1993 Old Top Gear - Supermini Comparison

Jeremy Clarkson and Michelle Newman compare 10 small hatchbacks to find the best to buy.
ALL RIGHTS GO TO THE BBC.

[@ryanwhite2974]

Love how Clarkson hasn't changed his views on 'power' in over 20 years

[@ellenorbjornsdottir1166]

Gender role reversal. The woman is the sensible one

[@Nooziterp1]

Indeed. 'If it can't do 150 and/or 0-60 in 5 seconds it's no good.'

[@joshbacon8241]

Clarkson: *P O W E R*

[@garethwillis]

And the hammer is still his favourite tool for the job

[@Zero_Ninety]

I wonder what ever happened to that person who worked at Peugeot who understood chassis', because he ain't there anymore.

[@miaugato93]

+Zero Ninety Le chef de suspension was fired

[@soundseeker63]

+Zero Ninety They obviously sacked the stylist too as virtually every Peugeot designed after '98 is ugly as sin!

[@jayive34]

They stopped making le sporty car. They fired le chef de suspension, and most likely le chef de chassis as well.

[@freddieredding4565]

They are tres ugly, le engine tres horrible, and l'interior fabrique en spit et Kleenex

[@98-SR5]

HOOOORwible en evawy wayyy.

[@toymotorlux]

To all that can't be bothered finding part 2 of this, they voted the Micra #1

[@jaggass]

It was also car of the year 1993 as well.

[@jeff4362]

@@jaggass And arguably the one you'd most likely still see driving the roads today.

[@jaggass]

@@jeff4362 Still see a couple of old Micra's on the road. You can't say the same for it's rivals though.

[@jeff4362]

@@jaggass True. Probably an indication how much more reliable they were than the others? Particularly considering the Fiesta was best selling small car of this time, and Metro and Clio were also doing better than Micra, yet it's Micra you see more now.

[@Corvolet5]

Are you kidding? The Micra is almost a rarity nowadays. Meanwhile I see at least 5 Corsas in one day.

[@theonedoige5810]

My Corsa B 1.6 Sport is still going strong :)

[@joelcrooker2907]

I love how everyone is saying that those shape micra's were crap, they were ugly but crap? I don't think so. They seem to be bomb proof and rust proof because I still see plenty of them driving around on L registrations.

[@RoobehTunes]

Mine is an L reg haha. Bomb proof yes, but they do rust. They usually go in places that are easy to sort. How Jeremy managed to fit in the back I don't know.

[@bifta4323]

I like the way the Micra looks 🤷‍♀️

[@CynicalBastard511]

Only Jeremy Clarkson to make a boring car comparison to be fun to watch.

[@PigHeadedWhale]

I have a 94 AX 1.0 and it's great! Still going 21 years on and massively fun to drive. It's also pretty quick as it's ver very light!

[@danielhorrachsanchez4710]

Indeed, it weighed barely 700 kg, just like a SEAT Marbella of that time (BTW, both have been very popular in my country, Spain 🇪🇸) which was even a little smaller in size and also had a smaller engine (if I'm not wrong, a 0.9 engine with 45 HP). Which modern car is that lightweight? I can't think of any, really

[@guwzmt]

Great to see some people still have them mate. I have a 90' 1.0 in pristine condition. My father bought it in 94 and i drove it for 6 years when I got my licence back in 2012. Amazing little car. What it lacks in performance and handling (massive bodyroll mostly) gains it in sheer character. I would have never tought that I would fall in love with a 1.0 but I am :)

[@euhm]

I have a very early 88 AX GT. Such a wonderfully driving car. It still beats modern cars at the lights and on the small twisty roads almost nobody can keep up.

[@Nooziterp1]

'They will all top 90mph and do at least 35 mpg'. Shows how much things have moved on. Nowadays cars in this class will top 100 mph and do 50mpg.

[@MartsTravel]

I have just brought my 4th nissan micra 20 years old and its still flying up the motorway at 90. Comfy to drive, never breaks down, brilliant car hardly any rust, possibly the best car ever made

[@sofer_majdo]

The legendary word: POWER!!!!

[@johntucker23]

i would love to own all those cars in that condition today

[@m.b9133]

You can, they are cheap af

[@oddities-whatnot]

john tucker i had a nearly new fiat uno. Had it 4 years. Great car, had a great engine AND once the distributor problem i had was fixed, it never let me down. Didnt even bother servicing it !

[@Wingcrawler]

These crap cars?

[@onlinefriend3889]

@@m.b9133not cheap anymore

[@JimboRustles]

Why do they pretend like every car only comes with one engine to choose from?

