The ultimate 1980s hot hatch showdown: which is quickest over the quarter mile?

Join Mat Watson as he races the most iconic 80s hot hatches, from the Mk1 Golf GTI to the Astra GTE, in a nostalgic showdown.

The 1980s were the heyday of the hot hatch. Small, nimble, and surprisingly quick, cars like the Mk1 Golf GTI, Fiesta XR2i, and 205 GTI weren’t just practical – they were pure driving fun.

Today, these iconic 80s hot hatches face off in a drag race to see which still reigns supreme. On the start line are legendary classics and some tuned for extra bite. Let’s take a look at the stats, shall we?

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Ford Fiesta XR2i

This Fiesta XR2i has a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine with 97hp and 132Nm of torque, which is sent to the front wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox. The car weighs 839kg, and is worth around £12,000 today.

Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk1

Next up is the Mk1 Golf GTI. This car has a 1.8 litre four-cylinder engine with 112hp 150Nm of torque. Power goes to the front wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox, and it weighs in at 840kg. You’re looking around £16,000 for this car if you were to buy one today.

Vauxhall Astra GTE

Costing around £25,000, this car is extremely rare – in fact, only around 30 remain on UK roads! It features a 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine producing 117hp and 150Nm of torque. Power is sent to the front wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox. It’s also equipped with fuel injection and weighs 925kg.

Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk2

Yes, there’s another VW in this drag race – spoiler alert, expect another one too. This 16-valve Mk2 Golf GTI is powered by a 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine producing 139hp and 168Nm of torque. The engine is paired with a five-speed manual gearbox that drives the front wheels. Weighing in at 960kg, this car costs around £20,000.

Peugeot 205 GTI

At first glance, this might look like a standard 1.9-litre Peugeot 205 GTI, but it’s been modified. It now has a 2.0-litre Mi16 engine and a six-speed gearbox from a Peugeot 306, giving it around 200hp – a huge jump from the standard 130hp. It’s still front-wheel drive and weighs just 860kg. This modified version is in a league of its own, and costs around £16,000.

Renault 5 Turbo

This car packs a 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, officially rated at 120hp but tuned to produce around 160hp. It delivers 165Nm of torque to the front wheels through a five-speed manual gearbox, while weighing just 850kg. As for the price? You’re looking at around £20,000.

Volkswagen 300hp Golf MK2 GTI

Finally, we have a heavily modified Mk2 Golf GTI. It features a Mk4 1.8-litre 20-valve engine, boosted by a turbocharger from an Audi RS 4 and supported by methanol injection, producing over 300hp. Power is sent to the front wheels through a limited-slip differential. I’m not sure how much it cost, but there’s no doubt this car packs a serious punch.

So which of these iconic 80s hot hatches will come out on top? You’ll have to watch this week’s video to find out.

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