This Is The Hot-hatch Hotlist Countdown..
Hot hatchbacks need to do it all. But there are some that out-perform others. The best hot hatches are taut but also comfortable enough to absorb the worst lumps and bumps. They鈥檙e quick on the road, but not too quick at swigging fuel. Some are better at this magic than others. Here are the ones that, in our opinion, do it the best. The original hot hatch has been superseded by more potent examples. The Golf was the first car to carry the GTI badge and it鈥檚 still one of the top exponents of the art. It鈥檚 relatively costly, but over time you don鈥檛 lose out as the quality is high and the depreciation low. Quick, accomplished and well facelifted last year with upgraded infotainment. Pots of 鈥榩remium鈥?as well as performance in this 306bhp petrol version of the everyday A3 family hatchback. Pure driving excitement isn鈥檛 quite up at the top of the class, and the price can be high if you tick a few options boxes, but the quality is matchless and there鈥檚 speed to spare.
The Focus RS is the ultimate Ford hot hatch, but the Focus ST isn't far behind. If you need a useful family hatchback, the normal Ford Focus is brilliant not just for its practicality but also for its driver engagement. The ST is the same, but faster. It comes as either a 182bhp or a 247bhp forms. You鈥檒l notice a reduction in class compared to the best German offerings, but the fine driving position is a nice compensation. It beats much of the opposition on steering, body control and - importantly - insurance costs. It looks great too. If you want something bigger - and want to fork out a load more money - the Audi RS3 could be the car for you. This recently refreshed RS3 packs the TT RS鈥檚 potent 394bhp five-cylinder engine, so it goes like a banshee. It鈥檚 no economy option though. Cars that are more accessible and arguably more fun to drive include the BMW M140i (which doesn't make it into our list) and Ford Focus RS.
This is the Golf that gazumps the GTI. The second hot Golf on our list is quicker and generally better than the GTI, thanks to its extra performance - 0 to 62mph in just 5.3 seconds - and all-wheel drive. A really entertaining steer with decent practicality and a superb cabin. Of all the hot hatches here, the Mercedes-AMG A45 is the most powerful. Another pricey option, but the Mercedes-AMG A45 repays you with scorching pace from its bombastic 375bhp engine and quick-action automatic gearbox, and with its well-controlled cornering skills. Super capable, but you can get the same degree of ability for a lot less money. And keep in mind a new one is due any time soon. Hyundai has come a long way in recent years. It doesn't seem that long ago that Hyundai was perceived as a non-aspirational economy brand. The i30N is changing all that. It鈥檚 mounting a serious challenge to the likes of the VW Golf GTI and Ford Focus ST - which is properly impressive for a first entry into the hot hatch market. Of the two models, the normal one and Performance variant, we鈥檇 stick with the regular car for road-based fun.
There's been a lot said about the Focus RS, but it just misses out on the top spot in our list. The Ford Focus RS is a five-star car irrespective of its status as a hot hatch. Its 345bhp output puts it right up there with the best on power, while its four-wheel drive allows full use of that power: the 0-62mph is under five seconds. Better yet, it doesn鈥檛 sting you on price: entry to the club begins at 拢32,795. It鈥檚 no shrinking violet with all that mad-looking bodywork all over the place, but the Civic Type R鈥檚 add-ons are all functional and designed to prevent this rapid machine from taking off at the speeds it's capable of. On paper, it鈥檚 fractionally slower than the Golf R or Focus RS but this turbocharged 2.0-litre Honda never feels short on cross-country pace - and is marginally cheaper. It鈥檚 big inside too, with a particularly large boot. You don鈥檛 have to compromise to enjoy the Type R experience.
It should be noted that throughout the history of Volkswagen it has offered all sorts of special edition models for variety of reasons like for instance to commemorate our country's 200th birthday, Volkswagen has produced the Bicentennial VW Beetle. There are also times when Volkswagen creates vehicles just to accentuate a specific model's image such as the Fahrenheit GTI. Another occasion wherein Volkswagen offers special edition models is when they want to deliver an even greater valued vehicle to their customers just like the special edition Passat that it is are currently offering. With the Wolfsburg Edition VW Passat, the automaker has been able to continue its long tradition of offering value priced special editions to its customers. The Passat Special Edition is equipped with a 2.0 L, 200 horsepower turbocharged engine with a standard six-speed automatic Tiptronic® transmission. In addition, each of the special edition Passat sedans includes the unique 'Wolfsburg Edition' badging that is found on both the driver and passenger front quarter panels. 26,990 as compared to similarly equipped non Wolfsburg Edition Passat.
