A HOT HATCH is a regular hatchback with the wick turned up! Typically a hot hatch has a more potent engine, a tweaked suspension setup and usually some saucy sporty details.
They offer sports-car thrills with practicality and usually space for passengers in the back. Therefore these cars feel just as at home on the school run as they do on the track. Sure you could taxi the kids to school via the track, if you so desired!
We’ve rounded up some of the hottest hatches, from the dream car to the (slightly more) affordable.
2016 Honda Civic Type-R, €52,500
This 2.0-litre 310hp turbocharged Japanese monster puts the win into wing. It has a top speed of 279km/h, although there is no chance of reaching anywhere near this car’s limits on our roads. As Clarkson says: “It’s dressed to thrill with nowhere to go.” Although I hear the Nürburgring is lovely this time of year.
2016 Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport, €49,635
The new 2.0-litre turbocharge Golf GTI Clubsport is a very capable and super quick machine… and if its 265hp is not enough for you, it comes with an overboost function which ups the power output to 290hp when you are in third gear and above and have the throttle pinned to the bulkhead.
2016 Audi S3 Sportback, €40,950
This luxury hot hatch has 300hp and the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system making it ferociously fast and as surefooted as a mountain goat. The sprint from 0 to 100km/h takes just 4.5 seconds and the 250km/h top speed is electronically governed. This hot five-door is one very polished performer.
2016 Ford Focus ST, €40,100
The Focus ST has been tested on track to deliver a thrilling on-road experience. The six-speed manual gearbox is precise, the handling sharp, the steering accurate and the drive engaging. This pocket rocket is also surprisingly practical and fuel efficient. All of these add up to make the one very tasty package.
2016 SEAT Leon Cupra 290, €39,225
The Cupra 290 is a fast, fun, hot hatch with great dynamic ability. It is based on the same MQB platform that underpins the Volkswagen Golf R and Skoda Octavia vRS.
It is front-wheel drive only but has a trick electronic front differential and clever XDS electronics to make the most of its 290hp and this makes it very capable and fun on corners.
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