The best hot hatches offer giant-killing performance and a gripping drive, all wrapped in a user-friendly package
Britain loves a good hot hatch. They provide fun, useable performance in an affordable, practical, everyday package. But some are better than others and you’re here to find out which are the best hot hatches on sale today.
There is indeed an excellent selection of hot hatches to choose from at the moment, and our list contains some seriously capable machinery. Better still is that while the performance of hot hatches has increased, the running costs still remain fairly low, meaning you get a great balance of smiles per mile and miles per gallon. In fact, one of the cheapest cars on our list – the Hyundai i20 N – was our Hot Hatch of the Year in 2022 and 2021.
Thanks to some clever engineering and modern technology, the latest hot hatches are able to deliver enough performance to embarrass sports cars and even some supercars. Cars such as the Audi RS 3 and Toyota GR Yaris have four-wheel drive to boost their performance, while the Ford Focus ST and Golf GTI use trick electronics and front diffs to boost front-wheel traction.
What makes hot hatches so popular is their ability to mix fun and practicality – so which hot hatchbacks are the best to drive, while still maintaining their versatile side? Our top 10 reveals all…
Top 10 best hot hatchbacks
- Honda Civic Type R
- Toyota GR Yaris
- Hyundai i20 N
- Mercedes-AMG A 45 S
- Audi RS 3
- Hyundai i30 N
- Ford Focus ST
- BMW 128ti
- Golf GTI Clubsport
- Cupra Leon 300
1. Honda Civic Type R
Few cars combined interaction and outright pace quite like the previous Civic Type R, and for the latest FL5-generation, Honda set about refining the recipe rather than radically reinventing it.
It was a brave move given the market’s insatiable thirst for more power, grip and capability – not to mention the new car’s eye-widening £47k price tag – but the result is one of the most absorbing hot hatchbacks ever produced.
By retaining similar mechanicals to the outgoing Type R, Honda’s engineers were able to painstakingly refine the package during the FL5’s development, rather than finding their feet with all-new components. The Type R’s engine is feistier than before, the chassis is even more alert and drive mode customisation unlocks its potential as a sublime machine for road and track.
Couple this with a classier design plus vastly improved cabin quality and the Civic Type R justifies its asking price and then some. As Honda moves towards electrification, this Type R could very well go down as one of the last truly great hot hatchbacks.
2. Toyota GR Yaris
The indomitable Toyota GR Yaris remains an entirely unique proposition in the hot hatch space – a genuine homologation special shot through with motorsport knowhow and expert engineering. Considering the car’s rallying DNA, the exterior is somewhat mundane, but that only extends the Toyota’s appeal for some.
Powered by a willing 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine, the GR Yaris puts out 257bhp to all four wheels, and it’s utterly unflappable in all kinds of weather. It feels squat, muscular and taught as it flicks through corners, inviting the driver to carry more speed and commitment to stretch its capabilities.
For those who’d prefer this performance to be delivered with more fanfare, the Civic Type R requires more thought to thread down a damp B-road, and ultimately, offers marginally higher rewards. Nevertheless, the GR Yaris is a triumph from behind the wheel – so much so that we can forgive its dated infotainment system and slightly cramped cabin.
3. Hyundai i20 N
Hyundai is clearly serious about establishing itself as a maker of capable driving machines. Its first hot hatchback effort, the i30 N, was impressive enough, and the i20 N is even better. With ex-BMW M boss Albert Biermann pulling the strings, the i20 N has been developed as a high-performance road car that really delivers on the twisty stuff. Its ability to grip through hard cornering is astonishing and just inspires confidence as you get back on the power.
The 1.6-litre turbocharged, four-cylinder petrol unit produces 201bhp and 275Nm of torque, and is paired with a terrifically smooth six-speed manual 'box. There's plenty of aural drama too, with the snarly engine sounding particularly aggressive and urging you to push on.
Hyundai's small hot hatch is all the more appealing when you consider its starting price of a little under £26,000. Factor in the generous levels of standard kit, and the i20 N is a package that really starts to make sense. In fact, we liked it so much the i20 N was our Hot Hatch of the Year for 2021 and 2022.
4. Mercedes-AMG A 45 S
There was a time, not too long ago, when around 200bhp would've been more than enough to qualify for genuine hot-hatch status. Mercedes ripped up the performance playbook with its first A 45 model, which had 376bhp, and has now re-written the manual completely by putting its 415bhp A 45 S into production.
AMG literally couldn't squeeze any more power from the previous model, so it started from scratch instead, boosting power and torque to sports car levels. Four-wheel-drive helps the A 45 S sprint from 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds, so you have a family hatchback that is quicker off the line than its AMG GT sports car sibling.
The engine is the world’s most powerful four-cylinder production motor and loves to be revved. Fortunately, Mercedes provides a manual mode with the eight-speed automatic gearbox, which means you can have even more fun pushing the car right to its limits.
What's also unique about the AMG 45 S compared with other hatchbacks in this list, is its luxuriously appointed interior. Although maybe not the most important area of consideration for keen drivers, it does add to the car's premium feel.
