Best hot hatches 2024 – the most fun, and the one to avoid

As well as being the very best hot hatch on sale today, the Mercedes-AMG A45 might just be the finest alarm clock, too – because it’s precisely the kind of car you’ll find yourself waking an hour early for, just to head out for a drive.

You’ll cover a lot of miles in that hour, because its 415bhp engine is coupled with grippy four-wheel drive to enable a 0-62mph time of just 3.9sec – remarkable performance in a car that’s relatively comfortable and can carry six carry-on suitcases. Features like AMG sports seats, a flat-bottomed sports steering wheel and AMG-specific digital dials all add to that incredible driving experience.

It’s worth noting that because the A45 is at the scorching end of the hot hatch market, you’ll find the Audi RS3 more civilised and the BMW M135i cheaper. But few blend such savage performance with playful handling and an upmarket look and feel. Supercar performance has rarely been more accessible.

“I'm very happy to sacrifice a bit of civility for extra fun. I found the amount of speed I could carry through corners was remarkable, and the effectiveness of the four-wheel drive system is seriously impressive.” – Dan Jones, Reviewer

Read our in-depth Mercedes-AMG A45 review

The Audi S3 may not deliver the ultimate driving thrills of some hot hatchback rivals, but it counters with impressive point-to-point pace. 

It’s absurdly rapid in a straight line, and there’s always plenty of grip on offer in corners. That’s partly down to the accuracy of the S3’s steering, and the assured nature of its four-wheel drive system. It never feels intimidating, unlike some hot hatch rivals such as the Honda Civic Type R or Toyota GR Yaris.

While the closely related Volkswagen Golf R is a better all-rounder, the S3 isn't far behind – and it has the obvious allure of a premium badge and a more upmarket interior.

“The S3's rear seat backs split in a useful 40/20/40 configuration, which is something you have to pay extra for in a BMW M135i. It's a very useful feature, as I found on a long road trip, where the extra flexibility for my luggage came in really useful.” – Stuart Milne, Digital Editor

Read our in-depth Audi S3 review

The Golf R is the kind of hot hatchback we love – exciting to drive when you're pressing on, but perfectly civilised when you're not.

You see, being based on the regular Volkswagen Golf, it offers plenty of space for your passengers and all of their luggage, yet also offers more feedback through corners than the rival BMW M135i and the mechanically-similar Audi S3.

The Golf R's four-wheel drive system also aids traction, yet you can feel power being sent to the rear wheels to help the car rotate on the way out of corners.

Indeed, if it had a smarter interior and a less frustrating infotainment system, the latest Golf R might rise even higher up this list.

“The Golf R is available with an optional Akrapovic exhaust system. It's quite expensive, but it's an option I'd choose because I love the humorous exhaust pops as you lift off the accelerator.” – Neil Winn, Deputy Reviews Editor

Read our in-depth Volkswagen Golf R review

You might be surprised to see an electric car on this list, but the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N proves there's a place for them in the hot hatchback class.

It's powered by two electric motors (with one on each set of wheels) that combine to produce a whopping 601bhp – or 641bhp in 10-second bursts using the N Grin Boost mode. Using launch control, the car is said to hit 0-62mph in just 3.4 seconds – that makes it the quickest car on this list by quite some margin.

However, it's not just about power and pace with the Ioniq 5 N, because it has some very clever party tricks. The most notable is the N e-Shift and N Active Sound Plus driving modes; the former makes the car drive as if it has an eight-speed automatic gearbox, and you can shift the simulated gears up and down with the steering wheel-mounted paddles, while the latter pumps fake engine sounds into the interior and outside the car.

The combination, along with the car's playful handling, is an electric car that's great fun to drive. Of course, with all those gadgets, you do have to pay a price for the Ioniq 5 N, because it's very expensive.

“Beneath the surface, the Ioniq 5 N is closely related to the Kia EV6 GT. However, it has new suspension, bigger brakes, quicker steering, reinforced underpinnings and a vast array of drive modes to distinguish it from its cousin. I found the difference was like night and day.” – Oliver Young, Used Cars Reporter

Read our in-depth Hyundai Ioniq 5 N review

The BMW 128ti is essentially a pared-down version of the BMW M135i, with front wheel drive rather than four-wheel drive and a detuned version of that car’s turbocharged 2.0-litre engine.

On paper, you might think these factors count against it, but they don’t; the 128ti is lighter and more agile, and it benefits from a bespoke suspension set-up, stiffer anti-roll bars and revised steering.

If you're looking for the most thrilling BMW 1 Series you can buy, and one that is guaranteed to have you smiling after every journey, then this is it. It's also eminently usable as family transport, benefitting from the same high-quality interior and decent space as the standard 1 Series.

“With four-wheel drive, the M135i has amazing traction on greasy, winding roads, but I found the the front-wheel drive 128ti to be the more engaging driver’s car, thanks to its more natural-feeling steering and playful chassis.” – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor

Read our in-depth BMW 128ti review

The regular Ford Focus is one of the best-handling family cars on sale, making it an excellent starting point for a hot hatch. 

