Caterham R300 and Roadsport 175 (2009) CAR review

Caterhams may all look the same to the uninitiated, but its two latest models – the Roadsport 175 and R300 Superlight couldn’t be more different if they tried. Of course, they’re both insanely fast, deliver more hits of adrenalin per mile than anything else for the money, and stand firmly next to ten on the driver engagement scale, but that’s where the similarities end…

Tell me about the Caterham Seven Roadsport 175 first

The Roadsport is Caterham’s answer to a touring car – so you get luxuries like vinyl doors, a heater, a windscreen and generously padded seats (this is a Caterham, remember). And Caterham encourages Roadsport buyers to opt for the wider-bodied SV model, which offers a more spacious cabin and a smidgen more luggage space.

Powered by Caterham Powertrain’s Ford-sourced 2.0-litre Duratec engine – fettled to swing with a strong 175bhp punch – the Roadsport 175 is incredibly quick.

How quick?

At just 550kg, the Roadsport 175 flings itself on a whiff of throttle, serving up sustained and searingly quick slugs of acceleration, broken only by snatched gearshifts through the slick and wristy gate. Get a clean start and the Caterham will smoke its way to 60mph in just 4.8seconds, dishing up arcade-game levels of overtaking acceleration right up to its 138mph top whack. It’s such a direct and unfiltered driving experience – you drive this Caterham with the smallest of inputs and the biggest of grins.

And it’s a damned civil thing – the ride quality is smooth enough to embarrass most family saloons, there’s plenty of room in the cabin, and wind buffet with the doors in place but the roof removed is only an issue above the legal limit. 

>> Click 'Next' below to read about the Caterham Seven R300 Superlight