Posted by Bill Thomas at 7:10PM on Tuesday 13 February, 2007 27 Comments
It's not easy to get things right. We try our best, we really do - that's why we spent so much time slaving over the hot hatch ranking order you see here. All of ninety minutes, down the pub over crisps and lager.
Not an easy task. There were cars we could have included but didn't, cars that slipped up and down the grid like, like things that slip up and down a lot, and one car that probably shouldn't be there at all. But we left it in.
Then, once we'd ranked the bottom 19 and decided on the top ten, we had to debate the strengths and weaknesses of those cars, then analyse the top five, then decide on a winner.
Were there arguments? Yes. Rabid ones. We kept going back to it and putting cars in more appropriate positions, then changing our minds, then having moments of clarity and doing something different. Crisps flew in all directions.
You may agree with every car included in the list, and rank them all precisely where we did for the same reasons. But I doubt it.
For example, should the Suzuki Swift Sport, a medium-warm little car that's barely fast and makes only 125bhp, rank ten places above the Seat Leon Cupra, which pumps out nearly twice the power?
And is the Clio Renaultsport 197 a better car than the new Mini Cooper S? And is the Peugeot 307 GT the worst hot hatch of all?
Fire away. Give us your opinions on the ranking, and your top ten. We'll collate the results and publish them in the magazine, along with the best comments.
It doesn't matter if you haven't driven them - you're reading this, so you know enough about them.
27 Comments for "Cue the hot hatch backlash"
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Well most of the rankings seemed apropriate, but some of the hatches were not even lightly toasted, let alone hot.
I agree...none of the cars around at the moment are half as fun to drive as the Peugeot 205 Gti, apart from maybe the Ariel Atom but you can't put your shopping in the back of that...
I agree with the list, maybe because I own an old Civic I-VT. It's after that model I think it was going downhill with the Civics (in terms of design and power to weight ratio). It might only be 150hp according to the manual, but they all show 160 on dynos, and can easily get 170 with minor modifications.
Anyway, The Type-R's somewhat made up for the added weight and uglier and uglier design of the newer Civics, but I feel that with the new Civic, it has finally turned around. We want them low and wide not Waggon-R style. (When I first saw a 2001 Civic, I was driving behind it and thought it was a new mini MPV from Honda).
No, no, no.
Sorry, but the 307 GT never should have been considered in this test. It never was a hot hatch... shame PSA never bother about proper big engines these days, because the 307 is quite competent on the twisty bits. Problem is the weight and slab-of-cheese aerodynamics.
Maybe they should try driving an old 405 t16 again, it might bring them a revelation?
I once owned a Fiat Cinquecento 'Sporting'.
There. I said it.
It's all about how the car makes you feel, and sometimes a small rattly, droning buzz-box where you have you keep you foot buried to keep up to the speed limit can be far more satisfying and rewarding to drive; especially when it costs less to buy than a tank of petrol in that people carrier that you just overtook.
You know... the one that's being driven by Mr. Happy who's face is so sullen, he might actually have wax jowls that have melted.
These rankings mean different things to different people. Some will use them to justify buying a cheaper car higher up the list, whilst others will be content to own a car that ranks 99 but makes them smile every day because it still gets you to work, and you arrive looking like the Joker.
I don't really agree with your ranking. Whilst you have got some good cars in it, I just think some of your logic is wrong. The 147 GTA, for example, you have put in far too low down, below the Skodas, the Fiat Panda, that's a disgrace.
Surely the whole idea of a 'Hot Hatch' is what the Alfa Romeo gives you - it's the best-looking car out of the lot of them, it's got a beautifully designed engine that even looks good with the bonnet up, it goes like shit of a shovel, and it's completely mad! Insanely mad, and leaves you with the biggest grin on your face ever!
1. Golf GTi - Yes everyone has one these days, but sometimes it's not a bad thing to follow the crowd
2. Honda Civic Type-R
3. Ford Focus ST
4. Renaultsport Clio 197
5. Renaultsport Megane R26
6. VW Golf R32
7. Audi S3
8. Mini Cooper S - estate agents and hairdressers should be banned from buying them, then it'd be higher
9. Vauxhall Astra VXR
10. Ford Fiesta ST.
Incidentally, yes, the little Swift should rank higher than the Cupra... in fact, I wouldn't put the Cupra in the list. Hot Seats from a couple of years ago used to be something of a 'Q-Car', nicely understated, fast and cheap, but just LOOK at the new one... ewwwwww!
I have just driven the new Mazda3 MPS and I can't stop grinning, this car has an amazing amount of mid grunt and very high limits of grip. Do you think this car is good enough to knock the Golf off the top spot?
I agree with the list but may re-order slightly, Focus 1st, Clio 2nd, Fiesta 3rd...
Throw the Civic Type-R off the top of the list and we've got a deal. When it comes down to it, our American Si is a bit better than the European Type-R (surprise!), as the GTI deserves the top spot. Sure, we maybe will see 10% of those cars in America, but why not recognise the top 'world' model?
...damn I wish we had the Fiesta ST here!
