Hatchback car reviews

Newly facelifted eighth-gen Golf remains the lingua-franca of the hatch world. A finely polished machine

The best supermini to drive, and arguably the class leader. But the supermini class isn’t what it once was and the Clio is missing its joie de vivre

The supermini you buy because of how it looks inside and out, not because of what it costs or how it drives

It’s spacious and finished well inside, but the 03 is let down by some fundamental issues

Fresh design inside and out, with quality execution, lots of tech and more competent dynamics

The Scala is arguably doing a better job of being the Volkswagen Golf than the Golf is

Eccentric and a little expensive in PHEV form, yet easier to want than its rivals

More than just an electric 4 Series GC, this is a 'proper' BMW

The electric Astra's still not hugely exciting, but it’s another big step towards EVs becoming the mainstream

While it might not have the visual pizazz of its predecessor, the 11th-generation Honda Civic reminds us it’s what’s inside that counts

The Vauxhall Astra looks great, handles well and will be pretty cheap to run. Just don't expect it to excel at anything

The 408 turns out to be a tempting concept that drives more engagingly than most crossovers

No slouch and an impressive plug-in hybrid, but won’t put a smile on your face like the GTI

Interior furnishing and screen systems take priority over how it drives. Many love it for that, but not us

The car that started everything for Hyundai. A car with surprisingly British roots

A spectacularly good hot hatch that gained some extra focus we had no idea it lacked

Vastly improved cabin and well-mannered hybrid set-up are impressive, but the Civic might struggle to stand out in a crowded market

Success in a hatch isn't just about the drive. The Focus has the rest of the bases well covered too

Spain’s strongest attempt to out-Golf the Golf yet. A stylish, well-equipped and cheaper version of its German cousin

Hardcore normcore. If JK Rowling was writing Harry Potter today, it's probably what the Dursleys would drive

The Honda Civic brings some welcome colour to a sensible part of the market. Not perfect, but very interesting