Hot hatches
Learner drivers should ditch the Vauxhall Corsa and try a hot hatch instead
Learner drivers should ditch the Vauxhall Corsa and try a hot hatch instead
Senior news reporter Alastair Crooks explains why sportier cars could develop better drivers
New Subaru Impreza WRX STI looks very likely, and it’ll be petrol-powered
New Subaru Impreza WRX STI looks very likely, and it’ll be petrol-powered
Growing sales of BEVs and hybrids have opened the door to new high-performance Subaru models
Mercedes-AMG A 45 S Final Edition marks end of the road for hell-raising hot hatch
Mercedes-AMG A 45 S Final Edition marks end of the road for hell-raising hot hatch
Mercedes’ 416bhp hot hatchback is being forced into retirement by emissions regulations
New Peugeot E-208 GTI on sale now! French hot hatch goodness for under £34k
New Peugeot E-208 GTI on sale now! French hot hatch goodness for under £34k
The electric hot hatch genre is heating up with Peugeot looking to return to former glories
The VW Golf GTI shows the secret of a great hot hatch is balance, not brute force
The VW Golf GTI shows the secret of a great hot hatch is balance, not brute force
Deputy editor Richard Ingram argues that not all hot hatches are born equal, so it pays to do your homework before buying
Car Deal of the Day: Cupra Leon at £191 per month is sporty and sensible
Car Deal of the Day: Cupra Leon at £191 per month is sporty and sensible
Trading big speed for big value, this Cupra Leon deal nets you a fun car with fine handling. It’s our Deal of the Day for 19 July
Best performance cars to buy 2026
Best performance cars to buy 2026
Performance cars have reached new heights of speed and interaction - here’s a list of our ten favourites from the current crop
Car Deal of the Day: Mighty Audi RS 3 hyper hatch for only £425 a month
Car Deal of the Day: Mighty Audi RS 3 hyper hatch for only £425 a month
The RS 3 is a rare breed thanks to its fire-breathing five-pot, and our Deal of the Day for 11 July keeps it affordable
Volkswagen Golf GTI review
Volkswagen Golf GTI review
Genre-defining hot hatch delivers a fantastic all-round performance car experience
Best hot hatchbacks to buy 2026
Best hot hatchbacks to buy 2026
These hatchbacks offer serious driving fun along with room for all the family
Three-car garage: used Volvo XC90, MINI Cooper S and Hyundai Ioniq 5 for £45k
Three-car garage: used Volvo XC90, MINI Cooper S and Hyundai Ioniq 5 for £45k
Here’s your chance to snag the best cars of 2014, 2015 and 2021
Hot Hatch of the Year 2026: Volkswagen Golf GTI
Hot Hatch of the Year 2026: Volkswagen Golf GTI
The Volkswagen Golf GTI is the 2026 Auto Express Hot Hatch of the Year, with the Audi RS 3 and Cupra Raval commended
Car Deal of the Day: seriously hot VW Golf GTI is just £305 per month
Car Deal of the Day: seriously hot VW Golf GTI is just £305 per month
Our Deal of the Day for 28 June is Volkswagen's iconic hot hatch, still a brilliant all-rounder for everyday use and driving fun
New Hyundai i20 N hot hatch will get aggressive looks and hybrid power
New Hyundai i20 N hot hatch will get aggressive looks and hybrid power
The Koreans are determined to revive the affordable hot hatch, so brace yourself for the hybrid i20 N
Car Deal of the Day: Alpine A290 is a hot hatch for a laughably low £269 a month
Car Deal of the Day: Alpine A290 is a hot hatch for a laughably low £269 a month
The Alpine A290 is as sharp to drive as it looks, and is our Deal of the Day for 16 June
New Ford Fiesta ST confirmed as fast Fords are ‘non-negotiable’
New Ford Fiesta ST confirmed as fast Fords are ‘non-negotiable’
Fast Ford fans rejoice, as the top-brass confirm that ST and maybe even RS models are firmly part of the plan
New Toyota GRMN Corolla is built to crush laps at the Nurburgring
New Toyota GRMN Corolla is built to crush laps at the Nurburgring
There’s no mistaking this Corolla as a commuter car – the GRMN is as focused as a Porsche 911 GT3 RS
New Ford Escort XR3i Tolman Edition brings the 80s hot hatch up to date
