Playful handling, genuine everyday practicality and deployable B-road performance. These have long been the hallmarks of one of our favourite classes: the hot hatchback.
The traditional formula has been fine-tuned over the past few decades, but the idea has remained unchanged: take a conventional hatchback, fettle its chassis and boost its performance, all without harming its usability.
But this revered breed of performance car is currently navigating tricky waters, with combustion-engined models rubbing shoulders with newfangled electric offerings that are redefining the class.
Strict emissions regulations mean that petrol cars are no longer the most affordable performance models they once were. We’ve recently had to wave goodbye to two hot hatch stalwarts, the Honda Civic Type R and Ford Focus ST, both victims of an evolving industry.
But there is still cause for optimism. While petrol hot hatches are an endangered species, a handful of brilliant cars remain – and new EVs are proving to be similarly fun and engaging to drive,
But which should you choose? We think the Toyota GR Yaris is the benchmark, offering stunning cross-country pace, engaging handling and compact proportions.
Read on for our full top ten list of the best hot hatches on sale today.
Best for: All-round ability
The GR Yaris is the current pinnacle of the hot hatchback and the best you can buy today.
The second-generation GR Yaris is more serious, more capable, a ‘better’ car – and still a hoot. Still a five-star, capable entertainer. Matt Prior, Editor-at-large
Powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine, it makes 276bhp and 288lb ft of torque, allowing for a 0-62mph sprint in 5.2sec.
The GR Yaris isn't just a hot hatch, it's a seriously capable performance car and a genuine five-star entertainer.
Only the manual Aero Performance version remains, and it's a limited-run model, so act now if you want this brilliant rally-bred hatch.
While several gains have been made with its most recent iteration, including a new infotainment system and reworked driving position, the original car was also fantastic to drive and probably just as fun.
Does the revised, bonkers, rally-bred mega-hatchback remain the high point for a generation of hatches?
Best for: Daily driving
Volkswagen's highly regarded super-Golf, the four-wheel-drive R, has taken a big step forward in this latest form. As well as its 316bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, its arsenal is packed with performance-enhancing equipment.
Pick up the pace and the suspension gets into its stride, offering confidence-inspiring control and a deftness of damping no matter how wicked the surface.James Disdale, Special correspondent
Most Golf Rs get adaptive dampers, which can switch between B-road ironing and teeth-rattling modes at the touch of a screen. Meanwhile, the fully torque-vectored 4Motion system can juggle drive not just front to rear but also asymmetrically across its rear axle.
That rear differential gives it staggering agility and in the softest damper mode it rides remarkably well.
The Mk8 Golf R takes on quite a different character to the Mk7. It has lost some of the just-so compromise of suppleness, stability and pace that made the last version of the car so popular, while even greater body control and adhesion have come in to make up the balance - and greater driver involvement too.
For those who liked the 'one fast car for every journey' charm of the Mk7, the Mk8 may feel a little too serious and perhaps just a touch aloof at lower speeds. But there's no denying that the car's outright dynamic capabilities have expanded quite a way.
Best for: Pure power
Let the following statement sink in: the Mercedes-AMG A45 S is a four-wheel-drive hot hatchback that costs more than £60,000 and has a 2.0-litre four-pot that makes 416bhp and 369lb ft.
If the Mercedes-AMG A45 S does go down as the most powerful combustion-engined hot hatch in history, it will be worthy of its fame.Matt Saunders, Road test editor
Affalterbach's most rabid hot hatch has the most powerful series-production four-cylinder engine on the planet, with a higher specific engine output than that of the Ferrari 488 Pista.
Straight-line performance is undoubtedly immense, but more of a surprise is how well-mannered its complex, steroidal driveline is when you're simply tooling about.
Body control and grip are outstanding, and the accuracy, weighting and textural feedback from its steering is sublime.
The A45 S is undoubtedly a triumph – but it has wandered so far from the realms of affordability that crowning it the class champion would be a touch problematic.
Best for: Electric motoring
Make no mistake: the Cupra Born VZ makes this top 10 on merit rather than as a makeweight that has any positives suffixed with the phrase 'for an EV'.
