Top 10 best hot hatchbacks to buy 2024
The very best hot hatchbacks offer giant-killing performance and an engaging drive, all wrapped up in a family-friendly package
Hot hatchbacks are a common sight on Britain’s roads and there’s a good reason for that. The very best hot hatches are fun to drive and offer bucket loads of usable performance, while also combining practicality and low enough running costs to be used as an everyday family car. But what are the best hot hatchbacks currently on sale? This top 10 chosen by our expert road test team reveals all…
Top 10 best hot hatchbacks to buy 2024
- Honda Civic Type R
- Ford Focus ST Track Pack
- Mercedes-AMG A 45 S
- Hyundai i20 N
- Hyundai i30 N
- Toyota GR Yaris
- Audi RS 3
- Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport
- Cupra Leon 300
- Audi S3
1. Honda Civic Type R
| Pros | Cons |
| Brilliant performance | Firm low-speed ride |
| Great to drive | Infotainment system a little dated |
| Improved interior quality | Expensive |
- Prices from £50,050
The Honda Civic Type R was named as our Hot Hatchback of the Year for 2023 and 2024 at the Auto Express New Car Awards and it’s not difficult to see why. The previous generation FK8 Honda Civic Type R was a great hot hatch and serial New Car Awards winner, so rather than reinventing the wheel, Honda made small improvements in every area when developing the new FL5 model.
Getting straight to the point, the Honda Civic Type R operates on a different plane that, for now, is unmatched by any rival. This hatchback, with five doors, a manual gearbox and front-wheel drive might sound mundane, but in reality each of those elements are as finely honed as they would be in a Porsche 911 GT3.
Some people might say the new car’s firmer ride quality makes the current Type R drive with less fluidity than the old model, but with that comes a level of resilience that will have you pounding down even the most challenging of British back roads without worrying about anything other than the thrill of the drive.
Honda has tweaked the styling on this latest model, which will no doubt be more pleasing to some. With these bold looks together with a brilliantly laid-out interior and strong equipment levels, there’s no doubt that the FL5 Civic Type R is one of the hot-hatch greats.
2. Ford Focus ST Track Pack
| Pros | Cons |
| Hatch and estate body styles | More powerful rivals |
| Torquey petrol engine | Expensive to buy |
| Lots of driver tech | Could be nicer inside |
- Prices from £37,705
Ford’s stunning Fiesta ST is no longer available to buy new, but its big brother, the Focus, still has plenty of the Fiesta’s magic, and wraps it all up in a more practical package as an added bonus. The Ford Focus ST is a car that feels like it’s constantly tugging at the leash – a car that relishes being driven hard, and never lets you forget it.
The Focus ST is best in Track Pack form which adds adjustable coilovers, lightweight wheels and Pirelli P Zero tyres for a sharp and playful attitude. In this guise, the ST has a sophistication to its chassis that puts it among the best hot hatches on sale. The 276bhp four-cylinder engine has strong performance, but the augmented sound won’t suit everyone.
What makes the Ford Focus ST a unique entry on this list is the ability to order the car as an estate if you need the extra practicality – and there’s nothing quite like a fast estate car, as we all know.
3. Mercedes-AMG A 45 S
| Pros | Cons |
| Improved in-car tech | Expensive |
| Jaw-dropping performance | Dull engine sound |
| Phenomenal levels of grip | Noticeable road noise |
- Prices from £63,445
Mercedes and Audi have been quarrelling over the hyper-hatchback crown for two generations now, but the latest Mercedes-AMG A 45 S has really set a new bar in terms of performance.
The Mercedes A 45 S has the most powerful mass-produced four-cylinder engine ever under the bonnet, delivering 415bhp and 500Nm of torque from a 2.0-litre capacity. This makes the A 45 a highly strung beast, but then its chassis isn’t any different, with a fantastically fluid feel to the suspension and playful all-wheel drive system.
There’s still something to be desired when it comes to overall driving feel or engine sound, but we can’t argue that it’s not impressive, and it remains one of the best Mercedes models you can buy.
