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Hot hatches

New electric Volkswagen Golf GTI: incoming hot hatch will be a ‘monster’
Electric Volkswagen Golf GTI - front

New electric Volkswagen Golf GTI: incoming hot hatch will be a ‘monster’

The iconic Golf GTI is making the transition to electric power, and here’s everything we know about it so far
News
2 Jun 2025
Toyota GR Corolla to be built in the UK, but British buyers still can’t have one
Toyota GR Corolla - front cornering

Toyota GR Corolla to be built in the UK, but British buyers still can’t have one

The GR Yaris’ bigger brother comes with 295bhp and four-wheel drive, and will roll off the line in Burnaston in 2026
News
30 May 2025
New MINI JCW Electric 2025 review: fast, frantic and playful
MINI JCW Electric - front

New MINI JCW Electric 2025 review: fast, frantic and playful

The new MINI John Cooper Works Electric is far from perfect, but provides bucketloads of fun
Road tests
27 May 2025
New Peugeot 208 GTi hot hatch promises ‘fun and power’ as reveal edges closer
Peugeot 208 GTi render - front 3/4

New Peugeot 208 GTi hot hatch promises ‘fun and power’ as reveal edges closer

Not only is Peugeot returning to the hot hatch scene, it’s also bringing back the iconic GTi badge
News
27 May 2025
Three-car garage: BMW X5, Dacia Spring and Ford Fiesta ST all for the price of the average new car
Three-car garage for £42,000

Three-car garage: BMW X5, Dacia Spring and Ford Fiesta ST all for the price of the average new car

With the price of the average new car at around £42,000 we set out to fill your driveway with used metal on that budget
Features
12 May 2025
New MINI John Cooper Works 2025 review: retro hot hatch delivers pace and style
MINI John Cooper Works - front

New MINI John Cooper Works 2025 review: retro hot hatch delivers pace and style

The new MINI JCW lives up to its potential, we just wish it was a little more fun
Road tests
5 May 2025
Fast Fords won’t die: ST and RS performance brands will have a role in the EV future
Ford Focus ST - front cornering

Fast Fords won’t die: ST and RS performance brands will have a role in the EV future

Hot Ford models have been falling by the wayside but we may see some iconic badges return soon
News
11 Apr 2025
Three-car garage: Skoda Enyaq, Renault Megane R.S. and Mazda MX-5 for under £60,000
Three-car garage for £60,000

Three-car garage: Skoda Enyaq, Renault Megane R.S. and Mazda MX-5 for under £60,000

With a family EV, radical hot hatch and nippy roadster, this driveway collection can provide wheels for any occasion
Features
6 Apr 2025
Hyundai’s N division isn’t axing petrol hot hatchbacks just yet
Hyundai i20 N - front action

Hyundai’s N division isn’t axing petrol hot hatchbacks just yet

Performance division’s VP says that it’s “not true” that the brand is going EV-only, hinting at hybrid-powered models to come
News
4 Apr 2025
Three car garage: £25k for a Citroen C4 Cactus, Jaguar XE and MINI Cooper S
March £25,000 three-car garage

Three car garage: £25k for a Citroen C4 Cactus, Jaguar XE and MINI Cooper S

A practical crossover, svelte executive saloon and rorty hot hatch could be yours for less than £25,000 thanks to the Auto Express used car classified…
Features
27 Mar 2025
New vs used hot hatches: Ford Focus ST or Audi RS 3?
New vs used: hot hatchbacks - header image

New vs used hot hatches: Ford Focus ST or Audi RS 3?

The Focus ST and RS 3 are great hot hatches, but which one should you buy with a £38,000 budget?
Car group tests
20 Mar 2025
Mad mid-engined Toyota Yaris M Concept could go into production
Toyota GR Yaris M Concept - front

Mad mid-engined Toyota Yaris M Concept could go into production

The Yaris M Concept was revealed at the start of the year, and now Toyota is looking at how to turn the project into reality
News
11 Mar 2025
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Three car garage: a hot hatch, a roadster and an estate all for the price of a new VW Golf GTI
Three car garage for £40,000

Three car garage: a hot hatch, a roadster and an estate all for the price of a new VW Golf GTI

If you’re a driving enthusiast and had £40,000 to spend, these would be the perfect three cars to fill your driveway, all pulled from the Auto Express…
Features
11 Mar 2025
Volkswagen ID.1 GTI could happen – if enough of us want one
Volkswagen ID.1 GTI - design render

Volkswagen ID.1 GTI could happen – if enough of us want one

It’s technically possible, but not a priority. It’ll likely depend on us if VW launches an ID.1 GTI
News
6 Mar 2025
Used Car Hunter: small, thrilling hot hatchbacks for £8,000
Car Hunter: used hot hatch for £8,000 - header image

Used Car Hunter: small, thrilling hot hatchbacks for £8,000

Our Car hunter has £8,000 to find a small car that offers massive levels of fun
Features
26 Feb 2025
Best small 4x4s 2025: compare small 4WD cars
Best small 4x4s - header image for February 2025 update

Best small 4x4s 2025: compare small 4WD cars

Need off-road capability in a compact package? Take a look the best small 4x4s
Best cars & vans
26 Feb 2025
Three car garage: £30k for a Mercedes E-Class, Abarth 595 and Dacia Duster
Three-car garage for under £30,000

Three car garage: £30k for a Mercedes E-Class, Abarth 595 and Dacia Duster

There's £30,000 to spend, and three parking spaces to fill. We take a look into the depths of the Auto Express used car classifieds to see what we can…
Features
21 Feb 2025
Used Car Hunter: exciting, sporty but affordable cars for £17,000
Car Hunter: exciting and sporty header

