibia. Moreover, with the involvement of helicopters, rhino poachers, and gear knobs with unusual shapes, it felt like the danger was real in this episode.
10. A Massive Hunt (Season 4, Episode 2)
This episode of The Grand Tour should be remembered for first showing the kind of budget that Amazon had allotted to the show. It featured three mostly new and expensive cars that were then subject to serious changes.
The episode took place across Madagascar and the French overseas department of Réunion. The usage of the modern and expensive cars somehow put a dent on the rugged charm of the show that had previously featured mostly old and knackered cars.
Despite the treasure hunt plot feeling a bit stretched, the episode did have its moments and definitely gave the fans some unforgettable laughs.
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