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Hot hatches

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
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
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
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
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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
Punchy 254bhp MINI John Cooper Works Electric charges in
MINI Cooper Electric John Cooper Works  on display at Paris Motor Show - front static

Punchy 254bhp MINI John Cooper Works Electric charges in

MINI finally reveals a spicy electric variant of the iconic John Cooper Works hatch
News
14 Oct 2024
Electric Kia Pride restomod promises hot hatch performance and thrills
Electric Kia Pride restomod - front static

Electric Kia Pride restomod promises hot hatch performance and thrills

Kia UK’s latest one-off turns first ever British model into an EV to celebrate special anniversary
News
7 Oct 2024
New MINI John Cooper Works E leaked online ahead of Paris Motor Show reveal
New MINI John Cooper Works E leaked - front 3/4

New MINI John Cooper Works E leaked online ahead of Paris Motor Show reveal

The first-ever electric MINI JCW features a suitably sporty bodykit and pumps out 255bhp
News
16 Sep 2024
New Volkswagen ID.3 GTX 2024 review: electric hot hatch lacks the wow factor
Volkswagen ID.3 GTX - front

New Volkswagen ID.3 GTX 2024 review: electric hot hatch lacks the wow factor

The new Volkswagen ID.3 GTX is an impressive fast family car, but is let down by a lack of excitement from behind the wheel
Road tests
13 Sep 2024
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Renault Clio 172 (1999-2004) icon review: a classic accessible hot hatch
RenaultSport Clio 172 - front cornering

Renault Clio 172 (1999-2004) icon review: a classic accessible hot hatch

We rediscover the classic French hot hatch that still thrills today
Road tests
27 Aug 2024
New Volkswagen ID.3 GTX: pricing, specs and performance stats for the electric GTI
Volkswagen ID.3 GTX - static front 3/4

New Volkswagen ID.3 GTX: pricing, specs and performance stats for the electric GTI

VW has finally given its ID.3 electric hatchback some serious firepower, and it all goes to the back wheels
News
27 Aug 2024
Best handling cars
Best handling cars - header image

Best handling cars

Pure cornering bliss! Here are the best handling cars that money can buy
Best cars & vans
23 Aug 2024
New MINI John Cooper Works is coming in hot
MINI Cooper JCW models on banked circuit - front action

New MINI John Cooper Works is coming in hot

The souped-up version of the new MINI Cooper will be offered with petrol or electric power
News
20 Aug 2024
New Audi RS 3 arrives to topple rivals with a fresh look and upgraded tech
Audi RS 3 Sportback and Saloon - front static

New Audi RS 3 arrives to topple rivals with a fresh look and upgraded tech

Audi’s highest performing hatchback is back to battle AMG’s A45 and the BMW M2
News
19 Aug 2024
The most powerful Skoda Octavia vRS ever is now on sale
New updated Skoda Octavia vRS - front cornering

The most powerful Skoda Octavia vRS ever is now on sale

Skoda’s award-winning Octavia gains new variants in range, including top-spec vRS
News
13 Aug 2024
New Volkswagen Golf R and Golf GTI Clubsport hit showrooms this week
Golf GTI Clubsport - front tracking

New Volkswagen Golf R and Golf GTI Clubsport hit showrooms this week

The new VW Golf R is among the most powerful Volkswagens ever produced, and there’s still an estate version
News
6 Aug 2024
Toyota GR Yaris Automatic review: updates make a great car even better
Toyota GR Yaris - front action

Toyota GR Yaris Automatic review: updates make a great car even better

A boost in power and an improved driving position help elevate the hot Toyota GR Yaris to new heights
Road tests
2 Aug 2024
New 2024 Cupra Leon hot hatch goes on sale in UK
Cupra Leon facelift 2024 reveal

New 2024 Cupra Leon hot hatch goes on sale in UK

Cupra’s heavily revised Leon comes with more kit, but at a higher price
News
25 Jul 2024
Spicy 321bhp Cupra Born VZ electric hot hatch costs nearly £6k more than a Golf GTI
Cupra Born VZ - front static

Spicy 321bhp Cupra Born VZ electric hot hatch costs nearly £6k more than a Golf GTI

The all-electric Cupra Born has picked up some serious added firepower and chassis upgrades, but it’s not cheap
News
18 Jul 2024
MINI John Cooper Works E PROtotype previews electric hot hatch
MINI John Cooper Works E PROtotype - front tracking

MINI John Cooper Works E PROtotype previews electric hot hatch

MINI’s truly hot electric Cooper will be previewed at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed
News
4 Jul 2024
Hot Hatch of the Year 2024: Honda Civic Type R
Honda Civic Type R - Hot Hatch of the Year 2024

Hot Hatch of the Year 2024: Honda Civic Type R

The Honda Civic Type R is the 2024 Auto Express Hot Hatch of the Year, with the Ford Focus ST Track Pack and Mercedes-AMG A 45 S commended
Awards
3 Jul 2024
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