Used Car Hunter: exciting, sporty but affordable cars for £17,000

Our Car Hunter has £17,000 to spend on a car that will deliver driving fun and low costs, but what to choose?
Features
19 Feb 2025
New Alpine A290 GTS 2025 review: a fun and engaging electric hot hatch
Alpine A290 GTS - front

New Alpine A290 GTS 2025 review: a fun and engaging electric hot hatch

The Alpine A290 is a fantastic electric hot hatch, but it comes with a hefty price tag
Road tests
5 Feb 2025
Audi S3 review
Audi S3 - front tracking

Audi S3 review

Revisions to the Audi S3 bring subtle changes to the brand’s long-running sporty nameplate
In-depth reviews
28 Jan 2025
BMW M135 review
BMW M135 xDrive - front

BMW M135 review

A new look and a revised powertrain for the BMW M135 improve the flagship of the 1 Series range
In-depth reviews
28 Jan 2025
Best performance cars to buy 2026
Best performance cars - header

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
Best cars & vans
28 Jan 2025
This could be the new Suzuki Swift Sport… but sadly it isn’t
Suzuki Swift Champions concept - front 3/4 static

This could be the new Suzuki Swift Sport… but sadly it isn’t

The Suzuki Swift Sport was axed last year as the brand cleared the way for its first of several electric cars
News
21 Jan 2025
New Alpine A290 hot hatch available to order now: all-electric MINI JCW rival starts from £33,500
Alpine A290 - front

New Alpine A290 hot hatch available to order now: all-electric MINI JCW rival starts from £33,500

The stylish French hot hatch produces up to 217bhp, features Brembo brakes, bespoke Michelin tyres and a tuned chassis
News
21 Jan 2025
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New Alpine A290 ‘Turbo 3E’ could follow in fast Renault 5’s footsteps
Alpine A290 - tailgate badging

New Alpine A290 ‘Turbo 3E’ could follow in fast Renault 5’s footsteps

Renault boss says sub-brand has “motivation” to produce an even crazier take on the limited-run R5 Turbo
News
14 Jan 2025
Fiat 600e and Abarth 500e prices slashed by more than £4,000
Abarth 500e - front

Fiat 600e and Abarth 500e prices slashed by more than £4,000

Major reductions come after Fiat saw sales drop by 14 per cent in 2024 compared with 2023
News
8 Jan 2025
Volkswagen Golf vs itself: original Mk1 head-to-head with today’s Mk8.5
Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk1 and Mk8 - front tracking

Volkswagen Golf vs itself: original Mk1 head-to-head with today’s Mk8.5

VW’s legendary Golf is 50. We look at where it started, how it’s changed – and where it’s going
Car group tests
24 Dec 2024
Audi S3 vs BMW M135: which German brand builds the hottest hatchback?
Audi S3 and BMW M135 - front tracking

Audi S3 vs BMW M135: which German brand builds the hottest hatchback?

BMW’s four-wheel-drive M135 has received a major facelift. We put it up against the Audi S3 Sportback, which was also revised earlier this year
Car group tests
28 Nov 2024
BMW 128ti vs Volkswagen Golf GTI: understated hot hatches have plenty of used appeal
BMW 128ti vs Volkswagen Golf GTI

BMW 128ti vs Volkswagen Golf GTI: understated hot hatches have plenty of used appeal

The BMW 128ti and Volkswagen Golf GTI are great-performing, eminently practical hot hatches, but which is the best used buy
Car group tests
18 Nov 2024
Abarth will carry on making fast Fiats, just not the new Fiat 500 hybrid
Abarth 600e - front tracking

Abarth will carry on making fast Fiats, just not the new Fiat 500 hybrid

It’s “still too early” to know if Abarth will make a go-faster version of the new Fiat Grande Panda
News
6 Nov 2024
Best fun cars: The most entertaining picks from £3,000 to brand new
Best fun cars - header image

Best fun cars: The most entertaining picks from £3,000 to brand new

These fun cars can put a smile on your face, as well as get you from A to B
Best cars & vans
31 Oct 2024
Abarth 500e review
Abarth 500e - front

Abarth 500e review

Abarth has had a stab at recreating its iconic 500 hot hatch for the electric era – with mixed results
In-depth reviews
25 Oct 2024
Petrol-powered MINI JCW hatchback and Cabriolet revealed with 228bhp
MINI John Cooper Works hatchback - front

Petrol-powered MINI JCW hatchback and Cabriolet revealed with 228bhp

The latest MINI John Cooper Works performance models join electric sibling in the brand's ever-growing line-up
News
22 Oct 2024
AC Schnitzer takes the MINI Cooper up a notch
AC Schnitzer MINI Cooper JCW - front 3/4 static

AC Schnitzer takes the MINI Cooper up a notch

If the standard MINI Cooper S isn’t racy enough for you, why not try an AC Schnitzer exhaust and bodykit on for size?
News
22 Oct 2024
Renault plots limited-edition R5 super hot hatch
Renault 5 Turbo EV - front action

Renault plots limited-edition R5 super hot hatch

Hi-tech performance car based on Turbo 3E concept is still being considered
News
17 Oct 2024
Volkswagen Golf R review
Volkswagen Golf R - front

Volkswagen Golf R review

The top dog in the VW Golf range now has bark, bite and a more waggly tail
In-depth reviews
16 Oct 2024
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