Hot hatches
Ford Focus ST review – a great handling hatch, made hotter
Ford Focus ST review – a great handling hatch, made hotter
"The Ford Focus ST is one of the most exciting hot hatchbacks on sale, but it's no longer a cheap option next to its rivals"
Volkswagen Golf R review – the ultimate hot Golf
Volkswagen Golf R review – the ultimate hot Golf
“The Volkswagen Golf R is one of the hottest Golfs ever, and handles very well”
Cupra Leon review – a sporty hatchback that’s also a great all-rounder
Cupra Leon review – a sporty hatchback that’s also a great all-rounder
"The Cupra Leon is a stylish, high-performance take on the standard hatch that's a desirable alternative to mainstream rivals"
New Peugeot 208 coming soon with hot GTi version under consideration
New Peugeot 208 coming soon with hot GTi version under consideration
The next-gen Peugeot 208 is due to arrive in 2026 – this is everything we know so far
Ford Puma ST review – not as fun as it used to be
Ford Puma ST review – not as fun as it used to be
"The Ford Puma ST offers great handling, but its lacklustre automatic gearbox and engine have removed all the fun”
The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2025
The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2025
Hot hatchbacks are hotter than they’ve ever been before – these are the quickest of the lot
Volkswagen Golf GTI review – the quintessential hot hatch
Volkswagen Golf GTI review – the quintessential hot hatch
"Favouring precision over power, the Volkswagen Golf GTI is a sophisticated hot hatch"
New Alpine A290: fast electric hot hatch goes on sale from £33,500
New Alpine A290: fast electric hot hatch goes on sale from £33,500
The electric hot hatch era heats up with the arrival of the new £34k Alpine A290
The 10 best hot hatchbacks to buy in 2025
The 10 best hot hatchbacks to buy in 2025
A hot hatch should combine driving thrills with everyday usability at a reasonable price – we round up the best
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N review - sensationally quick and engaging
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N review - sensationally quick and engaging
“The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N sets the benchmark for fast EVs, but all its tech doesn’t come cheap”
Audi RS 3 review – better to drive than ever
Audi RS 3 review – better to drive than ever
“The Audi RS 3 is fearsomely quick but can be just as easy to drive as the regular A3”
New MINI John Cooper Works unleashed with 228bhp petrol engine
New MINI John Cooper Works unleashed with 228bhp petrol engine
The new petrol-powered MINI John Cooper Works is here, and it’s almost as quick as its electric twin
New MINI John Cooper Works Electric arrives with Golf GTI-rivalling performance
New MINI John Cooper Works Electric arrives with Golf GTI-rivalling performance
MINI turns up the wick on its electric city car, resulting in a sub-six second 0-62mph time
New Volkswagen ID.3 GTX: electric hot hatch costs more than a Golf R
New Volkswagen ID.3 GTX: electric hot hatch costs more than a Golf R
You’ll need to cough up £46k for the Volkswagen ID.3 GTX when it goes on sale in the UK
Mercedes-AMG A 45 review – a powerful, but pricey hot hatch
Mercedes-AMG A 45 review – a powerful, but pricey hot hatch
"Incredible power sets the Mercedes-AMG A 45 S apart but its price tag is almost as breathtaking"
New Audi RS 3 revealed: five-cylinder hot hatch updated for 2024
New Audi RS 3 revealed: five-cylinder hot hatch updated for 2024
Audi’s high-speed hatchback is updated for 2024, but performance is unchanged from outgoing RS 3
New Skoda Octavia vRS undercuts the VW Golf GTI – but only just
New Skoda Octavia vRS undercuts the VW Golf GTI – but only just
Pricing has been confirmed for the new Skoda Octavia vRS, with the hatch costing from just under £39k
New Volkswagen Golf R revealed: 329bhp hot hatch as quick as Audi R8, costs £43k
New Volkswagen Golf R revealed: 329bhp hot hatch as quick as Audi R8, costs £43k
