Diesel Petrol Hatchback Hatchback Reviews

This Focus, if you get the better rear suspension, is the sweetest drive in the mainstream hatch class

It defines this sector and should be its default buy. You simply can’t go wrong.

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

Overlook the fact it’s so good that it’s almost joyless: the latest Golf GTI is very desirable indeed.

After a classy cabrio but don't have Audi-like cash? Try this. GTI expensive but worth it; R perhaps not

Colourful character in a muted part of the market

A thoroughly capable family car that handles far better than it really needs to

The e-Golf is an EV that works for most of us, most of the time. A truly convincing electric car.

Cracking supermini is one of the best cars Ford makes. Britain’s top seller? It makes you proud.

A fantastic everyday proposition, a hot hatch that's easy to live with. Mostly for good

Softer and a little disappointing: the new RS isn’t what it was. Still fun, but we hoped for more…

It's a sizeable leap, and enough to shove the Polo up to the upper reaches of the supermini order.

Buy without regret: the 3 drives as well as it looks. Very nicely balanced indeed.

Mazda’s new 3 family hatch: low on excitement, high on quiet satisfaction

More grown up and all the better for it. Priced very keenly too - it's a smart shout.

Cheery and characterful, the new Clio is a genuinely appealing supermini.

A fun car with a practical side, but no longer one of the sharpest hot hatches on sale

Go ahead if you like the look of it. If you don't, endless rivals are about as good.

Neither revolutionary in style nor the most exciting to drive, but a very mature car

A perfectly able family hatchback that brings absolutely nothing new to the sector. Why, Nissan?