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Hot hatches

Hot Hatch of the Year 2024: Honda Civic Type R
Honda Civic Type R - Hot Hatch of the Year 2024

Hot Hatch of the Year 2024: Honda Civic Type R

The Honda Civic Type R is the 2024 Auto Express Hot Hatch of the Year, with the Ford Focus ST Track Pack and Mercedes-AMG A 45 S commended
Awards
3 Jul 2024
Suzuki Swift Sport, Ignis, Swace and Jimny van all axed to clear way for EVs
Suzuki Swift Sport ZC33S - front cornering

Suzuki Swift Sport, Ignis, Swace and Jimny van all axed to clear way for EVs

Suzuki plans to launch its first electric car in 2025, with more due to arrive by 2030
News
1 Jul 2024
New Volkswagen Golf R gets more power to help slay its hot hatch rivals
Volkswagen Golf R - front static

New Volkswagen Golf R gets more power to help slay its hot hatch rivals

The updated Volkswagen Golf R is here, with more power and an all-new Black Edition trim
News
25 Jun 2024
First look: new Audi RS 3 facelift does Nurburgring hot lap before August reveal
Audi RS 3 facelift disguised 2024

First look: new Audi RS 3 facelift does Nurburgring hot lap before August reveal

Audi’s updated hyper hatchback and saloon still features a 395bhp five-cylinder engine, and goes on sale at the end of August
News
21 Jun 2024
New Volkswagen Golf GTI gets cheaper, plug-in hybrid Golf GTE gets 82-mile electric range
New Volkswagen Golf GTI front 3/4

New Volkswagen Golf GTI gets cheaper, plug-in hybrid Golf GTE gets 82-mile electric range

The facelifted Golf GTI goes on sale on 20 June, while plug-in hybrid versions of VW’s family hatchback are available from 27 June
News
18 Jun 2024
Car Deal of the Day: spicy Volkswagen Polo GTI packs a lot of punch for £238 a month
Volkswagen Polo GTI cornering

Car Deal of the Day: spicy Volkswagen Polo GTI packs a lot of punch for £238 a month

VW’s smallest hot hatch is an impressively grown up car that’s wrapped up in a compact body, and it’s our Car Deal of the Day for 14 June
News
14 Jun 2024
Alpine A290 revealed to battle MINI’s future Cooper JCW Electric
Alpine A290 - front

Alpine A290 revealed to battle MINI’s future Cooper JCW Electric

Small, powerful and stylish, the compelling new A290 hot hatchback is about to take Alpine mainstream
News
13 Jun 2024
Car Deal of the Day: sporty Cupra Leon hatchback for as little as £194 per month
Cupra Leon - front cornering

Car Deal of the Day: sporty Cupra Leon hatchback for as little as £194 per month

Our Car Deal of the Day for 10 June is a very affordable offer on Cupra’s fun to drive family hatchback
News
10 Jun 2024
New 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport revealed on eve of 50th anniversary
Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport - front

New 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport revealed on eve of 50th anniversary

Volkswagen’s hottest front-wheel drive Golf gets an update, but no more power
News
31 May 2024
New Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport hot hatch reveal just days away
New Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport prototype

New Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport hot hatch reveal just days away

The updated GTI Clubsport be unveiled at the Nürburgring 24 Hours as part of 50th anniversary for the VW Golf
News
24 May 2024
New Cupra Born VZ 2024 review: a great stride for the EV hot hatch genre
New Cupra Born VZ - front

New Cupra Born VZ 2024 review: a great stride for the EV hot hatch genre

The Cupra Born VZ delivers a driving experience that was wholly unexpected given the shortcomings of other cars using the same tech.
Road tests
17 May 2024
Car Deal of the Day: rack up the miles in this Cupra Born for £266 a month
Cupra Born 77kWh V3 - front cornering

Car Deal of the Day: rack up the miles in this Cupra Born for £266 a month

Cupra’s bespoke Born brought electric power to the hot hatch segment and at £266 a month it’s our Deal of the Day for 16 May
News
16 May 2024
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New 2024 Audi S3 finally available to order, with 328bhp and £47k starting price
Audi S3 Sportback - front

New 2024 Audi S3 finally available to order, with 328bhp and £47k starting price

The updated Audi S3 hot hatchback and saloon benefit from new chassis hardware and more power
News
15 May 2024
New 416bhp BYD Seal X hot hatch targets MG4 XPower and Cupra Born
BYD Seal X

New 416bhp BYD Seal X hot hatch targets MG4 XPower and Cupra Born

The all-electric family hatchback produces between 215 and 416bhp, and is likely to make it to the UK
News
13 May 2024
New Cupra Leon hatchback and Estate arrives with 328bhp and Drift mode
Cupra Leon facelift - front

New Cupra Leon hatchback and Estate arrives with 328bhp and Drift mode

Also part of the mid-life refresh are a revised infotainment system and new plug-in hybrid with 62-mile EV range
News
30 Apr 2024
BYD Ocean-M could be a Golf GTI-rivalling EV hot hatchback
BYD Ocean-M on display at Beijing Motor Show - front static

BYD Ocean-M could be a Golf GTI-rivalling EV hot hatchback

Chinese maker looks to fill every available niche, revealing a hot electric hatchback at the Beijing Motor Show
News
26 Apr 2024
New Cupra Leon hatchback and estate reveal set for 29 April
Cupra Leon Teaser

New Cupra Leon hatchback and estate reveal set for 29 April

The wraps will come off the high-performance Cupra Leon alongside an updated Formentor next week
News
23 Apr 2024
New Audi S3 Sportback 2024 review: fast, fun and full of charisma
Audi S3 Sportback facelift - front

New Audi S3 Sportback 2024 review: fast, fun and full of charisma

The updated Audi S3 now has some serious bite and new-found style
Road tests
22 Apr 2024
New Ford Focus ST Edition is Ford’s “most complete” hot hatch ever
2024 Ford Focus ST Edition - front tracking

New Ford Focus ST Edition is Ford’s “most complete” hot hatch ever

Ford is making big claims about its latest fast family car, which adds exclusive equipment but no more power
News
10 Apr 2024
Cupra Leon review
Cupra Leon 245 VZ1

Cupra Leon review

Now covering a wide range of options offering tepid to hot performance, there’s something for everyone in the Cupra Leon range
In-depth reviews
9 Apr 2024
MG4 EV XPower vs Cupra Leon 2024 twin test: can electric beat petrol?
MG4 Xpower and Cupra Leon - front tracking

MG4 EV XPower vs Cupra Leon 2024 twin test: can electric beat petrol?