Volkswagen’s performance flagship, the Golf R, gets more power, new tech and a fresh look for 2024
Brand new Cupra Leon is cheaper than before
Brand new Cupra Leon is cheaper than before
Pricing for the facelifted 2024 Cupra Leon has just been revealed, and it’s now more affordable
Feistier Cupra Born VZ gets 322bhp and sports suspension – yours for £45k
Feistier Cupra Born VZ gets 322bhp and sports suspension – yours for £45k
Spain’s hottest electric hatchback is on sale now – meet the £45k Cupra Born VZ
New electric MINI John Cooper Works E shakes down before Goodwood debut
New electric MINI John Cooper Works E shakes down before Goodwood debut
MINI gives its electric hatchback the full JCW makeover – here’s its first teaser
New Volkswagen Golf R: 329bhp super-hatch details and prototype drive
New Volkswagen Golf R: 329bhp super-hatch details and prototype drive
The hottest Golf gets even faster this year – and we’ve driven the prototype
Hot car deal: Fun-focused BMW 128ti hot hatch for £309 a month
Hot car deal: Fun-focused BMW 128ti hot hatch for £309 a month
The most driver-focused model in BMW’s 1 Series lineup can be yours for just £309 a month
New MINI John Cooper Works first look! Petrol and electric hot hatch coming this year
New MINI John Cooper Works first look! Petrol and electric hot hatch coming this year
First glimpse of the MINI John Cooper Works reveals a suitably sporty-looking hot hatch
BMW M135i review – a fast and practical hot hatch, but lacks character
BMW M135i review – a fast and practical hot hatch, but lacks character
“The latest BMW M135i is undoubtedly fast, and a recent update has added some of the old car’s character”
Bargain Volkswagen Golf R: Hot hatch lease deal
Bargain Volkswagen Golf R: Hot hatch lease deal
Our hot car deal for 26 April is a performance hero; the Volkswagen Golf R for £354 a month
Audi S3 Sportback review – now it’s fun as well as fast
Audi S3 Sportback review – now it’s fun as well as fast
“The Audi S3 is still a subtle hot hatch, but its driver will now have a much broader smile”
New Audi S3 revealed: £47k hot hatch brings greater focus on handling
New Audi S3 revealed: £47k hot hatch brings greater focus on handling
New facelift for the Audi S3 packs more power and a raft of chassis upgrades, with some models topping £50k
2024 Audi S3 promises to be sportier than ever with 328bhp – prototype review
2024 Audi S3 promises to be sportier than ever with 328bhp – prototype review
Audi’s hot hatchback will receive a facelift this year along with multiple performance upgrades – we drive the prototype
New Volkswagen Golf GTI is here with 20 extra horsepower
New Volkswagen Golf GTI is here with 20 extra horsepower
The grandfather of hot hatchbacks is revised for the Mk8.5 generation, with visual tweaks and more power
New Volkswagen Golf GTI: hot hatch icon gets a refresh
New Volkswagen Golf GTI: hot hatch icon gets a refresh
Iconic performance car will receive tweaks for its mid-life facelift, including visual changes and a potential bump in power
Smaller and cheaper electric Hyundai N car on the way
Smaller and cheaper electric Hyundai N car on the way
The new Hyundai Ioniq 5 N could be joined by a smaller electric performance car, according to a senior figure at the company
Honda Civic Type R review - the ultimate hot hatch?
Honda Civic Type R review - the ultimate hot hatch?
“The latest Honda Civic Type R could go down in history as one of the hot hatch greats, but its high price tag could prove a step too far for some ent…
UK Hyundai Ioniq 5 N pricing announced, starting from £65k
UK Hyundai Ioniq 5 N pricing announced, starting from £65k
The Ioniq 5 N gets 641bhp in a bid to be the ultimate enthusiast’s EV, and we’ve had a chance to drive the latest prototype
New Skoda vRS hot hatch could be a cut-price VW ID.2 GTI
New Skoda vRS hot hatch could be a cut-price VW ID.2 GTI
Volkswagen ID.2-based supermini could spawn a hot vRS version, if Skoda can make a credible case