It’s not far off 50 years that we have had hot hatchbacks in our lives. Started by the Mk1 Golf GTI in 1976 the ‘Hot Hatch’ has been a huge success story for the automotive industry and has grown beyond any initial expectations.
There have been some iconic cars created along the way that are still revered decades later and the strong competition between manufacturers has never eased. The result of advancements in technology and half a century of vying for the top spot has left us with some incredibly capable cars to choose from today.
In this article we’ll take a look at some of the best modern hot hatchbacks on sale in 2023, and how this market sector is changing. The term ‘hot hatchback’ has changed a lot since the early days in the 1970s and 1980s, and in today’s market almost every manufacturer has a hot hatch.
The Best Hot Hatches
So which cars have I chosen? Well, the key factor to look for in a hot hatch is fun. The perfect hot hatch needs to be a car you want to drive simply for the smile it puts on your face, this is what hot hatches have always been about. It doesn’t matter about the price or the performance figures, this list is purely a selection of everyday cars that are excellent to drive.
This list is focused on cars on sale in 2023, and also cars you can order today if you wanted to. Unfortunately, this means we have to leave off some great hot hatches like the Civic Type R and the Toyota GR Yaris, but there are still some great cars on this list.
Let’s see the choices!
VW UP! GTI – from £18,055
The first car on our list is the VW UP! GTI. Volkswagen has clearly been inspired by the original GTI Golf from all those years ago with this model, and those design cues work really well. On the power front, the UP! GTI only has 113 bhp (only 3 more than the original Golf), and the interior has a similar minimalist look to the 1976 version.
Like any great hot hatchback, the appeal is in the driving not the numbers, and to drive, is an absolute joy. The engine is willing and the 3-cylinder unit has a very distinctive sound which has often been compared to a flat-six Porsche engine, which is no bad thing. You also get plenty of GTI spec trim options and details on the car that make it stand out nicely from a basic UP! model.
The GTI badge has a long history of cars that are designed to put a smile on your face and the UP! GTI is one of the best ever. The low power in the UP! Is an advantage, allowing you to push the car in ways you can’t with more powerful hot hatches. The other benefit of the powertrain is the weight advantage – this car isn’t stuck with a heavy AWD system or large engine, so it feels agile.
Like a lot of hot hatchbacks, this isn’t a car you’d choose for long-distance driving; there isn’t a lot of interior space or storage, and although it’s four doors the UP! GTI is cramped in the rear. You do get some impressive features on this car though, including the option for a reversing camera, but the main infotainment has to be run through an app on your phone, which I wasn’t a fan of.
| The Good | The Bad |
| Lots Of Fun To Drive | Engine Power May Dissapoint Some |
| Exterior & Interior Styling Makes You Stand Out | Interior Space Isn’t Great |
Hyundai I20N – from £25,000
From a brand with plenty of history in the hot hatchback world to a relative newcomer, next on our list is the Hyundai i20N. Hyundai has been on the up-and-up recently with some excellent models, and the I20N has been particularly impressive. So how does this newcomer to the hot hatch scene measure up?
Hyundai’s transition from reliable (but basic) family cars to hot hatchback territory began with the hiring of an ex-BMW figure, Albert Biermann. Albert was previously involved with the famous BMW M division, so you knew this was an appointment focused on one thing – performance. First up came the i30N, a hot hatch version of Hyundai’s larger family car, which had a good reception for their first attempt.
2022 saw the release of the i20N, this time a rival to cars like the VW Polo GTI and Ford Fiesta ST. I think everyone was surprised at Hyundai for releasing two hot hatches in quick succession, and even more, surprised when they got behind the wheel of the i20N. This is a car with serious performance, focusing on everything that makes a hot hatch great, and it only misses the mark in a few areas.
Handling in the i20N is up there with the best in its class, with enough grip on the road to really push yourself. Power comes from a 1.6L engine, putting out just over 200 bhp, so it’s hardly sluggish. Some critics have complained that the engine is less responsive than what you find in a Fiesta ST, which can take you out of the experience when you don’t get the power needed immediately. Still, this is a great small car to drive, and will definitely put a smile on your face.
As with any recent Hyundai, the reliability and build quality are excellent. The i20N features a healthy amount of unique trim to distinguish this from a standard i20, and I prefer the design to cars like the Fiesta ST. Inside the i20N it’s very similar to the other models in the range, but the Hyundai ‘minimalist’ design works well for a hot hatch, and interior technology is plentiful. Practicality in the i20N is surprisingly good too, but other hot hatches are better for longer journeys.
| The Good | The Bad |
| Dynamically Brilliant | Engine Can Be Slow To Respond |
| Plenty Of Technology | |
| Outstanding Reliability |
Ford Focus ST – From £35,000
Next up we have the Ford Focus ST, a name anyone in the hot hatch world will recognise. Throughout it’s years the ST has been a polarising car, with a love it or hate it design, and pushing the boundaries of what makes a hot hatchback. So does the latest model continue that trend?
