Hot hatches

The Ford Focus ST is neither the fastest nor the cheapest hot hatch, but it’s up there with the very best

Honda unveils new Civic Type R in pre-production form as Nurburgring testing commences

What are the best hot hatchbacks ever? We’ve picked our top 10s from the 80s, 90s, 2000s and 2010s to settle the argument…

Ford has treated its peppy little Fiesta ST hot hatchback to a new front end, a few interior revisions and an extra 30Nm of torque

Ford’s Fiesta ST has grown up, but it’s still a vibrant, exhilarating hot hatch to drive

Our picks for the best used hot hatchbacks in the UK for 2021

Performance specialist Mountune reveals m365 package for Focus ST, offering 30 per cent power increase

The latest Audi RS 3 giant-slaying hyper hatch can sprint from 0–62mph in 3.8 seconds and has claimed the Nurburgring lap record for compact cars

The Korean brand’s first performance SUV has arrived with up to 286bhp, launch control and a 0–62mph time of 5.5 seconds

The best hot hatches offer giant-killing performance and a gripping drive, all wrapped in a user-friendly package

The Cupra Leon is available with a plug-in hybrid powertrain or a 296bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine; prices start from £31,555

Hyundai’s new hot supermini hits the market with an all-inclusive approach to equipment

The updated Hyundai i30 N gets refreshed styling and an optional eight-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox for the first time

The new BMW 128ti goes up against the latest iteration of the car that kicked off the hatch segment - the Volkswagen Golf GTI

The Renault Megane R.S. 300 Trophy has been updated for 2021 and it's now only available with an EDC automatic gearbox

Can the Ford Fiesta ST Edition knock the Toyota GR Yaris off its perch?

Subtle styling tweaks and a more emissions-friendly engine range for revised Abarth 595

The VW up! GTI is the smallest car to wear the fabled badge, but it produces the biggest grin

Does an automatic gearbox make sense in the popular Ford Focus ST hot hatchback? We find out…

Trio of hot Skoda Octavia vRS models offer choice of petrol, plug-in hybrid or diesel power for UK buyers

The 296bhp front-driven Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport hot hatch is the fastest accelerating Golf GTI ever, and laps the Nürburgring 13 seconds faster …

Mk8 edition of the Volkswagen Golf R is on sale now, and out-muscles its closest rivals with 316bhp and 420Nm

Official spy shots show the new all-electric MINI John Cooper Works hot hatch testing ahead of its arrival by the end of 2021

The latest Audi S3 renews its rivalry with the Mercedes-AMG A 35 - we find out which is the better hot hatchback

The new Ford Fiesta ST Edition's upgrades have made an already great hot hatchback even better

Will a new dual-clutch automatic improve the updated Hyundai i30 N Fastback? We find out...

The 257bhp, four-wheel-drive, rally-inspired Toyota GR Yaris is now on sale in the UK

The new Toyota GR Yaris has arrived with 257bhp, but what's it like on the road?

The Honda Civic Type R is the 2020 Auto Express Hot Hatch of the Year, with the Ford Focus ST and Mercedes-AMG A 45 S commended

The new BMW 128ti revives the brand’s famous ‘ti’ badge after a 15-year hiatus

The new Ford Fiesta ST Edition is a limited-run hot hatch targeted at driving purists, which features manually adjustable coilover suspension

Hot new Skoda Octavia vRS iV plug-in hybrid will have a starting price of £35,020

The new Honda Civic Type R Limited Edition has already sold out, and those buyers are in for a treat

We find out if the revised Honda Civic Type R can stay at the top of the hot hatch class