Want proof of how fast things move in the hot hatch world? It’s little over a year since we last came up with a list of this type, and since then three of the cars we featured have gone out of production, one switching from six-cylinders and rear-wheel drive to a turbocharged four and all-wheel-drive. Indeed, with the benchmark Golf GTI currently between generations (at the time of writing the new one has been announced but not driven yet) the market is wide open for its many rivals to capitalise. Who does it best? What are the 10 best hot hatches for 2020? Read on!
The 10 best hot hatches for 2020
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Ford Fiesta ST – the blue-collar hero
Ford is enjoying something of a hot hatch purple patch at the moment, the Focus RS still looming large as one of the genre’s periodic game changers. Likewise the Fiesta ST, the previous version of which announced a welcome return to hot hatches being (relatively) cheap, simple and fun. The new one is a little more sophisticated and civilised, admittedly. But the addition of a proper mechanical limited-slip differential is proof Ford believes in engineering, not gimmicks. The three-cylinder turbo engine is gutsy, the chassis is playful and you can now enjoy more of the power, more of the time.
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Mercedes-AMG A45 – the Top Trumps champ
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 £56,000-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.
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Mini John Cooper Works GP – the collector’s edition
Mini hatches are already available in various degrees of Cooper-branded hotness but the much-teased John Cooper Works GP version takes things to a whole new level, thanks to eye-catching, aero-tuned carbon-fibre wheel arch extensions and a massive rear wing. 306PS calms fears of all mouth and no trousers showboating while the 164mph top speed makes it the fastest production Mini ever. True to tradition the real speed lurks in the corners though, thanks to track-optimised suspension, sticky tyres and body stiffening extending to a brace where the rear seats once were. Of the 3,000 to be built just 575 will be sold to British owners, meaning your £34K should be a safe investment while you enjoy yourself at the wheel.
Ford Focus ST – the grown-up hooligan
Two Fords in one list? No excuses necessary, given its current run of form. Promoted from satisfyingly warm to seriously hot, the Focus ST now has one of the biggest engines in the class, a chunky 280PS 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. With the Golf GTI temporarily absent from the market the Focus is arguably the all-round benchmark for the class, striking a fine balance between traditional hot-Ford lairiness and a new-found sense of maturity. Your move, VW.
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Honda Civic Type R – the brave pill
Remember when Hondas were about as sporty and youthful as the tan chinos and grey slip-ons sported by many owners? Nor does the 320PS Civic Type R. A new and relatively toned-down option isn’t fooling anyone either – the Civic remains an extreme looking machine with the performance, provenance and handling to live up to it. And one of the nicest gearshifts in the business. Updated with a range of detail tweaks for 2020, the standard model is book-ended by that ‘low-wing’ Sport Line and even more extreme Limited Edition, the latter in suitably attention seeking yellow paint. Just 100 were allocated to Europe and all are sold out.
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Hyundai i30 N – the best-of compilation
In a field packed with talented, well-established cars it took some brass ones for Hyundai to think it could simply buy its way in. The i30 N pulls it off thanks to team employed to develop it, headed up by ex-BMW M man Albert Biermann. Wisely they left him to it at the Nürburgring test centre from where the ‘N’ badge takes its name, the i30 N successfully blending Megane style sharpness, Civic Type R lairiness and Golf GTI all-round usability. It’s no game-changer, more a successful blend of what was already there. But, as any foodie knows, it’s one thing assembling the right ingredients and quite another to bring the flavours out successfully. In this hot hatch Masterchef Biermann’s signature dish earns a top score.
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Toyota GR Yaris – the rally rep reborn
Toyota obviously didn’t get the memo dictating modern hot hatch norms and, emboldened with a fresh WRC title for the Yaris, has created a B-segment superhatch with four-wheel drive, 257PS from a compact three-cylinder engine and a mongrel blend of underpinnings grafting Corolla front end to C-HR crossover rear to make room for the four-wheel-drive. And then pitching it for a starting price of a smidge under £30,000. This from the brand that also builds the Prius. Nobody saw this revival of the classic ‘90s Japanese rally rep coming. Now that it’s here we’re all gasping for a go.
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BMW M135i xDrive – the controversial one
On the face of it there’s nothing at all confrontational about the new BMW M135i. Pitched head to head with the Mercedes-AMG A35 it’s a worthy player, combining reimagined BMW dynamics with all the premium trappings you’d expect. The M135i’s problem, though, is the predecessor with which it shares its badge. With its gutsy 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo, rear-wheel-drive and low-slung ‘breadvan’ inspired styling, the previous M135i (and M140i it evolved into) offered something truly unique in the hot-hatch market, in terms of performance, styling, character and dynamics. In comparison the M135i xDrive seems disappointingly conformist. Despite, in isolation, being a very good car indeed.
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Renault Megane R.S. – the one for drivers
Renault Sport has had a fantastic run of form in recent years. True, the Clio may have lost its way a little recently but the Megane has come out fighting. A much better-looking car in the metal than in pictures, the Megane R.S. has an unapologetically butch stance, the broad-arched aggression and subtle aero offering a taste of the Civic’s attitude without going too over the top. It’s also distinctive in its engineering, opting for four-wheel steering and motorsport-honed passive suspension over the all-wheel-drive and active dampers seen in many rivals. Drivers who can appreciate the difference at the wheel will cheer Renault Sport’s single-minded approach.
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Peugeot 308 GTI – The under-appreciated one
After years in the hot hatch doldrums it’s therefore a welcome return for Peugeot, seemingly sticking to the formula that made its classic 205s and others such a hit back in the day. The 270PS output is mid-field, nothing on the spec sheet will blow you away and the looks are pretty understated. But the 308 GTI has a wonderfully supple chassis that works with, rather than against, a flowing B-road and combines it with a proper mechanical limited-slip diff and strong Alcon brakes. It’s a more thoughtful approach combining comfort and practicality with the kind of mechanical upgrades proper drivers appreciate. Just like the best hot hatches always used to.
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Which hot hatch would you most want to own?
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