4. Hyundai i20 N
| Pros | Cons |
| Fun to drive | Not the roomiest |
| Strong value for money | Hit-and-miss interior quality |
| Driving dynamics | Engine note is so-so |
- Prices from £26,565 (stock only)
The supermini hot hatch class might be shrinking, but Hyundai’s first offering, the i20 N, is one of the best examples ever to grace this segment. This car is all about pure enjoyment, from the aggressive engine to the playful chassis balance. Its extroverted driving experience is mirrored by the styling and interior.
The 1.6-litre turbocharged, four-cylinder petrol unit produces 201bhp and 275Nm of torque, and is paired with a terrifically smooth six-speed manual 'box. There's plenty of aural excitement too, with the snarly engine providing a rally-esque back note of crackling and popping for a real sense of drama.
Hyundai’s baby hot-hatch is even more appealing when you consider its starting price of a little under £27,000. Factor in the generous levels of standard kit, and the i20 N is a package that really starts to make sense.
When you dig below the surface, the Hyundai i20 N might not have the magical depth of hot hatch icons like the RenaultSport Clio 197 Cup, but the Korean hot hatch is a fantastic modern alternative. There is one slight caveat though. Hyundai isn’t set to reboot the i20 N alongside its wider range of facelifts, nor is it possible to custom order a car, so a ‘stock only’ model is the closest you’ll be able to get to a factory-fresh i20 N.
5. Hyundai i30 N
| Pros | Cons |
| Huge fun to drive | Plain interior design |
| Spacious and usable every day | Not the fastest hot hatch around |
| Competitive price | Quite thirsty |
- Prices from £35,765
Hyundai hit the ground running with its i30 N, becoming an instant favourite thanks to its sharp handling. It also introduced us to a whole new level of configurability, allowing its driver to perfectly set up the car for their own skill level and taste.
What you’d always find is a wonderfully interactive driving experience, with great steering feel and an underlying chassis balance that lets the rear join in the fun if you so wish. Its issue lies with the engine, which can feel a little flat, and the fact that the Honda Civic Type R just drives harder, faster and with even more engagement – although admittedly that now comes at quite a price premium.
It’s the steering, chassis, brakes and interior spec that set the i30 N aside, though; in all these respects it’s right up there with the very best. And starting at just under £36,000, it’s also exceptionally well specified inside, making it great value for money.
It features myriad customisable settings accessible through its eight-inch touchscreen, including an electronically adjustable limited-slip diff, adaptive dampers, a switchable exhaust and even rev-matching.
6. Toyota GR Yaris
| Pros | Cons |
| Real-world usability and pace | Firm ride |
| Subtly aggressive styling | Big price jump over previous model |
| Plenty of power | Driver's seat set a little too high |
- Prices from £44,250
The indomitable Toyota GR Yaris remains an entirely unique proposition in the hot hatch space – a genuine homologation special shot through with motorsport knowhow and expert engineering. Considering the car’s rallying DNA, the exterior is somewhat mundane, but that only extends the Toyota’s appeal for some.
Powered by a willing 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine, the GR Yaris puts out 280bhp to all four wheels, and it’s utterly unflappable in all kinds of weather. It feels squat, muscular and taught as it flicks through corners, inviting the driver to carry more speed and commitment to stretch its capabilities.
For those who’d prefer this performance to be delivered with more fanfare, the Civic Type R requires more thought to thread down a damp B-road, and ultimately, offers marginally higher rewards. Nevertheless, the GR Yaris is a triumph from behind the wheel and this, combined with its revised interior design and slick optional eight-speed direct automatic transmission, makes it one of the best hot hatchbacks on the market.
7. Audi RS 3
| Pros | Cons |
| On-board tech | Expensive options |
| Interior quality | Not particularly fun to drive |
| Best driving RS 3 yet | Less interior space than standard A3 |
- Prices from £56,6751
With Audi moving steadily towards full electrification, it’s likely that the current RS 3 will be the last five-cylinder car to wear the four rings. Fortunately, it is also one of the brand’s best RS models in years, so it would at least mark a fitting end to the era.