It has the performance we expect of a proper hot hatchback and a simple, accessible rear-drive handling appeal.Matt Saunders, Road test editor
Not only does this hottest Born look the hot hatch part, it drives it too. There's real talent here.
Based on the same platform as the Volkswagen ID 3, the regular Born gets a rear-mounted motor that delivers up to 227bhp and instant torque. The VZ then boosts performance to 322bhp and 402lb ft.
It feels genuinely quick up to 60mph, and while accelerative force diminishes beyond this point, few fast car fans will be disappointed. It steers keenly, with quick turn-in and poised, low-roll handling that allows it to scoot through a series of corners quickly and accurately.
Elsewhere, it does the other hot hatch things well, with a spacious and versatile interior plus decent everyday comfort and refinement.
Better still, with its larger 77kWh battery, the Born VZ promises a very respectable 372 miles on a charge.
Best for: Luxury
Is the idea of an Audi A3 that’s capable of 180mph more or less absurd than one that might cost you as much as £65,000 after options?
This would seem to be the best and most roundly impressive RS3 that Audi has ever built. Illya Verpraet, Road Tester
There is something extraordinary about even the very proposition of the latest generation of Audi's ultra-hot hatchback.
For a start, it has a cracking, characterful five-pot engine fit to grace dedicated sports coupés (as it did in the TT RS). Then there's the new torque-vectoring back axle, which operates in a similar way to that of the AMG A45 S and can, in certain conditions, result in a longitudinally engined hatchback that can be genuinely steering on the throttle.
The RS3 combines these elements with a chassis that is controlled but far from brittle, and perhaps that's the real magic of this recipe. It's fundamentally usable day-to-day, despite the wild performance on offer and a very punchy exterior aesthetic.
That said, the AMG edges it in our estimations, owing to its warmer cabin and more feelsome driving experience.
Best for: Go-kart dynamics
The Mini Cooper S has always been a solid hot hatch option, and it's a similar story with the model's latest iteration.
What makes the lack of control over the engine and gearbox all the more frustrating is that the chassis of this new Cooper is hugely entertaining.Illya Verpraet, Road Tester
Powered by an eager 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, the Cooper S gets 201bhp and 221lb ft of torque. That makes it one of the least powerful models on this list, but it will still hit 0-62mph in 6.3sec, and it's still highly capable and enjoyable to drive.
It sports sharp handling, which is matched by its capable chassis. While Cooper S models of old felt overly firm for most drivers, the new car feels much more livable – and much more pliant than the Cooper JCW.
And unlike with any of the other cars on this list, there's a convertible version.
Best for: Electric performance
There was plenty of clamour surrounding the A290 such was the wide-reaching success of the Renault 5 on which it's based, but we needn’t have worried: the A290 was developed by the same Dieppe-based team that gave us the sublime A110 sports car.
As a daily driver I have a lot of time for the Alpine, but drive it hard and the steering does start to talk. Illya Verpraet, Road Tester
Find a meandering B-road and it's easy to find a rhythm in the A290, with its low centre of gravity, sharp steering and ample performance combining for a truly engaging drive.
It hasn’t redefined the class, but has instead shown that compact electric sportsers can thrill and entertain just as much as their ICE rivals.
Prices were a bit hefty from launch, but now that it qualifies for the maximum £3750 Electric Car Grant, this French fancy is now more accessible than ever.
It's a fine choice – just as long as you can live with its fleeting electric range.
Best for: Rolling refinement
Similar to the Volkswagen Golf GTI, the Cupra Leon adds a dose of performance to the regular Seat Leon hatchback.
Viewed as an all-round proposition, its practicality and comfort keep the Cupra Leon competitive with the rest in its class, and the offering of a manual gearbox on basic versions is a nice addition.Illya Verpraet, Road Tester
There are no fewer than seven trim levels for this hot Leon, but the headline powertrains are a brand new 329bhp engine and a 268bhp plug-in hybrid powertrain, both of which offer stonking performance to challenge its German cousin.
We like the Leon and think it offers great styling, rapid outright pace and a balanced and comfortable chassis. It's not quite the bespoke Cupra it's claimed to be, but it's still practical and well-designed, with terrific rolling refinement.
