Regardless of what you think about SUVs, it is truly remarkable how quickly this breed of vehicle has dominated the market. These stylish high-riding cars have become the default choice for many driveways over the regular family hatchback – a body style that still tops the sales charts, but for how much longer? High demand has spurred manufacturers on to create multiple SUV models that explore every niche out there, and so we arrive at the hot SUV.
Effectively copying and pasting the hot hatchback formula, hot compact SUVs take an existing humdrum model and add an elixir of ‘go faster’ parts to create a vehicle that on the surface is designed to take the kids to school, but then aims to put a grin on your face when you opt for the long way home. These spicy SUVs typically sit on the same platform of use many of the components that go into their hot hatch counterparts, much like the Ford Fiesta ST and Ford Puma ST.
Maybe our petrolhead’s gut instinct to flat-out reject hot SUVs is only natural? Turn the clock back and I’m sure the arrival of the hot hatchback was met with calls of ‘why does a shopping car need to go fast?’ by those wielding purpose-built sports cars. Today, we’re a hot hatch-loving nation, and maybe the performance SUV is due to go down the same route?
Hot SUVs were initially terrible. It wasn’t that long ago that manufacturers simply plonked a performance engine in their high-riding car, cashed in on early adopters and hoped for the best. With the emergence of some viable fast ‘lifestyle’ vehicles, it has sparked the same development race we’ve seen in hot hatchbacks for decades. Net result? They are getting better.
Case in point is the Volkswagen T-Roc R. This 296bhp SUV features the same engine you’ll find in a Golf R and a very similar all-wheel drive configuration. The end product is all-weather performance and a 0-62mph below five seconds – it even has launch control! In many respects it delivers the same sturdy but devastatingly fast outcome as the Golf R, but with the added ride hight and driveway image that people desire these days. There’s not denying that the T-Roc R’s ‘get up and go’ is impressive, however, when compared with a more traditional hot hatch, it doesn’t tick every box.
A Honda Civic Type R is a thrilling thing to drive hard. It’s agile and involving steer through the corners makes it amongst the very best hot hatchbacks of the past few years. The all-wheel drive vs front-wheel drive is a debate for another time, but what I’m getting at is that the Type R is all about the drive and the driver.
In comparison, the T-Roc R does its best to fight physics, but its added height and weight makes for a less agile package. Furthermore, the slightly sterile nature of the T-Roc R – and Golf R – doesn’t make it as involving when behind the wheel. Don’t get me wrong, I think the Volkswagen SUV is about as close as we have come to a hot SUV challenging the hatch equivalents, but it still lacks that spark found in RenaultSport, ST and Type R cars.
Speaking of ST models… Ford’s lineup has a third addition now that joins the much loved Fiesta and Focus ST. If you want evidence that a compact SUV can almost be as fun as its hatchback counterpart, take a look at the Puma ST. Ok, so some will dismiss it for Ford recycling a much loved sports car nameplate for use on an SUV – also see Mustang Mach E – but that would miss the point. This little high-riding model utilises the same cracking 197bhp three-cylinder engine as the hatch, the steering is 25% faster than standard, and the suspension has been stiffened. Net result? An SUV that handles brilliantly and is genuine fun to drive.
At this moment in time, the Ford Puma ST is arguably the best handling and most endearing performance SUV. Ford knew what it got right with the Fiesta and applied much of it to a vehicle that’s ultimately only 3cm higher off the ground.
Real enthusiasts might bork at the thought of hot SUVs, and it’s fair to say that early attempts to make these big cars go fast were sub-par. The laws of physics generally have something to say about heavy tall objects going around corners well, but there are some convincing contenders out there now that give pause for thought. As the influence of SUVs continues to grow, and manufacturers dedicate more resources to making their hot model the class leader, we can only expect things to get even better.
Pitching hot hatchbacks against against hot SUVs might not be as crazy as it first seems. Welcome to our new normal.
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Keyword: Hot hatch vs hot SUV: the new normal?