Top 10 Used Hot Hatchbacks to Buy

For most people, the term ‘hot-hatch’ goes hand in hand with the Volkswagen Golf GTI. It’s a car which firmly ticks that ‘everyday usability’ box, with its large boot and well-made interior ensuring that this is one car that you really can live with day in, day out.

We’re big fans of this seventh-generation GTI, too, as it brought great levels of standard equipment but remained fun to drive. Its 227bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine brought more than enough grunt to keep things interesting, while later on in the GTI’s life a series of special editions – including the finale TCR version – broadened the number of versions. However, you can’t go wrong with the ‘standard’ GTI of this generation – it’s a true all-rounder.

Ford has a longstanding history of making memorable hot hatches. The Fiesta XR2, Escort XR3i and more modern Focus RS all stand as pillars in the Blue Oval’s back catalogue of excellent hot hatches, but it was the Fiesta ST where Ford really broke new ground and made a car which changed the motoring scene entirely.

It remained just as small and easy to park as the standard Fiesta, but the switch to ST brought a peppy 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine alongside some suspension tunes and tweaks which made this into one of the best-handling cars ever made. Find a twisty road when you’re behind the wheel of the ST and there’s no way you’ll be in a bad mood by the time you come to the end. It’s a top choice in this segment and represents excellent value for money too.

The Swift Sport may be less powerful than others on this list – this second-generation model’s 1.6-litre engine kicks out a modest 134bhp – but that doesn’t stop it from being a real hoot to drive. But in typical Suzuki fashion, everything on the Swift Sport is built to last and made to ensure that running it won’t break the bank as well.

But unlike some other hot hatches, the Swift Sport won’t guzzle fuel and that makes it even more suited for use as a daily driver. Couple in a decent boot and a roomy cabin and you’ve got a car that can be relied upon whenever the time comes. It’s available in a good range of colours, too, and comes equipped with loads of equipment as standard.

Hyundai upset the apple cart when it introduced the i30 N. Here was a company better known for its efficient and value-orientated models making a car that could truly rival the Golf GTI in the handling stakes – and in many areas trumped its key German rival.

Key to this success was the ‘N’ performance arm which worked to completely tune the i30 N to both on-road and track performance driving, while ex-BMW M boss Albert Biermann’s expert knowledge ensured that this hot-hatch handled like few others. Today, it remains one of the sharpest of its type, yet because of its Hyundai basis it’s still incredibly reliable and retains the manufacturer’s excellent five-year unlimited mileage warranty.

Honda is yet another brand with loads of heritage in the hot hatch segment and its Civic Type R is probably one of the best-known models of its class. This generation of Type R, with its wild looks and larger-than-life rear wing, might look a bit intimidating, but it’s actually a breeze to drive and flatters whoever’s behind the wheel with its superb balance and responsiveness.

But it’s still brilliantly practical to live with thanks to its large boot and spacious interior. Though the tech inside the Type R might be showing its age, it’s still more than usable. Plus, if you can look past the slightly low-res infotainment you’ll be getting one of the best handling hot-hatches about and one which is also great to take on track, should you want to.

Audi’s S3 Sportback is the kind of hot hatch which doesn’t shout too loudly about its performance. Sure, it’s got quad exhausts at the back but save for that feature, this is one understated hot hatch – but that’s part of the appeal of Audi’s ‘S’ performance cars.

It’s a beautifully finished car, mind you, with loads of high end materials put together in a truly rock-solid fashion. On longer journeys the S3 bowls along quietly and without issue, yet with its 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine pushing out 296bhp – or 306bhp in later models – it’s very fast too. Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system also makes the S3 into a great all-weather warrior, with top levels of traction being delivered even in the slippiest of conditions.

The Abarth name stretches back decades to a time when the original – and tiny – Fiat 500 was transformed into a go-faster model. The modern interpretation of the Abarth followed a similar recipe, taking the standard Fiat 500 and giving a real kick of character through an uprated engine and one of the noisiest exhaust systems in the business.

While we’re not fans of the 595’s high seating position – it makes you feel a bit like you’re driving a van – you can’t help but smile when you first start up the 1.4-litre engine. Early models came with 133bhp, but opt for later versions and you could see as much as 178bhp being produced from this turbocharged unit. The 595’s relatively square design – and compact proportions – make it a breeze to whistle down UK country lanes, too.

You may not think a car with ‘Yaris’ in the name would be that ‘hot, but you’d be wrong. The GR Yaris is one of the most comprehensively re-engineered hot hatches about, drawing real learnings from motorsport and transplanting them into a car which is similar to the ‘regular’ car in name alone. Everything else is changed, from the lightened and shortened body which was mean to be used on Toyota’s rally car, to the handbrake which disengages the rear wheels for proper drifts.

The 1.6-litre three-cylinder engine powering the GR Yaris is fizzy and has loads of performance to offer, but it’s the chassis – which helps the Yaris to track around corners effortlessly – which is this car’s standout feature.

You might usually associate BMW with performance saloons and luxurious SUVs, but it’s a dab hand at making hot hatches, too. Nowhere is that more evident than with the M140i, which delivers the same refined experience that you get from other BMW models but in a nimble, compact and punchy package.

With 335bhp from its 3.0-litre straight-six engine the M140i is immensely powerful, yet with a rear-wheel-drive layout it loves corners just as much as the straights. However, when you simply want to get the miles covered, the M140i’s quiet cabin at speed ensures those longer journeys aren’t going to be too tasking either.

Peugeot and hot hatches go together like steak and frites, and we’d argue that the 208 GTI was one of the firm’s most successful entries into this segment. Why? Well, its handling feels intent on making the most fun out of any road, with direct steering ensuring a good level of feedback between road and driver.

It’s still firm, however, and you’ll notice those lumps and bumps in the road when you’re travelling slowly. However, the upshot of this setup is that the 208 GTI feels remarkably composed through high-speed bends, while the 1.6-litre engine with 197bhp in earlier models felt eager and happy to rev out. But it’s the quick steering which is central to this GTI’s appeal; it truly makes this car feel alive.