It's not all perfect. It is slightly let down by its aversion to buttons and its interior quality isn't up there with the class's best. Its steering is also slightly dull, disappointingly. But it's a great all-round proposition and well worth considering if you're after a refined hot hatch.
Best for: Fuel economy
Previous versions of Volkswagen's long-lived Golf GTI have featured prominently in this line-up of the greatest affordable performance cars, but this one is a slightly different kettle of fish.
This Mk8 Golf GTI is more expensive but less comfortable, economical and involving. That doesn’t stop it from being enjoyable in its own right, though.Illya Verpraet, Road Tester
Volkswagen went in search of greater handling response and driver appeal with the eighth generation of its hot Golf but had only questionable success in finding it.
Meanwhile, it adversely affected the sweet-riding, easy-to-use temperament that the GTI has traded on for so long, introducing an unwelcome firmness to its ride.
Don't get us wrong: the GTI is still a good, enjoyable everyday driver. Its 242bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine remains a little short on power compared with the rest of the cars here, but it makes for strong and responsive thrust, which the chassis allows you to deploy pretty freely.
The car's new firmer springing makes it work better on smoother surfaces than typical UK country B-roads, but adaptive dampers do allow for some adjustment of the ride.
The steering is nicely pacey but still a little light and numb, undemanding in everyday use but not as absorbing as it might be.
In Clubsport trim, the GTI's key vitals rise to 296bhp and 295lb ft, its final drive ratio is reduced and its suspension is firmed up. It becomes a more grippy, direct and incisive-handling car without losing much by way of everyday cruising habitability – but still not the best-balanced or the most exciting or involving driver's car in this list.
Best for: Old-school thrills
The previous-generation M135i and subsequent M140i were always going to be tough acts to follow, but BMW has been persistent in the development of its current offering to make it a more rounded hot hatchback.
It doesn't have an especially quick steering rack, but the response is pretty extraordinary.Illya Verpraet, Road Tester
Now dubbed the M135, this transverse-engined, four-wheel-drive 1 Series makes 296bhp and 295lb ft of torque for a sub-5.0sec 0-62mph time.
The standard car is good, but we think it’s worth the extra £3000 outlay for the M Dynamic package, which adds beefier struts, stiffer springs and anti-roll bars and retuned steering.
This imbues the M135 with an extra layer of old-school hot hatch swagger. There’s more bite from the front end and more playfulness to the chassis; lift off as you stick it into a bend and it will oversteer willingly.
Choosing the right hot hatchback means finding the right balance between performance and handling and usability and budget. Here’s what to consider:
Drivetrain
Why it matters: This will determine the character of the car and how it performs when you’re flexing its dynamic muscles.
Transmission
Why it matters: This is often the difference between maximum engagement and maximum convenience.
Suspension
Why it matters: Hot hatches often have stiff springs to handle corners, but a firm ride can be tiresome on a long journey.
Road or track
Why it matters: Some hot hatches offer more civilised performance while others are more track-oriented.
How to decide if you actually need a hot hatchback
A hot hatchback makes sense if:
You shouldn’t by a hot hatchback if:
When reviewing hot hatchbacks, we look for cars that combine real-world, sports car thrills with the all-rounded utility of a family hatch. Here’s what we assessed:
1. Performance
We evaluated throttle response, turbo lag and the mechanical refinement of manual shifts or the snappiness of dual-clutch automatics. We also assess the performance of the engine, with 0-62mph times tested against manufacturers' claimed figures.
2. Handling
We scrutinised these cars on challenging, undulating UK B-roads to test chassis balance, steering feedback and front-end bite. We assessed how well limited-slip differentials manage power through tight corners and whether the suspension remains composed when the Tarmac gets rough.
3.Usability
We tested ride quality to ensure they aren't too punishing for daily use. We also measured boot apertures and rear leg and head room. We also took into account how easy the car is to operate by assessing the intuitiveness of the infotainment screen.
4. Braking
We subjected these hatches to several hard braking tests to ensure their stopping power remained consistent.
5. Value and running costs
We weighed up the list price against the level of specialised hardware provided (like Brembo brakes or Michelin Pilot Sport tires) and took real-world fuel economy into account for those using these as their sole daily drivers.
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