Sections
The hottest of the new generation Focus models, till the RS arrives, should have what it takes to be a class leader
They may look like sensible hatchbacks but these ten cars offer some of the best driving experience of any car at any price point
The best high performance superminis on sale now, offering hot hatch thrills in more compact and affordable packages
Uprated chassis and sharper styling for Nissan's electric car, but power improvements are conspicuously absent
The RS3 is typically polished performance Audi with huge performance but it’s somewhat sanitized.
Priced the same as the new Fiesta ST, the Corsa GSi has a tough battle ahead with its warm supermini
The latest Mini Cooper is a very different hatchback to the original R53, but remains fun to drive and is more polished than ever
Renault’s limited edition Clio R.S. 18 will be strictly limited to 15 units at just over £24k
The Swift Sport is a faster and more mature machine than before, but growing up means some of the fun has been lost
The Ibiza Cupra has always been the Polo GTI's more charismatic Spanish cousin, but was it a better hot hatch?
A hugely talented all-rounder, possibly a bit too grown up
It might be the entry-level car in VW’s GTI range, but the Up GTI has masses of charm
Not the most fun, but well-rounded and good value too
The Audi S1 brings speed, premium appeal and impressive build quality to the junior hot hatch segment.
The JCW is bigger and more sophisticated than ever, but some of the playfulness we expect from a hot hatch Mini has disappeared
Extra power extracted from the RS3’s 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine reduces 0-62mph time to 3.7sec
The ST was evo’s favourite junior hot hatch, hopefully the new one will be just as fun.
New LED headlights, Union Jack rear lights and an optional dual-clutch transmission constitute the Mini Cooper’s mid-life refresh
An exciting hot hatch with typical French quirks
You don't need 200bhp or more in a small hatchback to have fun – these ‘warm’ small cars are the proof
