Hot Hatch car reviews

Many of the talents you expect from an electric car, and many more that so far are unique in EVs. A new and brilliant chapter

The GR Yaris is superb: hands down the best Toyota we've ever driven

A big-hearted engine in an otherwise sensible car. The perfect seven-tenths hot hatch. We’ll miss it when it’s gone

The updated RS3 is the best one yet. Although you’ll need to spend time getting the best out of it

The Civic Type R can function as your only car, yet is as thrilling as most bespoke sports cars. Stunning to drive. And distressingly expensive

The Renault 5 spawns a hot-hatch with reasonable results. Decent enough, but not a latterday Renaultsport Clio

The Cupra Leon has universal appeal with its wide range of engine options, and the latest facelift has massively improved the interior

The Skoda Octavia vRS balances fun and liveability just as sweetly as ever

About as sensible an all-rounder as a 328bhp hot hatch can be

Volkswagen’s facelift has greatly improved the troubled Mk8 Golf, and the GTI is more desirable as a result

The car you'd want for a long journey across mixed roads, but it wouldn't get you out bed earlier

The fast Fiesta is more grown up in all the ways you’d want, marginally less chuckable than before, but still hilarious

The most powerful hot hatch in series production operates unobtrusively when you don’t demand much from it, and goes properly feral when you do

The 595 is certainly feeling its age, but cheap lease deals and noisy exhausts at least make it good value fun

Hyundai's first full-strength performance car, and it's nailed it. Few hot hatches are this fun to drive

Rear-steering Megane RS has a charm, if you like your hot hatches firm, edgy and demanding attention

A cult favourite, and with good reason. Fast, fun and frugal, the Mk1 Fabia vRS is a relic of a bygone era

BMW's made a rival to the Golf GTI - and quite possibly beaten it

VW’s tiniest, cheapest hot hatch has similar horsepower and weight to the original Mk1 Golf GTI. Time to party like it’s 1975

The third JCW to get the stripped and spoiler treatment is the fastest, most powerful car Mini has ever made, but far from the most fun

A hot hatch that weighs as much as an early Lotus Elise – of course it’s fun. But it’ll always live in the 205 GTI’s shadow