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Compare the best hot hatches

High quality hot hatchbacks from rated and reviewed dealers

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Rated 4.6/5 from 53,023 reviews

Best hot hatches of 2024

Hot hatches have been a favourite of the UK car buying public for decades. The combination of performance, practicality and (relative) affordability make them an enticing option. Typically based on a small family car, then souped up with a more powerful engine, sporty styling upgrades and mechanical trickery that make them handle as well as any sports car, they really can appeal to both the heart and the head. Here are our top picks...

Honda Civic Type R
2024
Driving Pleasure Award
Highly Commended

1. Honda Civic Type R

9/10
Honda Civic Type R review
The Honda Civic Type R is our favourite hot hatch. It really is the best all-rounder and this latest iteration manages to feel grown up when you need it to while also showing youthful exuberance when the moment demands it. Now with 329hp, Honda is resisting the urge to go all-wheel drive, so you still get the playful front-wheel drive setup that works so well. The interior is merely okay and it’s a shame it’s so expensive, though.
Toyota GR Yaris

2. Toyota GR Yaris

10/10
Toyota GR Yaris review
Toyota’s rally car for the road project is still one of our top hot hatch options. It might be small but its three-cylinder engine packs a healthy 261hp and it boasts all-wheel drive, helping it to be faster to 60mph than the Honda Civic Type R above. It’s great fun to drive in the twisties but it’s also comfortable enough to drive day-to-day. Admittedly it’s not the most practical car, but if you can sacrifice a little boot space then few cars will make you grin on your favourite road quite like this will.

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Audi RS3

3. Audi RS3 Sportback

9/10
Audi RS3 review
The old Audi RS3 Sportback felt like a bit of a blunt instrument. It had monstrous performance but deployed it with all the finesse of a bull in a china shop. The new model is a completely different beast. It still has silly power – 400hp from a unique five-cylinder engine, to be precise – but now it feels more agile. Rather than simply mashing the throttle between corners to get your giggles, now you can enjoy this rapid Audi’s handling prowess, too.
Mercedes-Benz AMG A45

4. Mercedes-AMG A45 S

9/10
Mercedes-Benz AMG A45 review
One of the original breed of mega hatches, the A45 S feels like a supercar wrapped up in a small family car. Because that’s pretty much what it is. It has 421hp and all-wheel drive to help get all that oomph into the road, with the result being a 0-60mph time of 3.9 seconds. With all that power the security of AWD doesn’t make it any less fun, while the fruity exhaust note is sure to only make your smile even bigger.
Hyundai i20 N

5. Hyundai i20 N

9/10
Hyundai i20 N review
Along with the Ford Fiesta ST below, the Hyundai i20 N really punches above its weight class in the hot hatch world. Based on the diddy i20 it’s not the most practical, but who cares when it’s so much fun to point down a country road? It really feels like a miniature rally car, which goes some way to make up for the fact the engine doesn’t sound too great. It also looks a bit like it was designed by someone who spent too much time reading Max Power magazine in the 1990s, but don’t let that put you off. This thing is great fun.
Volkswagen Golf R

6. Volkswagen Golf R

9/10
Volkswagen Golf R review
The Volkswagen Golf R has long been one of the best all-rounders. That’s because you get Volkswagen build quality inside and all of the practicality you expect of a regular Golf, while also packing a 315hp petrol engine that will scoot from 0-60mph in under five seconds. It’s not the most thrilling car to drive, but few alternatives offer such a wide scope of pop-to-the-shops-practicality and B-road blasting ability.
Ford Fiesta ST

7. Ford Fiesta ST

8/10
Ford Fiesta ST review
The Ford Fiesta ST is one of the most affordable cars on this list but it is fully deserving of being ranked higher than some that cost considerably more. The Fiesta might be on its way out but it’s still an enticing recipe, with small dimensions making it ideal for the city while also being enjoyable to drive out in the countryside. It’s pretty uncomfortable over bumps, but that does help it be more fun and capable in corners. And 200hp might not sound like much in this company, but it feels pretty quick in a car of this size.
BMW M135i

8. BMW M135i

8/10
BMW M135i review
The BMW M135i has long been a popular hot hatch because it was the only option with rear-wheel drive. Sadly, the latest model has ditched this in favour of all-wheel drive, which offers more secure handling and more grip but makes it a little less fun. The free-revving six-cylinder engine is gone, too, but the four-cylinder that replaces it isn’t exactly lacking punch. Despite these complaints, the BMW M135i is still a great car that’s enjoyable to drive, but with its upmarket interior, also feels a bit more grown up.
Hyundai i30 N

9. Hyundai i30 N

8/10
Hyundai i30 N review
A few years ago Hyundai didn’t even have a performance car division, but now its N-badged models are some of the best in the business. The Hyundai i30 is a good base thanks to its sleek styling, but the N version gets subtly more aggressive bumpers, big shouty exhausts and a not-so-subtle rear spoiler. The interior is practical if not as posh as others in this list. The i30 N makes up for this by being an absolute riot to drive with a raucous engine that feels faster than its 280hp output suggests. It’s very uncomfortable, though, which can be annoying when you just want a relaxing drive to the shops.
Cupra Leon

10. Cupra Leon

8/10
Cupra Leon review
Battery range up to 429 miles
The Cupra Leon is one of the best-looking hot hatches, with bodywork creases and sharp angles galore. Inside you get excellent build quality and a smart design that helps make this the Leon ideal for daily driving duties while also being a bit more interesting than your average hatchback. You need to go for the 300hp petrol engine for it to be a proper hot hatch, though, because the lower-powered options (and the frugal plug-in hybrid) don’t suit its sporty ethos. There’s also an estate with all-wheel drive and 310hp if you need a bit more space.

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Hot hatchback FAQs

A hot hatch is essentially a sporty hatchback. What’s a hatchback? A small run-around car, with a big boot opening and an almost vertical rear-end. Here's our list of the best hatchbacks you can buy. Nearly every one out there has a sporty variant on offer. Typically they have more aggressive looks to complement their sporty and desirable nature - hence the term hot hatch.

If we’re talking about straight line acceleration, the Mercedes-AMG A45 S has been the king in recent years. However, it’s just been dethroned by the new Audi RS3. Audi claims it can do 0-60mph in just 3.8 seconds - 0.1 seconds quicker than the A45 S. Not much, although our very own Mat Watson could go even quicker in the RS3, managing 3.6 seconds. Either way, that’s mighty impressive for two cars that are also practical, with decent space in the rear seats and a well-sized boot. 

Technically, a sports car has been designed from the ground up to focus on handling and acceleration. A hot hatch starts off as an everyday, practical hatchback. So, not really. That being said, many hot hatches out-perform some sports cars. But what if you couldn’t care less about practicality and really want something sporty? Well, the Mazda MX-5 is a good bet. Its lightweight nature means it’s seriously fun to drive, and it’s good value for a sports car, too.

With performance characteristics that are comparable to an all-out sports car, hot hatches offer much more practicality and are a whole lot cheaper to buy and run. Sports car performance for the masses? Of course they’re popular. With more speed restrictions on the public roads, many would argue that they’re more fun to drive day-to-day. The Honda Civic Type R handles brilliantly and with plenty of punch, is one of the best cars for driving on country roads.

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