Skip advert
Advertisement
Car group tests

Caterham Seven 270 - best sports cars

In the purist sense, a sports car could be defined as one stripped down to the barest essentials. Meaning a prodigious power-to-weight ratio, somewhere for the driver to sit, and a chassis that sticks to the road like glue in corners.

The super-spartan Caterham Seven provides all of that, and even a bit more – although it takes a really hardy enthusiast to use one for more than weekend blasts and the occasional Le Mans trip. That said, Britain seems to breed hardy souls, and Caterham makes lots of them very happy!

Advertisement - Article continues below

We like the 270 R model, which uses a 135bhp, 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine to crack off 0-60mph in 5.0 seconds, and has an incredibly responsive chassis set-up with super sharp steering and snappy six-speed manual box. Driven competently on the average British B road, a Seven such as this is almost impossible to catch.

Unfortunately the R’s no-frills approach extends to the weather protection. There isn’t any… So you may prefer the S with its windscreen(!), heater, roof and clip-on doors, which will still feel wickedly quick to most drivers.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £38,140Avg. savings £3,019 off RRP*Used from £11,995
Audi A3

Audi A3

RRP £26,295Avg. savings £3,214 off RRP*Used from £10,195
Kia Sportage

Kia Sportage

RRP £28,065Avg. savings £2,474 off RRP*Used from £15,972
MG MG4

MG MG4

RRP £26,995Avg. savings £7,541 off RRP*Used from £11,990
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range
MG IM5 - Goodwood front

New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range

The all-electric IM5 brings new technology and design to the MG line-up
News
10 Jul 2025
New MG Cyberster Black is a dark sign of things to come for the brand
Cyberster Black - front 3/4

New MG Cyberster Black is a dark sign of things to come for the brand

MG boss thinks special editions like this might be the ticket to keeping up demand for the electric sports car
News
10 Jul 2025
New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment
Xiaomi YU7 - front cornering

New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment

BMW or Mercedes would do anything to keep the new Xiaomi YU7 from sale in the UK and Europe, and this is why
Road tests
14 Jul 2025