12 OF THE FASTEST ACCELERATING HOT HATCHES YOU CAN BUY TODAY
Ford Focus ST - 0-62mph in 5.7 seconds
The Focus ST remains a quietly great all-rounder, but one that’s no longer a conspicuous bargain or the most rambunctious car in its class, which may mean it struggles to stand out from a talented crowd.
Cupra Leon - 0-62mph in 5.7 seconds
It isn’t as aggressively raw as a Honda Civic Type R, nor does it offer the wheel-cocking antics of a Hyundai i30N. It’ll offer you decent countryside thrills, though.
VW Golf GTI Clubsport - 0-62mph in 5.6 seconds
A car that celebrates the venerable hatchback's 50th anniversary by putting on an angry suit and swelling its lungs a tad.
,Honda Civic Type R - 0-62mph in 5.4 seconds
It’s a sublime car, this. More demanding of you than a Golf GTI or R, but infinitely more rewarding and beguiling.
Toyota GR Yaris - 0-62mph in 5.2 seconds
Proves what we’ve long suspected: that a pukka road-going rally car is the best thing for tackling a modern B-road. Small and light, with punchy dynamics and a gutsy motor, it’s a deeply compelling machine.
BMW M135i xDrive - 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds
Happy? Sad? Anxious? Angry? No idea. BMW’s 1 Series only looked cool once – the Bangle one – but even the more recent 1er’s distinctive face appears to have been traded for a rather more homogenous front that now just looks permanently surprised about something.
Mercedes-AMG A35 - 0-62mph in 4.7 seconds
Fast on the straights and in corners, but curiously light on spice and engagement.
,Audi S3 Sportback - 0-62mph in 4.7 seconds
The car you'd want for a long journey across mixed roads, but it wouldn't get you out bed earlier.
,Volkswagen Golf R - 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds
Drum roll, please: VW has finally launched the new Golf R. Following on from the new regular Mk8.5 Golf and the new Golf GTI, the hottest VW hatch is now here and it’s nearly 20 horsepower hotter.
,Mercedes-AMG A45 S - 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds
The most powerful hot hatch in series production operates unobtrusively when you don’t demand much from it, and goes properly feral when you do.
,MG4 XPower - 0-62mph in 3.8 seconds
Wait, what? An MG4? Easily the least hot hatch-like hot hatch we've ever driven.
,Audi RS3 - 0-62mph in 3.8 seconds
The best version of Audi’s five-cylinder megahatch yet. Although you’ll need to spend time getting the best out of it
2024-08-20T04:11:36Z