[@no1DdC]

It appears that they are comparing entry level models (and engines).

[@KevinM23]

@1:33 the fiat badge is missing on the front grille!! 🤣🤣

[@livc44411]

Those early nineties minis were awesome, especially Clio, 106, Punto and later on Saxo in 96

[@AndreCorreia1]

Just loved Clarkson's face on 4:44

[@Corvolet5]

The Corsa was an amazing car.

[@Ahornsirup123]

I am drivin a peugeot 106 - and I must admit, they are very fun to drive and the later models are also very reliable - 170.000 km on the clock and avg. 6 l/100km. Lovely Car!

[@boisegameshowguy]

I would have the Corsa, it’s just a darling compared to the others and especially so in blue.

[@franzchong5889]

That Series Corsa was Australia's Barina the year after this test was done.What stunned me most is IT RANKED like in third or bottom of the test's here but in Europe it's one of the better cars.

[@joshbacon8241]

“What do you see as most important in a car?” Clarkson: Power! “But what about things like safety, fuel economy, value for money and - “ Clarkson: *P O W E R*

[@RustyDice]

Used to work for a guy who owned the Fiat - what took it off the road was when the engine dumped it's oil right through the oil pan. It had rusted through... from the inside.

[@gogogomes7025]

you see half of this cars every day here in Brazil

[@soundseeker63]

Micra is/was best. Still a lot on mk2 micras on the road today. Struggling to think of the last time I saw a mk3 fiesta, AX or Uno... Still see a few corsas about, usually chavved up with crappy body kit and loud exhausts.

[@jeff4362]

You're right the Micras are still around and some Corsas too. Poor Citroen AX are pretty much all gone...

[@martythemk3fiesta59]

Fiesta mk3> everything else

[@taufanjusup8875]

I find it more on expressive way of describing cars versus conventional way of describing it, reviewing boring cars like these cars doesnt have to be boring. Clarkson do it right!

[@sonofkikkoman]

Peugeot 205 has to be the best small car I've driven handling wise and even though it was a diesel it just flew because the car is so light and the engine was almost a 1.9 liter and mine had only 800,000 kilometers on it when the clutch went bad.

[@hendrixinfinity3992]

That same model is the one I learnt to drive in last year. Easily the longest lasting car my family has ever owned. We've had six micras but only that model lasted.

[@MrPabsUk]

Bullshit about Uno reliability, I`ve been driving them for 20 years & only broken down once.. The one I use now as a daily has never broken down, I`ve not even had to change the battery in the 8+ years I`ve had it.

[@Mikey-xz4vn]

FIX IT AGAIN, TONY

[@MrPabsUk]

Michael Piperni So funny! Are you a comedian? Like, for real? OMG, you are SO funny!

[@NotMeHere]

MrPabsUk fiat may have been good back then but let's face it, the cats they make now are for ladies who have no clue how to drive.

[@MrPabsUk]

+Driftking11 I`ll admit the Fiats since 2003 havent been as much fun to drive, but they are still reliable. My brothers current Abarth 500 has done 155,000 miles in 4 years (he is a driving instructor) & its never broken down, neither did his previous ones. French & German cars are the most likely to leave you stranded now.

[@RWL2012]

MrPabsUk I wouldn't mind learning in an Abarth 😄

[@nihonkokusai]

Being an owner of a vivio and ax for 8 years. I can tell the vivio does 65mpg and the ax only 35mpg. And the ax can pull 700kg at the back on a trailer. Ax powerrrrr.

[@jerrysshowroom681]

4:45 Absolutely Priceless. Absolutely every kid in the back of a Micra:

[@EugVR6]

this vid is 1993, so no 205 as it came out in 85. These were all new models for that year...

[@Samspianopage]

Nah the Citroen AX was 6 years old by then, the Fiat Uno came out in 1983 (with the facelift 2nd gen shown here coming out in 1989 as was the Fiesta mk3 here aswell). The Renault Clio was 1991 as was the Metro. The Peugeot 205 lasted from 1983-1998 or thereabouts so it was still produced at Ryton and could still have been included but it was getting long in the tooth I agree and the 106 looked more modern.

[@Northaxe]

Citroen AX is my fav!

[@abingleyboy]

The Fiat tells the english speaker whether to buy or not should you buy it...UNO! The Mavis thing with Rover Metro is BANG ON!!

[@Darwinion]

Small smart and chic??!! The Micra looks like something Mr.Magoo drives.

[@Judgment89]

1:00 Jeremy obsessed about power... and still is.

[@RWL2012]

1993, the Corsa B had just been launched! knew a guy who had a blue K-reg one like that as recent as 2010! it was a 1.2 4-speed :-)

[@opelcorsa2012]

automatic?