The RS 3 produces 395bhp from its 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbocharged motor, so the Mercedes A 45 S has it pipped when it comes to outright power. However, the Audi makes full use of its power thanks to its RS Torque Splitter rear differential. By apportioning up to 100 per cent of rear axle torque to the outside tyre, the RS 3 can pull off balletic powerslides, and allows the driver to indulge in oversteer on the exit of corners.
When pootling around, the slick double-clutch gearbox, relatively forgiving ride and tech laden interior give the RS 3 an impressively wide operating window, while the swollen body panels give a pleasingly subtle hint at its performance.
8. Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport
| Pros | Cons |
| Still great to drive | Expensive options |
| Decent efficiency | Some dubious cabin materials |
| Easy to live with | Fiddly infotainment system |
- Prices from £38,900
The latest Volkswagen Golf GTI didn’t immediately capture our hearts like some of the firm’s earlier efforts, but it remains a formidable, well rounded package that sneaks ahead of the Cupra Leon 300 that uses similar VW Group technology.
The GTI Clubsport feels muscular and urgent on the move thanks to its 2.0-litre turbocharged motor, which sends nearly 300bhp to the front wheels alone. While the latest Golf GTI doesn't tackle undulating B-roads with the finesse of some of its forebears, the GTI Clubsport is more willing to change directions and tackle backroads thanks to its firmer ride and extensive drive mode options, allowing you to tailor its responses for different moods, ensuring it always feels surefooted and grippy. The steering is accurate, and provided you keep the entry speed in check, the GTI hooks around apexes very neatly.
It's a fraction less spacious than the Cupra Leon 300 inside, but the Golf GTI's interior is as intuitive and as usable as the standard Golf.
9. Cupra Leon 300
| Pros | Cons |
| Fun to drive | Touch-sensitive heating controls |
| Value for money | Infotainment could be easier to use |
| Good levels of standard kit | Fake engine sounds |
- Prices from £41,945
The Cupra Leon does everything you want a hot hatch to do – it's fun to drive, extremely rapid, looks good and carries a reasonable price tag. What's not to like? Ok, the brand might still be a bit of a mystery to some, but if you do your homework you'll know that the Cupra Leon is a deeply capable, athletic machine that also offers the essential practicality of a great hot hatch.
When we first tested a Spanish-spec Cupra Leon 300, its supreme grip and poise on track took us - and the Golf GTI Clubsport we pitted it against - by surprise, but we’ve since driven UK models which fell short of that first impression. Still, the Cupra’s 296bhp hauls it from 0-62mph in just 5.7 seconds, and the power is well contained thanks to an approachable handling balance.
The cabin tech can be fiddly at times, but the Leon’s ample rear legroom and 380-litre boot make this a versatile hatchback with sports car pace.
10. Audi S3
| Pros | Cons |
| Classy interior | Expensive options |
| Lots of performance | Firmer ride than previous model |
| Engine note | Some rivals are more practical |
- Prices from £47,520
The Audi S3 has always been one of the best hot hatches on the market, but previous generations of the S3 came under fire for being a bit bland to drive. Audi has addressed these complaints and given the S3 an overhaul in a bid to make it the drivers’ hot hatch of choice.
The 2.0-litre unit under the bonnet might be the same engine found in the previous S3, but Audi has managed to extract an extra 22bhp, boosting the overall power output to 328bhp - making it more responsive and characterful. Other tweaks have seen the addition of a torque-vectoring differential, new suspension springs and dampers and larger brakes. All together, the chassis tweaks and changes make the new S3 one of the best Audi ‘S’ cars to drive.
The interior feels upmarket and makes use of lots of premium-feeling materials. It comes across as more polished and accomplished when compared to its BMW M135i and Mercedes-AMG A 35 rivals.
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