Hot hatches should make even the most mundane of drives feel magical by blending entertaining handling with easily accessible performance. This ability to entertain, however, shouldn’t come at the expense of running costs, and because a hot hatch is often a family’s sole car, it also needs to be well equipped and reasonably practical.
1 Hyundai i20 N
THEE’S SOMETHING SLIGHTLY oldschool about the i20 N – and we mean that in a good way. It’s not only quick and fun to drive but, unlike many current hot hatches, is also very affordable. Its engine even has a touch of turbo lag, with a small pause between you asking for more power and it arriving – all part of the charm. And because its handling and ride are calmer than the Ford Fiesta ST’s, the i20 N is an easy car to drive quickly.
Our pick 1.6 T-GDi 204
List price £26,230
Target Price £25,672
MPG 40.4 CO2 158g/km
For Gutsy performance; friendly handling; comfier ride than Fiesta ST; relatively cheap to buy and run
Against Slightly less playful handling than Fiesta ST; smaller boot than some rivals; sluggish infotainment
WHAT CAR? SAYS ★★★ ★ ★
BEST ENGINE