Is an electric hot hatch a match for a petrol one?
Car group tests
6 Apr 2024
Best cheap hot hatchbacks
Best cheap hot hatches - four way header image

Best cheap hot hatchbacks

Need an affordable car which delivers on both power and practicality? These cheap hot hatches fit the bill
Best cars & vans
2 Apr 2024
New Alpine A290 electric hot hatch will be revealed at 24 Hours of Le Mans 2024
Alpine A290 testing - front

New Alpine A290 electric hot hatch will be revealed at 24 Hours of Le Mans 2024

Alpine is broadening its range with a new Renault 5-based model
News
2 Apr 2024
Coming in hot! First look inside new Abarth 600e smokin’ hot electric SUV
Abarth 600e - front

Coming in hot! First look inside new Abarth 600e smokin’ hot electric SUV

The 600e will be Abarth’s most powerful car ever, and benefit from traditional hot hatch technology
News
31 Mar 2024
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Car Deal of the Day: 429bhp MG4 XPower is silly fast and ridiculously cheap at £253 a month
MG4 XPower tracking

Car Deal of the Day: 429bhp MG4 XPower is silly fast and ridiculously cheap at £253 a month

The MG4 XPower can beat a Porsche 911 to 62mph yet is a fraction of the price, especially with our Deal of the Day for 28 March
News
28 Mar 2024
Inflation strikes again! Updated Toyota GR Yaris hot hatch is £12,000 more than before
Toyota GR Yaris (grey) - front static

Inflation strikes again! Updated Toyota GR Yaris hot hatch is £12,000 more than before

The GR Yaris ‘Gen 2’ comes with 276bhp three-cylinder motor, plus two rally driver-tuned special editions
News
27 Mar 2024
Fiery hot Genesis GV60 Magma Concept launches new name in EV performance
Genesis GV60 Magma Concept - front reveal

Fiery hot Genesis GV60 Magma Concept launches new name in EV performance

The GV60 Magma Concept will spawn a hot production car that will come to the UK
News
26 Mar 2024
New Alpine A290 prototype review: electric hot hatch shows plenty of promise
Alpine A290 prototype - front

New Alpine A290 prototype review: electric hot hatch shows plenty of promise

We get behind the wheel of the Alpine A290 electric hot hatch as it concludes winter testing in camouflage
Road tests
20 Feb 2024
New Mercedes-AMG A45 S Limited Edition goes green, and yellow
Mercedes-AMG A45 S Limited Edition - front quarter

New Mercedes-AMG A45 S Limited Edition goes green, and yellow

AMG’s distinctive Green Hell Magno paintwork has been applied to an A45 S with some yellow highlights alongside
News
13 Feb 2024
Limited edition Abarth 695 75° Anniversario celebrates outlandish performance brand’s birthday
 Abarth 695 75° Anniversario - front tracking

Limited edition Abarth 695 75° Anniversario celebrates outlandish performance brand’s birthday

A celebration of Abarth’s 75th anniversary and its 1.4-litre T-Jet engine, just 1,368 examples of limited-run hot hatch will be made
News
12 Feb 2024
New Volkswagen Golf R facelift: four-wheel-drive hot hatch looks cool in the snow
Volkswagen Golf R facelift - front

New Volkswagen Golf R facelift: four-wheel-drive hot hatch looks cool in the snow

The hottest Golf has been spotted trying to cool off
News
29 Jan 2024
New Toyota GR Yaris WRC special editions bring drive modes set by star rally drivers
Toyota GR Yaris Rovanpera Edition - front

New Toyota GR Yaris WRC special editions bring drive modes set by star rally drivers

Toyota is celebrating its WRC success with a pair of very special editions of the GR Yaris configured by Sebastien Ogier and Kalle Rovanpera
News
25 Jan 2024
Toyota GR Yaris hot hatch to follow up facelift with special edition variant
Toyota GR Yaris 2024 - full front

Toyota GR Yaris hot hatch to follow up facelift with special edition variant

A new teaser video shows tribute cars for Toyota’s WRC drivers
News
24 Jan 2024
New Volkswagen Golf GTI facelift is hotter than ever with 261bhp
Volkswagen Golf GTI facelift - front studio

New Volkswagen Golf GTI facelift is hotter than ever with 261bhp

In a bid to trump rivals in the hot hatch market, the Volkswagen Golf GTI has been given more power to go with its new look
News
23 Jan 2024
Best used hot hatchbacks 2024
Best used hot hatchbacks - header image

Best used hot hatchbacks 2024

Our picks for the best used hot hatchbacks in the UK
Best cars & vans
12 Jan 2024
New 2024 Toyota GR Yaris: quicker shifts and more power for homologation special reboot
Toyota GR Yaris 2024 - front

New 2024 Toyota GR Yaris: quicker shifts and more power for homologation special reboot

Toyota’s GR Yaris has been given a thorough overhaul, with more power, more focus and a new gearbox
News
12 Jan 2024
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