Compare the fastest hot hatches
High quality fast hot hatchbacks from rated and reviewed dealers
Fastest hot hatches of 2024
Hatchbacks may initially have been designed with practicality in mind, but it didn’t take long before manufacturers were stuffing ever more powerful engines into them, creating a new breed of performance cars: the hot hatch.
The 1974 VW Golf GTI started it all, producing a heady 109hp, it was the quickest hatchback money could buy. Fast forward 48 years and the most powerful hatchbacks are now producing over 400hp and accelerate faster than many sports cars.
The hot hatch category has expanded too; you can now pick from a range of quick superminis, city cars and family hatchbacks. And here we’ve selected the best ones across these classes for you to pick from.
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The king of hot hatchbacks is arguably the intense Audi RS 3. Its characterful five-cylinder turbo engine will have you grinning from ear to ear as you punch through the gears, and its all-wheel-drive system helps put all that power to the ground, making this one of the fastest cars in real-world driving. It’s beautifully built, too, but this level of pace and quality doesn’t come cheap, at least you get plenty of kit for the price.
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The Mercedes-AMG range has grown massively in recent years, and the little A-Class now has both the A35 and A45 S for you to pick from. Both come standard with all-wheel-drive, providing as much grip as possible. The A45 S is the most powerful hot hatch ever made, and it has a price tag that reflects it. The A35 is still an intense car, delivering a level of performance that was the preserve of BMW M5s back in the early 2000s, yet it will still deliver 32.5mpg in mixed driving.
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The Volkswagen Golf R has taken over the hot hatch mantle from the GTI in recent years. It retains the daily driver practicality while packing a massive punch from its 2.0-litre turbocharged engine. The seven-speed DSG transmission delivers crisp near-instantaneous shifts which sends the power to all four wheels. The latest infotainment system can be a bit frustrating at times, and you pay a fair premium over the already capable GTI, but down a challenging piece of road, the Golf R really proves its worth.
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The Hyundai i20N offers strong performance, allied with a comfortable ride and enough refinement to make it useable every day. You also get a six-speed manual transmission as standard, making it that bit more engaging than alternatives which are automatic only. Aside from a slightly heavy steering feel in sport mode, it is tons of fun to drive along a twisty road.
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The BMW M135i has moved to a four-wheel-drive turbocharged four-cylinder layout in its latest iteration, and while some may miss the sonorous six-cylinder wail of the old car, the new one is just as quick and provides much more grip in slippery conditions than the rear-wheel-drive 140i did. It can also average 38.2mpg when you aren’t pressing on, making it more efficient, too.
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The MINI is a great little city car, even the base models feel nippy and fun to drive. For some serious pace, you’ll want the John Cooper Works (JCW) version. It may be a bit firmer over the bumps, but it feels so responsive in the corners that it’s a small price to pay.
It is quite tight in the rear, but the JCW is a great choice for two, especially if you enjoy customising your car with the myriad paint and trim options on offer.
It is quite tight in the rear, but the JCW is a great choice for two, especially if you enjoy customising your car with the myriad paint and trim options on offer.
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The Hyundai i30N is not just another hot hatch, it’s been designed to take on the class leaders and delivers a really immersive driving experience as a result. The dual-clutch automatic may be a bit quicker to 62mph, but the six-speed manual is the one you want here.
You do get road noise permeating the cabin, and it’s not as refined as some alternatives, but it delivers the goods where it counts.
You do get road noise permeating the cabin, and it’s not as refined as some alternatives, but it delivers the goods where it counts.
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The Fiesta ST is quick, well equipped and has low running costs. It’s even rather well priced in base trim. It’s also pretty refined on the road, although the larger wheels do make the ride a bit hard over bumps. If you don’t mind the lack of rear doors and a smallish boot, then the Ford Fiesta ST will make for a great daily driver hot hatch.
The Cupra Leon blends stylish design with a powerful turbocharged engine and a front-wheel-drive layout to produce a very desirable hot hatch. It sounds great and the dual clutch gearbox delivers lightning-quick shifts, allowing you to blast very quickly along a winding stretch of road. Even though it lacks all-wheel-drive, the Cupra puts its power down well and offers good value for money, undercutting similarly powerful alternatives.
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The Abarth 695 hot hatch may be small, but it has more character than cars costing and weighing twice as much. It’s tiny, uncomfortable on long trips and costs quite a lot. Yet, if you are looking for something that delivers a laugh-out-loud driving experience allied with a great soundtrack, the Abarth 695 has few equals. If interior space and practicality aren’t a big deal for you, then look no further than the Abarth 695, especially if you spend the majority of your time around town.
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