So, where does the Focus ST version differ? Well, the key differences include a 276bhp 2.3-litre turbocharged petrol engine that’s happy to be revved hard, plus a limited-slip differential to help you get the most traction out of corners. 

In essence, it’s great fun to drive while retaining the practicality of the regular Focus. However, the steering can be inconsistently weighted at times, and the rather low-rent interior might put you off. The BMW M135i, for example, has a nicer interior and features an infotainment system that's easier to get along with.

“The Focus ST is one of the best hot hatches to drive along a country road. It offers greater agility, playfulness and, ultimately, a higher fun factor than many of its rivals, including the Volkswagen Golf GTI. What really appeals to me, though, is that it's more affordable to buy than that car, too.” – Steve Huntingford, Editor

Read our in-depth Ford Focus ST review

The latest Volkswagen Golf GTI is outgunned by the very best hot hatches when it comes to outright thrills and speed. It’s also quite pricey considering the performance on offer.

However, it does nail the balance of everyday usability. The ride, for example, is surprisingly supple for a hot hatch (especially with the optional adaptive suspension fitted), and performance is closer to the more powerful Honda Civic Type R than you might think. Plus, its boot managed to swallow five carry-on suitcases in our tests.

Unfortunately, the GTI is no longer available with a manual gearbox, so instead you have to make do with a seven-speed automatic gearbox. This is a shame, because the manual was ultimately more fun to use.

“I still mourn the loss of the manual gearbox in the Golf GTI. However, the dual-clutch DSG automatic does offer smooth-yet-swift shifts, and you can take back control with the gear-shift paddles behind the steering wheel if you want to.” – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

Read our in-depth Volkswagen Golf GTI review

The M135i is the most powerful version of the BMW 1 Series you can buy. It's powered by a 302bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine; that’s on a par with the Audi S3 but a bit behind the big hitters in the class, such as the Mercedes-AMG A45.

Despite that, the M135i is hardly a slouch. With its launch control system engaged, it can dash off the line with immediacy and hit 62mph in just 4.8sec. It hardly ever struggles for traction, too, thanks to its xDrive four-wheel-drive system – even on damp conditions.

Is the engine and gearbox the most exciting combination? No, not quite. The engine produces a bit of a monotonous drone, even when you step on it, and it's not quite as engaging in the corners as an Audi RS3. Mind you, the M135i does win back some points for everyday usability, because it has a smart, high-quality interior and one of the best infotainment systems in the business.

“The M135i's interior is a big step up from what you'll find in the Ford Focus ST and Volkswagen Golf GTI. The dashboard is awash with soft-touch materials, plus it feels solid and built to last. I found the infotainment system to be very easy to use, partly because of the rotary control dial on the centre console.” – Claire Evans, Consumer Editor

Read our in-depth BMW M135i review

The Mercedes-AMG A35 might be a cheaper version of the A45 that sits high on our list of the best hot hatches – but it doesn’t feel cut-price. Indeed it’s best thought of as a softer, slightly less shouty alternative.

It’s no slouch, though, because it’ll accelerate from 0-62mph in just 4.7sec. And with grippy four-wheel drive, it’ll do that in pretty much any weather condition. If there’s a drawback, it's that the steering doesn’t engage you quite as much as that of a BMW M135i, but it’s certainly more relaxed at a cruise than the A45.

The interior has a genuine wow factor, boosted by the appearance of two AMG sports seats and a racy flat-bottomed steering wheel, although you’ll need to overlook a few low-rent interior plastics. The A35 has a pair of 10.3in screens – one for the instruments, one for the infotainment – which look impressive, although they’re not as easy to use as those in the BMW 128ti or M135i. 

It’s a shame that the automatic gearbox isn’t more alert and the engine sound lacks character – and that it’s practicality is merely average.

“I love the interior design, especially at night with the optional multi-coloured ambient lighting fitted. It adds a real dose of drama to the dashboard – although I wish it was just a little easier to use.” – Neil Winn, Deputy Reviews Editor

Read our in-depth Mercedes A35 review

Previously, the Cupra Leon was a go-faster version of the Seat Leon. However, following a mid-life facelift in 2024, it's now a standalone model, with bespoke styling that aims to give it a more distinctive, sporty look. 

For the most fun version of the Cupra Leon hatchback, you have to go for the range-topping 2.0-litre turbocharged engine. It produces 296bhp and can sprint from 0-62mph in 5.7 seconds, which is not quite as quick as a Ford Focus ST, but it's still pretty punchy. 

One issue with that version is that it can struggle for grip in wet conditions, which is why the 328bhp engine offered in the estate is even better, because it gets four-wheel drive. No matter the version you go for, though, the Volkswagen Golf GTI is more comfortable for everyday driving, while the Focus ST is more engaging to drive down a twisty road.

“The adaptive suspension, which is fitted on all Cupra Leons apart from the entry-level version, is very useful. I liked that I could choose from hard and focused for driving down a twisty B-road, or soft and cosseting for a long motorway journey.” – Darren Moss, Deputy Digital Editor

Read our in-depth Cupra Leon review

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