When it comes to performance and handling, the Focus ST isn’t lacking in either. Superbly responsive and offering 276 bhp, this is a car that will push you as a driver, but it’s extremely rewarding. Ford has a racing pedigree that rivals any manufacturer, and it shows in the Focus ST.
Previous generations of the Focus ST have been hit and miss on the exterior styling, but this latest version is more subdued (unless you go for the bright green option). The interior quality isn’t as impressive as some rival cars, but you get plenty of tech as standard, although Ford has decided to go with a full touchscreen control system. This is becoming increasingly popular in the automotive world and it’s a design choice I hate, but for some owners, the cleaner look will be a positive.
Like the standard Focus, this is a practical car, so you will have no problems on longer journeys. Overall I think the biggest problem with the ST is at that pricepoint of £35,000, there are too many rivals offering better value for money. The Focus ST is going to give you more than enough performance when you want it, alongside a car that’s easy to live with every day, but it’s hard to ignore the likes of the Civic Type R at this price.
| The Good | The Bad |
| Plenty Of Performance And Handling | The Price |
| Suitable As A Daily Driver | That Touchscreen Setup |
BMW 128 ti – From £34,500
From a traditional hot hatch to something very different, we have the BMW 128 ti. Known for their M performance division, BMW has created some incredible driving machines over the past 50 years, but the hot hatch sector has been largely avoided by the Munich-based company. Sure, we’ve had versions of the 1 Series that you could call a hot hatch, but for me, cars like the M140i didn’t feel like a true example.
Then, in 2022 we had the release of the 128 ti. The latest 1 Series has been a polarising car for many BMW fans, switching to a front-wheel drive option and removing the rear-wheel drive that BMW is famous for. Some expected this move from BMW and it made sense for the basic models, but almost everyone was caught by surprise when the 128ti was announced – for the first time this was a ‘performance’ BMW that was front-wheel drive.
Unlike the M140i models in previous generations, the 128ti isn’t focused on raw power. Its 2L engine puts out 260 bhp, which is no slouch, and it fits with the car’s handling. After all, BMW prides itself on the ‘ultimate driving machines’, and the 128ti doesn’t disappoint. This has the feeling of a hot hatch instead of a powerhouse and almost makes you forget this isn’t RWD. Against rivals like the VW Golf GTI, this has a better driving experience.
Styling on the latest 1 Series has split opinion, and like a number of recent BMWs, I’m not a huge fan. The 128ti adds some coloured trim to stand out, but overall it’s a standard 1 Series, which looks much better from the rear than the front. Inside the 128ti is a better situation, with plenty of technology, the best infotainment system you can buy in my opinion, and high-quality materials. This feels like a premium car in a way other hot hatches simply don’t.
For me, the biggest surprise was the price. At just under £35k, the 128ti is competing against the likes of the Focus ST and Hyundai i30N, and it suddenly feels like this is incredible value for money. It’s not the perfect hot hatch, but credit to BMW for the attempt, and it will be a popular choice.
| The Good | The Bad |
| Premium Features | Exterior Styling Is Hit and Miss |
| A Lot Of Fun |
Mercedes AMG A45 S – from £58,728
The final car on our list is a very different machine from what we have previously covered. The earlier cars were all examples of fun over raw performance, and getting hot hatch enjoyment on a budget. On the other side of that argument sits this – the Mercedes AMG A45 S. And in the hot hatch world, this has an infamous and controversial reputation, alongside some truly incredible stats.
The A45 S is a car that many of you will know, and mostly due to its ridiculous engine. Somehow, Mercedes Benz has managed to squeeze 415 bhp from a 2L engine, making the A45 S the most powerful production car with a 2L in the world. Just in case you misread that part, this car has over 400 bhp. The result is 0-60 in under 4 seconds, which is supercar territory.
Does all that power make the A45 S a perfect hot hatch though? The short answer is no, but it comes very close. You’re limited to all-wheel-drive in this monster, which makes sense considering the power, but it takes away from the experience slightly. However, this is still a lot of fun to drive, as long as you manage that power effectively. This isn’t a car you can underestimate.
Outside of the performance, is the A45 S a car you could daily drive? This is a Mercedes after all, and all the tech and comfort you would expect are present here, with an impressive infotainment setup that borrows from some of the brand’s high-end models.
We need to talk price though. At almost £60,000 the A45 S is in true sportscar territory, competing with Porsche Caymans and BMW M2 models. For me, that’s too much for a hot hatch, even one with these statistics, and the calmer A35 is better value for money if you’re after a premium hot hatch.
| The Good | The Bad |
| Incredible Power | Too Powerful To Enjoy? |
| Premium Interior | The Price |
Summary
So there we are, five of the best hot hatches on sale in 2022. They might range from just over 100 bhp to 400+, but all these cars have the hot hatch DNA of driving pleasure. Whether you’re in the market for a city runaround that you can let loose occasionally, or you want out and out power, there is a car here for you. The hot hatch sector is looking better than ever, and as we moved into 2023 we have some amazing new cars on the horizon.
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