Audi S3

One of the best hot hatches out. Or at least it would be if it weren't so expensive. A Golf R does the same things for much less.

• Comfort

  Relatively spacious cabin and decent quality make this a comfy car, though the suspension definitely feels of a more sporting bent than lesser A3s, so if you need to do distance, steer clear of bumpy roads (i.e., drive in another country).

  

• Performance

  The S3 provides a 188kW shove courtesy of a highly-tuned TFSI four-cylinder motor with the same basic bits as the Golf GTI, instead of a more traditional V6. You get 0-100kph in 5.7 seconds and a limited 250km/h, which are respectable figures, but the S3 loses the noise of a V6 and can suffer from turbo lag because of the state of tune.

  

• Cool

  Neither cool nor uncool. It just is.

  

• Quality

  Well built in a very anonymous fashion.

  

• Handling

  Quattro security and some fine fettling by the Audi boffins mean the S3 is one of the best country road attack weapons, even if it does get a bit woolly when you really start to go quickly. Rides pretty well, but the trade off is a lack of absolute precision. The steering could have more feel if we're being picky.

  

• Practicality

  The boot's average for this sector at 350 litres (a Focus ST comes in at 385), and it'll seat four in relative comfort, five for short distances. It is a hatch though, and the seats fold, so day-to-day it's a practical bit of kit.

  

• Running costs

  Expensive to buy but residuals are solid. It's not bought by boy racers, but even though it's a fast hatch, think premium saloon running costs.