Fifth Gear: Ariel Atom 3.5 R Vs Caterham Seven 620R 

The Caterham is by far the best-looking of those two.

One of the few times the Atom can be referred to as "the big one"

The knock out formula was the only disappointing thing. I would have liked to see the results in all three tests on all of the cars.

As a car enthusiast this is what i want to see from motoring channels. Fast cars going head to head kn a track with good drivers at the helm! So good

The fact that this little machine has that much grip without aero is truly amazing, I would take one in a heartbeat even as a daily.

Shoulda switched drivers just to see what happened then.

So glad you are back!!

I'd like to have seen the radical Vs the atom around the track

Love to see the real-time heart rate of each of the drivers during this race!

"please don't bite me please don't bite me please don't bite me !" lol

If only Tiff was here to lend some experience and knowledge to the subject.

Ima always love 5th gear....I just like how they go about their business.

I drove a racing version of the atom three weeks ago and it was absolutely incredible

I would probably still go with the caterham because it's the perfect power for me and I like the look of it more, and I would love to take it for daily drives.

As a car to drive for kicks from my home, neither of which I can afford anyway- is take the Caterham any day. The Caterham is a proper sports car, I appreciate their dedication to the form that is the 7, yet the car simply will not grow old. Hell I’d probably be more than happy with a mid range Cat and then some. The Ariel Atom, ok its a rocket ship, but holy shit would I feel like a knob driving one through town. It’s just not my style - I may not even have any style but, that thing belongs on a track ripping past the eyes of those who pretty much know what it is. Just my opinion, mileage may vary.

Caterham has engine in front. How can the front end be too light to corner?

I bought my Atom in 2010 & there hasn't been a SINGLE day that ive regretted it. Its an amazing car that has provided me with some wonderful drives & wonderful experiences. BTW, I am SO GLAD you guys are back! I love the grand tour (I dont watch top gear anymore since jezza left) but I am a true petrolhead so I need a more car oriented show rather than a pure comedy show.

its the first time in my life I hear of a Caterham as "nervous and unpredictable"

Notice how all the good track day cars come from the U.K.😂

Try to be on Netflix, please, I want to watch it but I don't live in UK

I think the caterham is absolutely predictible. More difficult to drive, but if if you lose the rear is much more easier to bring it back

Caterham every time. Thing looks just right

An Ex-F1 driver scared by a measly 310hp car, that's what makes the Caterham so great!

I take the Cat - more fun If you want fastest laptime - take Radical

Dog fight is my favorite part of fifth gear

I'd like to've seen the Radical's performance in this last test...

Caterham’s numberplate reads Lego cat?!?!

Two of favorite cars that normal people can afford for tearing up back roads

Still going for the Caterham. On track I want to have fun, fighting all the way.

OH Hell yeah the sequential two wings 3.5 R!

Not really fair contest the atom got big bloody wings on it, take the Wings off and then see which is quicker? I think the Caterham would win plus it looks like it didn't have optimal setup.

More entertaining than F1 👍🏾

The Atom was the obviously choice from the beginning

Atom 3.5R 367BHP Year: 2015 Colour: Orange Chassis, Gloss Black Panels Mileage: 6035 Price: £89,950

Not a fair race as the Atom has all its aero, would love to see the caterham with some aero then a rematch.

I’d rather tow my own gears in the Caterham.

Touring cars v F1.........BTCC every time Go JP!

is just that ariel has the reliable honda engine..caterham sounds and looks so damn good...both are beast

Sorry but NO! You are most alive right at the edge of dying and it is the 620R that deliver it at most. The imperfections are making it perfect!

2:50 ..."clunck, and pop away"...lad, that was called driving ;)

BAC MONO too should had been a contender but why is it missing in here for the showdown ?

Where's the first half where they compare the other two cars?

Wow. I just wanna tow one Camping and this my scenic car.

I've had a go in an atom. The 240r so not as ballistic as the 3.5r and it was the way it brake that really stud out. Enough to make me feel sick

How can one watch complete episodes outside uk?

thats a go cart right there got to be so much fun to drive

This video proves it's well past time to twice bend the deDion tube and fit inboard rear discs!

That caterham only had its rear wheels touching the track it looked like 👀

Looks like a lot of fun

Are Arial Atoms streetable?