5. Audi RS 3
That one of Audi RS’s best products in years is only the fifth best hot hatch around is testament to the outstanding quality in the class. The latest RS 3 is likely to be the last Audi fitted with a five-cylinder engine, and puts the brand firmly on the map as a maker of engaging performance cars as well as searingly fast ones.
With 395bhp from its 2.5-litre turbocharged motor, the RS 3 is slightly outgunned by the Mercedes A45 S, but it makes full use of its power thanks to an RS Torque Splitter rear differential. By apportioning up to 100 per cent of rear axle torque to the outside tyre, the RS 3 can pull off baletic powerslides, and allows the driver to indulge in oversteer on the exit of corners.
When pootling around, the slick double-clutch gearbox, relatively forgiving ride and tech laden interior give the RS 3 an impressively wide operating window, while the swollen body panels give a pleasingly subtle hint at its performance.
6. Hyundai i30 N
Five years ago the idea of Hyundai producing a front-line hot hatchback seemed laughable. But then the South Korean manufacturer hired the man who used to run BMW’s M Division, Albert Biermann, and since then Hyundai’s N brand has taken off and will continue to head for the stars, you suspect.
The larger of its two offerings is the i30 N. With a 271bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine (only a very small proportion of customers opted for the less powerful, non-Performance Pack model, according to Hyundai, so the brand no longer offers it in the UK), the i30 N has enough straight-line performance to mix it with all but the most hardcore hot hatches.
But it’s the steering, chassis, brakes and interior spec that set the i30 N aside; in all these respects it’s right up there with the very best. And for less than £35,000, it’s also exceptionally well specified inside, making it great value for money. It features myriad customisable settings accessible through its eight-inch touchscreen, including an electronically adjustable limited-slip diff, adaptive dampers like the Civic Type R, a switchable exhaust and even rev-matching for the six-speed manual gearbox.
Out of nowhere, Hyundai produced one of the great hot hatches of our time.
7. Ford Focus ST
Yes, the latest Focus ST is very quick, but despite its attitude, the sophisticated tuned suspension, and the superbly quick steering that (combined with the chassis) gives the car its trademark agility, it’s also well mannered, which makes it easy-peasy to live with every day as a result. So don’t think that because it has a 0-62mph time of 5.7 seconds and a top speed of 155mph that the latest ST is any sort of a madman. In reality it’s quite the opposite, and one of the best hot hatchbacks you can buy for around £37,000.
There are clever adaptive dampers available, a fruity exhaust that enhances the 2.3-litre EcoBoost motor’s sound signature, an electronically controlled limited-slip differential and even features such as flat shifting and launch control, depending on what options you spec.
More to the point, it’s also available as an estate if you need the extra practicality – and there’s nothing cooler than a performance estate.
8. BMW 128ti
As a German hatchback, the BMW 1 Series often finds itself being compared with one of the toughest competitors on the market, the Volkswagen Golf. So, naturally, the hot, front-wheel-drive 128ti quickly found itself up against the car that started it all, the Golf GTI.
While both cars offer plenty to make them appealing, the 128ti has the edge when it comes to pure driving pleasure. The same turbocharged 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder engine from the MINI Cooper produces 261bhp, and is good for a 0-62mph time of 6.1 seconds and a top speed of 155mph. While these may not be the quickest figures in the hot hatch world, when you mix in the 128ti’s relatively low weight, limited-slip differential and tweaked suspension, you’ll probably be having too much fun to really care.
9. Golf GTI Clubsport
The latest Golf GTI didn’t immediately capture our hearts like some of the firm’s earlier efforts, but it remains a formidable, well rounded package that sneaks ahead of the Cupra Leon 300 that uses similar VW Group technology.
The GTI Clubsport feels muscular and urgent on the move thanks to its 2.0-litre turbocharged motor, which sends nearly 300bhp to the front wheels alone. While the Mk8 GTI doesn't tackle undulating b-roads with the finesse of some of its forebears, extensive drive mode options allows you to tailor its responses for different moods, and it always feels surefooted and grippy. The steering is accurate, and provided you keep the entry speed in check, the GTI hooks around apexes very neatly.
It's a fraction less spacious than the Cupra Leon 300 inside, but the Golf GTI's interior is as intuitive as the base car's – which is to say, deeply frustrating in real terms. The ergonomics and infotainment system lag behind the pack, which is a shame when the car feels well engineered at its core.
10. Cupra Leon 300
The Cupra Leon does everything you want a hot hatch to do – it's fun to drive, extremely rapid, with good looks and a reasonable price tag. What's not to like? Ok, the brand might be a bit of a mystery to some, but if you do your homework you'll know that the Cupra Leon is a deeply capable, athletic machine that also offers the essential practicality of a great hot hatch.
When we first tested a Spanish-spec Cupra Leon 300, its supreme grip and poise on track took us – and the Golf GTI Clubsport we pitted it against – by surprise, but we’ve since driven UK models which fell short of that first impression. Still, the Cupra’s 296bhp hauls it from 0-62mph in just 5.7 seconds, and the power is well contained thanks to an approachable handling balance.
The cabin tech can be fiddly at times, but the Leon’s ample rear legroom and 380-litre boot make this a versatile hatchback with sports car pace.
If you’re looking for maximum thrills, read our list of the fastest accelerating cars in the world…
Keyword: Top 10 best hot hatchbacks to buy 2023