[@RWL2012]

nope manual :-) the 1.2 had a 4-speed manual box from 1993-1995

[@opelcorsa2012]

oh ok i got a 1.2 5 speed, i thought 4 speed are autos..

[@RWL2012]

Basically, 4-speed automatic petrol versions of the Corsa B were available from 1993-2000, and all manual versions from 1993-2000 with a 1.4L engine or above (petrol or diesel) were 5-speed. But the manual 1.2L petrol is a bit more complicated - from 1993 to 1994/5ish 4-speed manual and 5-speed manual boxes were both available, but from 1994/5ish only the 5-speed was available.

[@opelcorsa2012]

Mine is 1995, 5 speed manual

[@uzogsi]

Noooooo! I will never know now!

[@johngarland6782]

Yordan Uzunov the Micra won

[@GlowDroid]

3rd place for the ax, not bad, now thinking in buy one as first car

[@davidbowie2046]

TBH i have only ever seen the Micra on todays roads :)

[@sol1996sg]

where's the 205 in this lot, it's a great little car

[@d31zzz_]

It was 10yrs old then they would use the 106

[@MrMelodynelson]

Fiat Uno (I had 2) is a pocket-car...super economy and very easy and simple to make yourself the manutention....

[@Khazar01]

So which one did they choose at the end?

[@snakehandler87]

I like her review

[@chrisb2157]

The little Pug is still on the road according to my iphone app date of reg 01/08/1992 21 years old!

[@tobyrutter3776]

I still drive my 93 L reg micra, 40k on the clock and no rust, it's not fast, fuel efficient, cool or safe but it's fun to drive

[@felneymike]

My first car was a Fiesta from that generation, the engine noise was horrendous.

[@JamesLaserpimpWalsh]

lol. I had an AX gt back in those days. Great car.

[@johngarland6782]

As of 2018, all the cars are long gone. No online details left (please correct me if I'm wrong). Also, in the other half of the program the Micra won.

[@WitchyWhale]

0:43, Hello Newman

[@anthonyperkins7556]

A good supermini should be capable of taking 4 adults and 5 at a pinch, manage the shopping and luggage, and have decent economy. A 5 door Vauxhall Corsa from this line-up would be the ideal choice in this respect.

[@robertmarsh3588]

Baco foil AX. My 205 (GTI) was bad enough, though that handled like a dream.

[@jacktumbouniversal2149]

legend said some people still dont know which one is the best.

[@265justy]

The 2 best little hatchs of this era are not even here. The Honda Civic EG6 hatch & the Toyota Starlet !! Builtproof reliable & very quick !!! These lot were balls of scrap in comparson !! The Micra was the most reliable here in this bunch ,,,but ugly ..

[@mcmechosoudek]

Jeremy Clarkson loving Peugeot...

[@technikbenutzer8714]

This Citroen AX Motorsound in the inside is the best! Min. 5:20

[@lukestaniland89]

Corsa all the way mate

[@utubeleplague]

recently sold one. that car material's are terrible, bad driving position and negative score to comfort. Only positives must be reliability and the engine is really sturdy.

[@OldschoolBoards99]

Didnt know he even said power a lot even back then haha

[@marknieuwejaar1075]

My 89 made for Canada micra has 130.000k on it & is still mint...wicked little car

[@nrs7_9_6]

💕

[@Martynn-wo4rn]

You've gotta luv the MPG's of these cars , holy crap , that 106 has worse MPG than my 2002 CLK 3.2 v6 that i think has utterly awful mpg compared to recent cars. How?how???

[@akronymus]

Never trust MPG values evaluated from the test cycle.

[@afranca1825]

Those are like the only cars we had in Brasil

[@Nooziterp1]

1:28 - The Fiat Uno was known as the 'Fiat oh no it's broken down again.' And that Fiat stands for 'Fix it again Tony.' I will await responses from Fiat owners everywhere.

[@StigMustang1967]

Jeremy in the micra priceless

[@TomBudin]

every fucking hatch of that era ends with an o

[@TomBudin]

geo leo trio chio mio melio vivio chivio

[@vinyljunkie07]

God I used to hate Micra's... Until I owned one. We had a K11 and it was bomb proof but also very light and drove well, just needed a more powerful engine. The only real issues with them is rust, great first car though.

[@KifazoidDesigns]

Was the Corsa!! it was the best :) hehehe

[@SADilNikad]

where is the end of the program?