Why not both??

Should have put the wing on the Caterham.

Get in atom!

Show us the Radical lap then

wohhh the ariel looks like it can turn around 620r every 3 laps..ariel looks like it took it to next level grip..but damn i like caterham looks..if that honda engine was in caterham it will be the best car in the planet

Now test them against the Donkervoort GTO Rs

Should have taken the V8 Radical obviously... would smash em all.

I own a Caterham aswell but i never had so much problems with the balance. The Caterham tyres may be bad or the setup ist just rubbish.

An ex--F1 driver, who obviously doesn't have any experience driving a Caterham (and didn't seem to have the skill to drive it on its power) out-driven by a TV presenter. If the ex--F had experience of driving Caterham's then the outcome would have been very different. Elsewhere on RU-vid you'll see amateur drivers driving the 620 at places like the Ring who obviously can drive this car flat out without losing control on every corner. The Caterham will always have a steeper learning curve -- it is a raw racer, and you can't jump into it and just go like the Atom. It takes time, but once you get to really know the Caterham, only then can you exploit all of it's potential.

Seems to be the other way around in my experience, the Caterham is the nicely balanced one the Atom is the tricky one. Hopefully they have improved the Atom now although they are stuck with a high rear mounted engine. In terms of racing the Caterham is considerably quicker to the equivalent Atom. In 'all comers races' Caterhams continue to be the fastest things out there without downforce.

Caterham is a like a drift car, designed to drift in every corner and not just drive in a single line. Wrong track, wrong driver and wrong driving style.

Still can't believe that these cars is street legal in Europe, why does the US said these were illegal to drive on public roads while they are totally fine in UK & Europe?

Why did they not swap drivers?

If the Caterham have the K20A supercharged, it will be the winner

"...the atom won all three challenges by a cun... country mile."

Strap two tacky looking Halfords wings to the Caterham as well and it would be a lot lot closer..... but then it would look a bit Heath Robinson, very much like the Atom does.

Need a better more confident driver in the caterham to push it to the max I reckon it could beat the atom

Just got back from the Ring in our 620R, if you drove it like that you'd be dead! Learn how to drive a Caterham before reviewing it.

Pretty simple equation, one is a fun toy, open wheel, classic British petrol head beauty with no fancy stuff, raw, the other is a tricked out toy with tons of gadgetry and aerodynamics... The Caterham is also a chick magnet.... A chick would not know what it is looking at if an Ariel blew by....

Shame Rockingham isn't like that anymore

OATH!

it's unfair contest because he's got wings on his car and the caterham doesn't, and I think it's got thinner tyres. with better setup on the caterham fatter tyres and a under diffuser the caterham would be in the ultimate winner. the Ariel atoms going to drive like a pig with no wings should have taken them off made it fair contest

Too much unusable power in the 620R, i bet the 420R would do better!

Mantap...atom :-) cantik stereng belah kanan...cun sebijik game AE real racing3...perghhh mantap...

ariel atom is more expenisve but its the same performance as caterhan

Nice top gear copy

Wowwowowowowow he has a 6000 pounds helmet just wow

What did the Indian bloke say . Could not understand a word he said. Were is Tif

Loose the first, win the rest. Stupid test...

Is this the new top gear?

An atom for me please :) Just has that ‘something’ extra the caterham misses.

I'd love an Atom, but I don't want to have to replace engines as often as I change socks.

A proper way to ruin your your at speed just like Jeremy Clarkson did on TG

Ford or Honda hmm..

Really intense speed and blow guys? Or meth?

Yeah Caterham was driven by a... well

Subtitles.

Radikal would've taken it in a full on race

radical is a real track car the others are toys with not enough rubber

i think you just have to be a better driver for the 7 620R

Caterham is pré-historic...

yes.the atom is better. but the caterhamhas a roof

With over 770,000 subscribers, I’d really hope you could pull 1,000 likes per video. Although, after this I can see why you’ve failed.

Who is that kalkutta taxi driver?

Yay, because positive discrimination.

The Calcuta driver is less than poor, he drives so bad... Caterham is much more car than Ariel

Oh no, not 5th gear too, you really had to do a diversity hire? Indians and cars just don't go together.