Do you remember when we thought an Austin 1300 GT was a 'hot hatch' of sorts. That wild yellow paint, the vinyl roof and optional sterophonic cartridge player. Remember those days? Nope. Me neither...
Agree with the list entirely except for the Civic, which shouldnt be in the top 10. Yeah, it's pokey enough in the powerband at the top of the rev range, but below 5k you might as well push the thing!
To anyone who mentioned the Golf GTI... for me it is one of those (rare) cars that I would only drive with a bag over my head. Like Hammond did with the pink Micra. Driving a Fiat Multipla (not the facelifted model) means you have some sense of humour, but the Golf... no taste at all.
Disappointing (although not entirely unexpected) that you can't bring yourselves to overcome your misguided preconceptions and give the Astra VXR the recognition it deserves.
To be beaten only by the (track-biased) Megane around the Top Gear test track is a huge achievement.
And for what it's worth, part of the appeal for me as an owner is the way it looks (both inside and out) and the VXR 'flair' - it's a proper hot hatch in every sense.
You say: 'Will worry any of the top 10 in every area.' So why isn't it in the top 10 then?
1 - Ford Focus ST
2 - Honda Civic Type R
3 - VW Golf GTi
4 - Renault Clio 197
5 - Mini Cooper S
Last - Peugeot 307
Just swap the top two! The Civic looks good, goes well, sticks to the road. Being a Honda, it will be bomb-proof in the long term as well.
The Golf may not be as quick on the track, but you don't need to rev the guts out of it to make progress. The mid-range punch makes it a better everyday drive. If, like me, you want five doors, it's a no-brainer.
It's all wrong, the Golf GTI is the best, but the Leon should be up to at least 11 because even though it drives like the Golf's too drunk little brother, it looks so much better.
I don't deny that Skoda has come a long way and the 2006 survey is testament to this, but to rank the Fabia vRS at all is a slap in the face to all the hot hatches carrying the identical lump under their bonnet, and actually posses the looks to match. I refer specifically to the new Seat Ibiza FR.
When a number of hatches are sharing the same powerplant, you would naturally fall on the differences in aesthetics to make a choice, and in this instance the Skoda just doesn't cut the mustard.
Seat has heritage in the hot hatch market, and the Ibiza styling is certainly more becoming of the impressive power that it shares with the Fabia.
I can only assume the Fabia is ranked as a nod to Skoda's achievements over the year. If Top Gear is brown-nosing the achievers in this way it is a great shame and nullifies the point of a hot hatch listing if the criterion is what manufacturer deserves a pat on the back, rather than what actually makes a hot hatch.
I'd urge you to disband political bias before ranking a market sector that has such a heartfelt dedicated following.
The Colt CZT should be much further up the list, lightweight, punchy engine and affordable for the younger generation. That's what a hot hatch is all about.
Golf GTi is for those men undergoing a mid-life crisis and who want to be young again, when the Mk1 was around.I am going to back Andy R 100 per cent here - the Alfa should be much higher up the chart than its current position. I am planning on buying one of these in the next few months and it put a silly smile on your face, particularly on the 1st test drive! Ignore Clarkson's test round the track and complaints about the handling - when I drove it, the body movement was well contained and handled flat - it was a joy.
I don't agree with the Honda being 1st - Civic Type R's have the wrong image - when I see one I always think of a fat thirty-something who reckons he's cool with his VTEC! The Golf is great and if the Alfa didn't exist, it would be my number 1 as the best all-rounder. I think that people should look beyond the misconceptions about modern Alfas and pick something with character and style.Well I recently test drove a Golf GTI and R32 - really didn't stir my soul at all!
Also drove a Mazda 3 MPS - put a bigger grin on my face compared to the aforementioned and, despite receiving in my view unfair critism, nearly parted with my money.
However having test drove the Megane R26, be assured it is without doubt a real hot hatch and deserving of 1st place (way ahead of the Honda) as borne out by myself and several other magazine reviews.
There's too much emphasis on comfort these days. A hot hatch should be a hot hatch, not a mildly hot car which is sufficiently comfortable.
No such thing as comfort in the 'good old days' of my Peugeot 205 GTI!!!!
I test drove the Civic Type R (old model admittedly, but it has the same engine/gearbox as the new one) when choosing my current car.
I found that while it was great fun wringing its neck all the time on country lanes, the second you get it onto the motorway - it was a complete disaster.
There is no mid-range torque and to filter in with traffic when overtaking, I constantly had to change down to get it to respond at all. After a three hour motorway journey, I was exhausted and deaf.
Which is why I went for a Focus ST3. Loads of torque, even more fun to drive on lanes and the noise of the five cylinder engine makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up every time.
Never thought I'd say this about a Ford, but I love it!
I find it incredible that the Seat Leon Cupra R is not in the top 10.
In my opinion it's one of the best looking, best sounding and best value cars around. It's also a monster on the road and will dust most of those, alleged, top 10 hatchbacks.
P.S. the new Type R is one of the ugliest cars that Honda has ever been made, it looks like a space vehicle.