Ever since the first Golf GTI rolled off the production line in 1976, motorists have been in love with the hot hatchback. With the power of a sports car and the practicality of a family saloon, these 3 and 5 door pocket rockets have proven time after time to be an incredibly popular choice for driving enthusiasts young and old — and that’s without mentioning their relatively low price tag.
So if you want a car that’s at home on the track as it is in the car park of your local supermarket, check out this list of hot hatches we’d love to drive in 2016.
SEAT Leon SC Cupra
SEAT know a thing or two about making great hot hatches, and tend to add a dose of sportiness to all their current production cars. The latest hot SEAT to roll out of the firm’s Spanish manufacturing plant is the Leon SC Cupra; the fastest SEAT ever. Not only is the Leon SC Cupra extraordinarily quick (top speed 155mph), it looks great too — just as a hot hatch should.
MINI John Cooper Works
As if the MINI Cooper S wasn’t powerful enough, each version of the iconic hatchback is given to the team at John Cooper Works who set about retuning the engine, lowering the suspension and making an array of fierce design changes to give the MINI John Cooper Works its hardcore appeal. The result is the most powerful MINI to date, and arguably the most aggressive, track-ready hatch money can buy.
Honda Civic Type R
Honda may be responsible for some of the world’s most eco-friendly cars, but it seems they haven’t forgotten how to produce a hardcore hot hatch, either. The new Civic Type R is the most extreme Honda to date — a 306bhp monster whose unbridled power could lead some drivers into dangerous territory. That said the Type R is still comfortable and practical, with a boot big enough for your racing gear and your groceries.
Ford Focus RS
After Ford had perfected the glorious Focus ST, they must have got a little bored. The result of this boredom is the Focus RS, a hardcore, track-honed version of the ST that benefits from the manufacturer’s accessible affordability. For under £25K, you get a remarkably quick car that’s as fun to drive as its predecessor with much more punch beneath the bonnet — 345bhp of punch to be exact.
BMW M135i
Some hot hatch purists could argue that, given the BMW M135i is rear-wheel drive, it isn’t a hot hatch at all. Wherever you stand on the drivetrain debate however, it’s hard to argue with the performance figures. With its 3.0-litre turbocharged engine and 332lb ft. of torque, the M135i is one of the fastest hot hatches around — leaping from 0-62mph in five seconds flat.
Audi RS3
The new Audi RS3 may share a similar body style to Audi’s successful A3 range, but that’s where the similarities end. With 362bhp under the bonnet, the RS3 is absurdly fast — capable of breaching the 170mph mark on a long enough stretch of tarmac. And, thanks to the car’s ridiculous low rev torque performance, it’ll hit 62mph in four seconds flat — that’s faster than a Ferrari Scaglietti.
Volkswagen Golf R
The crème de le crème of hot hatches returns in 2016, with the launch of the all new Volkswagen Golf R. Voted Top Gear Magazine’s favourite hot hatchback, the R is astonishingly quick — boasting a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine producing 300bhp. Put aside its outlandish performance however, and the R is still a Golf — practical, stylish and unendingly reliable.
Renault Megane Renaultsport Trophy-R
Having tweaked the Trophy-R to within an inch of its life at the Nürburgring, the Renaultsport team undoubtedly breathed a sigh of relief when their new hot Megane lapped the Green Hell in a staggering 7 minutes 54 seconds — faster than any other front-drive hot hatch. Thanks to its 2.0-litre turbocharged engine the Trophy-R goes from 0-62mph in 5.8 seconds, and then on to a blistering 158mph.
Vauxhall Astra VXR
It’s safe to say, Vauxhall have gone a little crazy in recent times — releasing a throng of super-quick hatchbacks that are as affordable as they are fast. The quickest of them all is the Astra VXR, which carries a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine producing 276bhp. The result of this power is a 0-62mph time of just six seconds and a top speed of 155mph — and all for under £20,000.
Mercedes AMG A45
Tuned by Mercedes’ madcap performance division, the AMG A45holds the crown as the world’s fastest, most powerful hot hatch. Beneath its sleek shell, the A45 houses a 376bhp, 2.0-litre turbocharged engine — and it’s one of the most potent ever placed in a hatchback. If you want one, be sure to add the optional sports exhaust to feel the benefit of all those pops and bursts.
Whether you own a hot hatch or family saloon, Prestone products are developed to work in all extremes, protecting your car no matter what the conditions. To find out more, visit the Prestone website.