The best hot hatches to buy in 2025

Alpine A290 

Based on the Renault 5, the Alpine A290 adds punch to its retro looks with a 60mm increase in track, emphasized by its stretched wheel arches and boxed side skirts, giving a fleeting sense of the old, mid-engined Renault 5 Turbo. Inside, fabric trims replicate the classic, but the overall design is thoroughly modern, with colourful infotainment screens dominating the show.

In terms of driving, Alpine has injected the chassis with decent character, the A290 is happy to turn on its axis in bends, steering the nose around before scampering out the other side as its open differential scrabbles for grip. Performance is only on par with outgoing hot hatches like the Fiesta ST, but the A290's immediate acceleration and relaxing silent running make it a great city car. Although a 200-mile range means it's not just a city slicker. 

Cupra Born  

The Cupra Born is based on the Volkswagen ID.3, but it's the Spanish car we would choose, given the option. The Born's wedgy shape looks sportier and it has a posher interior. But we'd rather talk about the 330PS (243kW) electric motor that sends all its power to the rear wheels, giving the Born performance to match any front-wheel drive rivals.

With power going to the back, the Born feels adjustable on the throttle until the stability control cuts in – and you can use power to tuck the car's nose into bends. You can also turn off the stability control. The Born feels agile with fast steering and flat cornering, you'd never guess it weighs nearly two tonnes, and that’s all thanks to a 79kW battery that gives a range of more than 300 miles. 

Abarth 500e

With the demise of the Ford Fiesta ST a reality, the Abarth 500e gives us an idea of what an electric equivalent will look like – its pluses and minuses. Let's get the minuses out of the way first. With a heavy battery, the Fiat can't hope to match the nimbleness of a traditional hot hatch and its flat power delivery won't punch you in the feels like revving a sporty petrol to within an inch of its life. And that's before we mention the Fiesta's range and ease of fuelling. 

On the bright side, with no clutch or gearbox to worry about, getting maximum acceleration out of the Abarth is easy; press the accelerator deep into the carpet, and the world rushes towards you almost instantly. It's an addictive sensation and makes the Abarth something of an inner-city hot rod. On top of that, Abarths engineered mobility into the handling setup, and you get an external speaker that replicates the sound of spluttery petrol-powered Abarth.

Mercedes-AMG A45

AMG is better known for its mega-Merc saloons and coupes but we’re now on the second generation of A45 AMG and proof of concept has been demonstrated. At a price, admittedly. In AMG style, the 421PS engine at the heart of it is currently the most powerful production four-cylinder anywhere and powers a clever all-wheel-drive chassis, complete with Drift Mode. OK, it’s following the rubber laid down by the Focus RS on that score. But it’s still quite the party piece and temptingly easy to exploit. If that and the £60,000-plus pricetag sounds too much the A35 AMG still offers 306PS, all-wheel-drive and the understated firepower to occupy the premium hot hatch ground temporarily vacated by the all-conquering Golf R.

Ford Focus ST

Promoted from satisfyingly warm to seriously hot – especially with the Track Pack – the Focus ST now has one of the biggest engines in the class, a chunky 280PS (206kW) and a sophisticated torque-shuffling ‘differential’ the black boxes can use to distribute power across the front axle.

The tech also includes adaptive dampers but, fear not, the magic in the mix is still the way Ford’s engineers calibrate and tune it all to work in perfect harmony. Between this and the Civic Type R, the updated Golf GTI has its work cut out for it to be competitive as a driver's car.

Honda Civic Type R

There’s a brand new Honda Civic Type R and to the delight of most (and chagrin of some), it’s shed all of its chav-tastic plastic fakery and bravado, in favour of a much more restrained ‘brute in a suit’ look that we’re absolutely in love with. The same goes for the inside, which is bang up to date in terms of the digital stuff and seemingly, made of much nicer materials. Type Rs of old couldn’t hold a candle to the German stalwart on quality but this new car is seemingly a really nice thing inside.

To drive, well, we’re expecting much of the same as the old car, given certain commonalities underneath. No bad thing. That thing was an absolute weapon, a tonic to drive and a giant slayer in terms of real-world pace. The best bit? This new car now has an ‘individual; mode, meaning the growly +R powertrain and direct steering can be mixed with a more compliant suspension setting. Prayers: answered.

Volkswagen Golf GTi

By most accounts, Volkswagen dropped the ball ever so slightly with the Mk8 Golf GTI. It was by and large similar to the Mk7 that preceded it, just a little more irritating, a little uglier and a little more distant to drive. That was a shame, given the Mk7.5 was near class-leading as a performance car but still a superlative all-rounder.

Happily, Volkswagen has wasted no time in nipping and tucking its difficult eighth album for a mid-life remix. Better-looking with revised ergonomics, the Golf GTi's only downside is it loses the manual gearbox.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 N

Hyundai may have axed its petrol-powered hot hatches, but it hasn't left us out in the cold, immediately replacing them with the Ioniq 5 N. The 5 N gives us a sneak preview of the possibilities of the electric hot hatch boasting everything from a drift mode to virtual gear shifts, one-pedal braking and a programmable noise synthesiser. The 5 N shows us we've barely scratched the surface of the electric hot hatch potential. 

Sadly, it also shows us some of the downsides of EVs. Expensive batteries mean the 5 N costs north of £65,000 – or 50 per cent more than a VW Golf GTI – and at 2.2 tonnes, there's none of the effervescent sparks of a traditional hot hatch.

Toyota GR Yaris

Did someone say traditional hot hatch? While everyone else is gearing up for the EV revolution, the legends at Toyota decided now's the time to launch their most hardcore hot hatch yet – and oh, how right they are. 

The GR Yaris gets everything right. It's keenly priced, fast and reasonably practical (given how much fun you can have with its switchable four-wheel drive system). The Yaris goes one step further by also being mildly exotic, as a limited-run special built to allow the company to go rallying. Toyota turned the wick up for 2024, adding more structural stiffening, power, and the option to fit an eight-speed automatic gearbox. 

Audi RS3

The last of a dying breed, the Audi RS3 is the apex hot hatch complete with a five-cylinder engine that produces supercar-humbling performance combined with the grip of its standard fit Quattro all-wheel-drive system. It's a point not lost on Audi, which has saved the best RS3 for last. Complete with a drift mode, the latest RS3 offers a level of chassis adjustability missing from all its predecessors.

It brings fun beyond its stonking straight-line performance and heavenly, offbeat exhaust warble. Factor in five-door practicality and interior quality that makes more expensive cars look like they've been made from a fag packets, and there's not much not to like. Even the top-end £54,000 price doesn't sound as crazy as it once did.