[@DivideBYZero69]

1:20 POWER

[@ChrisJamesUK1]

Car of the year 1993 won!! The car that changed the supermini

[@jaggass]

jeremy's favourite word power

[@tinomatic1501]

clio is the best

[@jamiebalchin3578]

So which one was the best, I drive a Corsa

[@TheSaint491]

Love how Michelle says subarrru

[@kamrankhan-lj1ng]

That was better. I don't like it being called soobroo by the Brits and Americans.

[@pc_suffering6941]

4:55 lol same as mine but mine is theoretically grey

[@oliverleonard7730]

Where is part 2?

[@dave11686]

Holy crap, was this a comparison test or Jeremy getting cut off every five seconds?

[@ellenorbjornsdottir1166]

I was like "Dude, Jezza, shut up"

[@Samspianopage]

They missed out the Suzuki Swift, Mitsubishi Colt, the Honda Civic , the Cinqucento ,probably a good few others Lol. Just for a laugh they should've thrown in a few Eastern-bloc cars like the Yugo 45 or the Fiat Panda or Citroen 2cv for the really skint crowd Haha.

[@TrueBlueEG8]

Do you mean they arent there because it is 93, Because all those cars were on sale in europe then. Defo in Ireland , not sure about GB.

[@MrROTD]

POWAHHHHH is what I like

[@Elijah-cy9do]

How about the original mini?

[@tomforrest7814]

...yes... yes getting closer to the end THE BAR IS NEAR THE END!!!... who won I WILL NEVER KNOW THE WORLD WILL NEVER KNOW AHHHH ITS PAINFULL!!!

[@johngarland6782]

Tom Forrest the Micra won

[@Gazzafiesta]

Fiesta best looking car, micra most reliable

[@justsumguy2u]

So.....which one was best?

[@sunilayya8948]

The micra won this contest in part 2.

[@r.m9958]

MICRA.

[@martythemk3fiesta59]

The fiesta is the best ofc

[@oddities-whatnot]

Posh totty, very nice lady

[@cliffthelightning]

22 years later and my 1992 polo is still a great car , i have the 1.0 and while it's not quick....its a lot faster than some of the newest superminis

[@cibriosis]

POWAAA

[@MrClassicDoctorWho]

4:40

[@danielt.8573]

Of all the cars shown here the only two that still work perfectly after all these years and one can still see some of them on the road are the Clio and the Corsa.

[@Bumper3D]

+Daniel T. In Finland, the land of old cars, you see plenty of 106's, Micras, Corsas and the odd Clio every now and then. You would probably see more Micras and Corsas if they weren't so prone to rusting.

[@danielt.8573]

+Bumper3D You're right. When it snows they put salt on some roads to help melting the snow and avoid formation of ice and cars who are poorly built suffer even more from rust.

[@soundseeker63]

+Daniel T. Are you serious? Im struggling to remember the last time I saw a mk1 Clio on the road...I see loads of this shape of Micra still about though. Very seldom see any of the others, except for maybe the Corsa. The Uno, AX and Fiesta will have turned to a pile of brown dust many moons ago by now.

[@russcattell955i]

+Daniel T. Here in the French countryside all we see all these years on is the clio & polo, sometimes a dodgy 106

[@danielt.8573]

Brook Smith I do agree that in a general way french cars aren't the best but the Clio's Energy engine does seem to pass the test of time. It wasn't the fastest car in it's day but the engine was somewhat powerful (binary values).

[@TheKenjoje]

micra won and deserved it. later on proved to be the most reliable small car ever.

[@-BuddyGuy]

Starlet should have been in this

[@stanojevicnatasa2514]

I love how she is dressed, cars... not so much.

[@lucamaini4492]

Fiat outside italy are not serviced Good enought so that’s why are considered “not realible”

[@Tony-pg3hk]

did Clarkson say he likes peugoets??????!!!!!

[@dkmorris713]

but...but... who won!?

[@johngarland6782]

Daniel Morris the micra

[@eltfell]

I want to see Clarkson's lawn mower.

[@maxwellsargent544]

look at them before all the plastic sergery

[@chriswatson7488]

They talk about the uno being unreliable, but that exact car seems to have outlived the rest of the cars there. It ran out of mot in 2007.

[@crustycorollas]

what lasted the least amount of time?

[@MrPabsUk]

Exactly, admittedly the Uno was getting dated by 93, but there were never significant issues with reliability.

[@robertgary3561]

Can she just be quiet and stop interrupting him so we can find out which car is best?

[@jayive34]

A white Fiat Uno is what killed Lady Di.

[@markoamidzic5177]

Are you dumb ? She was killed in an S-Class that crashed into tunnel's pillar.

[@jayive34]

+Marko Amidzic You're dumb. Everyone knows it's a white Fiat Uno that caused the accident.