New Ford Escort XR3i Tolman Edition brings the 80s hot hatch up to date
British-based restomod specialist Tolman has revealed its ‘new’ Ford Escort XR3i
Three-car garage: Audi S3, Jaguar I-Pace and Volvo S80 for less than £50k
Three-car garage: Audi S3, Jaguar I-Pace and Volvo S80 for less than £50k
These three cars all suit different needs but have one thing in common - amazing acceleration
New Cupra Raval could be in line for a big performance injection
New Cupra Raval could be in line for a big performance injection
Cupra boss hints at hot hatch version of new five-door EV
Car Deal of the Day: BMW M135 xDrive rocketship hatch at only £358 per month
Car Deal of the Day: BMW M135 xDrive rocketship hatch at only £358 per month
BMW’s hot hatchback is blisteringly fast, engaging to drive and now our Deal of the Day for 17 May
GTI is so loved on the VW Golf, the failure of hot Polos is a real mystery
GTI is so loved on the VW Golf, the failure of hot Polos is a real mystery
Jordan Katsianis explains why the Polo has always been a GTI underdog
New Volkswagen ID. Polo GTI: the first electric GTI has finally arrived
New Volkswagen ID. Polo GTI: the first electric GTI has finally arrived
The hot new Volkswagen ID. Polo takes GTI into the electric era, but will it change the game as original Golf GTI did 50 years ago?
Volkswagen ID. Polo GTI prototype review: a true B-road weapon
Volkswagen ID. Polo GTI prototype review: a true B-road weapon
Our first taste of VW's first electric GTI was a very encouraging one
New Skoda Fabia Motorsport Edition is a petrol warm hatch with a dash of rally flavour
New Skoda Fabia Motorsport Edition is a petrol warm hatch with a dash of rally flavour
Based on the Fabia 130, only 125 versions of the Motorsport Edition will be built
New Peugeot 308 GTi? Peugeot boss wants a whole hot hatch family
New Peugeot 308 GTi? Peugeot boss wants a whole hot hatch family
Alain Favey, Peugeot CEO, says the upcoming E-208 GTi might kickstart a new GTi family
Car Deal of the Day: Abarth 600e plummets to a bonkers £146 a month
Car Deal of the Day: Abarth 600e plummets to a bonkers £146 a month
There’s no sting in the tail here – Abarth’s hot electric SUV is now unbelievable value for money. The 600e is our Deal of the Day for 7 May.
New Vauxhall Corsa GSE: EV hot hatch gets racy looks and 276bhp
New Vauxhall Corsa GSE: EV hot hatch gets racy looks and 276bhp
Vauxhall's electric hot supermini produces 276bhp and comes with a host of sporty mechanical upgrades
Cupra Leon review
Cupra Leon review
More eccentric than some rivals, Cupra’s updated Leon is a solid package with some impressive powertrains
Best small 4x4s 2026: compare small 4WD cars
Best small 4x4s 2026: compare small 4WD cars
Need off-road capability in a compact package? Take a look the best small 4x4s
New Leapmotor B05 Ultra is out to bring Chinese cheapness to the hot hatch market
New Leapmotor B05 Ultra is out to bring Chinese cheapness to the hot hatch market
Leapmotor has revealed its first ‘high-performance sports coupe’ – aka electric hot hatch – but it’s not coming to the UK
Used Audi A1 (Mk1, 2010-2018) review and buyer's guide
Used Audi A1 (Mk1, 2010-2018) review and buyer's guide
The Audi A1 has been a wildly successful premium supermini for over a decade, and continues to sell well in its latest generation. Here’s how to buy t…
Toyota GR Yaris review
Toyota GR Yaris review
Developed as a ‘World Rally Car for the road’, the Toyota GR Yaris is a ferocious little hot hatch
Abarth 600e Scorpionissima long-term test: hot Italian EV is huge fun, but hard to live with
Abarth 600e Scorpionissima long-term test: hot Italian EV is huge fun, but hard to live with
Final report: It’s both electrified and electrifying, but how does our purple peril stack up against its key hot-hatch rivals?
Three-car garage: Used BMW 6 Series, Lexus RC F and Honda Civic Type R for under £85,000 
Three-car garage: Used BMW 6 Series, Lexus RC F and Honda Civic Type R for under £85,000
Pure-electric cars not getting your pulse racing? Try these cars and their iconic engines