Last updated April 04, 2025 by
Mario Christou
The 10 best hatchback cars on sale: for practical motoring
In a world where cars come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, covering every niche possible, there will always be a place for a traditional hatchback; a car with a top-hinged tailgate which opens wide to reveal a (generally) easy to load boot space. The best hatchback cars offer a blend of practicality, quality and driving fun.
Hatchbacks don’t always have bluff rear ends, just look at the Skoda Octavia which resembles a saloon car, but the rear window does have to lift up with the boot. Estate cars don’t count though, because somebody once decided that a long hatchback isn’t a hatchback, and everybody seems to have agreed.
While hatchbacks aren’t as popular as they once were thanks to the rise of the SUV, they’re still all the car most families could ever need; often blending just as much interior and boot space with better fuel economy than their jacked-up counterparts. They’re generally cheaper to buy than SUVs are too, so you can often get a better equipped hatchback for the same price as an equivalent SUV.
Though you may not have a high-set driving position, hatchbacks are often more fun to drive thanks to their lower ride height and lower weight. Unlike their saloon alternatives, hatchbacks can take big loads with ease thanks to their wide load bays too.
Our expert reviews team has extensively tested all of the hatchbacks on sale in the UK and narrowed them down to this list of the ten best ones you should buy. If you want a little more pep in your hatchback's step, check out this list of the best hot hatches on sale.
2025
Smart Spender Award
Highly Commended
What's good
What’s not so good
Best for: big space in a stylish package
The Renault Clio is a fantastic car which manages to blend a high quality interior, good driving manners and a decently sized boot in a small and stylish package. It’s so good that it was highly commended in the Smart Spender category of the 2025 Carwow Car of the Year Awards.
And the Clio really is a looker, with the latest update introducing slim, pointy headlights and a brace of arrow-shaped LED daytime running lights straddling the Clio’s front end. A sporty crease along the doors and perky LED taillights complete the chic exterior, with a unique look that really stands out against its alternatives.
Renault has put just as much effort into the Clio’s interior as it has the exterior styling, with a funky dashboard that combines a full-width air vent detail with a portrait infotainment screen to great effect.
The climate control buttons are clearly laid out and easy to use, with premium feeling soft-touch materials in all of the areas you’re likely to get your hands on. There are some hidden-away scratchier plastics, but that's par for the course on a small hatchback.
Front seat occupants will find plenty of room to get comfortable and loads of storage cubbies, but rear passengers will find legroom a little tight. The benefit of a tight second row is a big boot, and the Clio brings with it a generous 391-litre boot capacity. You lose 90 litres of space in the hybrid model, but 301 litres is still above average for this size of car.
The hybrid model is the pick of the engines, with plenty of pep to get you up to speed quickly and a slick automatic gearbox to take the strain out of stop-start traffic. The petrol model makes sense if you’re on a tighter budget and don’t mind changing gears yourself, but it’s less fuel efficient than the hybrid.
City driving is a breeze in the Clio with its light steering and good forward visibility, though small rear windows and a poor rear-view camera don’t help when parking. Motorways don't feel as smooth as in some alternatives and twisty roads aren’t the most fun, but the Clio is still a great all-round choice.
The Renault Clio is a fantastic car which manages to blend a high quality interior, good driving manners and a decently sized boot in a small and stylish package. It’s so good that it was highly commended in the Smart Spender category of the 2025 Carwow Car of the Year Awards.
And the Clio really is a looker, with the latest update introducing slim, pointy headlights and a brace of arrow-shaped LED daytime running lights straddling the Clio’s front end. A sporty crease along the doors and perky LED taillights complete the chic exterior, with a unique look that really stands out against its alternatives.
Renault has put just as much effort into the Clio’s interior as it has the exterior styling, with a funky dashboard that combines a full-width air vent detail with a portrait infotainment screen to great effect.
The climate control buttons are clearly laid out and easy to use, with premium feeling soft-touch materials in all of the areas you’re likely to get your hands on. There are some hidden-away scratchier plastics, but that's par for the course on a small hatchback.
Front seat occupants will find plenty of room to get comfortable and loads of storage cubbies, but rear passengers will find legroom a little tight. The benefit of a tight second row is a big boot, and the Clio brings with it a generous 391-litre boot capacity. You lose 90 litres of space in the hybrid model, but 301 litres is still above average for this size of car.
The hybrid model is the pick of the engines, with plenty of pep to get you up to speed quickly and a slick automatic gearbox to take the strain out of stop-start traffic. The petrol model makes sense if you’re on a tighter budget and don’t mind changing gears yourself, but it’s less fuel efficient than the hybrid.
City driving is a breeze in the Clio with its light steering and good forward visibility, though small rear windows and a poor rear-view camera don’t help when parking. Motorways don't feel as smooth as in some alternatives and twisty roads aren’t the most fun, but the Clio is still a great all-round choice.
Battery range up to 354 miles
What's good
What’s not so good
Best for: space age looks
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 certainly pushes the envelope when it comes to fulfilling the hatchback brief. Yes to all intents and purposes it is just a hatchback, but it’s SUV-sized and it has more ground clearance than most of the other cars on this list.
It also pushes the envelope when it comes to design, with an outlandish retro-futuristic look that’s unlike anything else on the road thanks to its funky pixel-esque headlights and taillights, and sharp creases and jagged edges everywhere you look; it all works very well.
The cabin is almost as dramatic as the exterior, with a minimalist cabin that places a pair of enormous 12.3-inch screens on the leading edge of the dashboard. The layout is funky, with a climate control panel that kinks up to meet the infotainment screen and an airy, lounge-like feel.
The front seats are comfortable with loads of adjustment, and the rear seats have plenty of headroom and legroom. There are some questionable plastics in some parts of the cabin and the drive selector behind the wheel is an odd shape, but overall the Ioniq 5’s interior is a triumph. Boot space is a good 520 litres, but it’s quite a shallow load space.
On the road the Ioniq 5 is a relaxing car to drive, with light steering encouraging a gentle turn of pace. This makes the Ioniq 5 easy to manoeuvre around town, especially in tight spots thanks to a great camera system and good all-round visibility. The suspension is stiffer than some alternatives though, and you do get rattled around over broken roads as a result.
Motorways are comfier as the suspension feels more settled at high speed which makes for a relaxing cruise, especially with Hyundai’s excellent lane assist and active cruise control modes. The regular model isn’t particularly fun to drive, but the sporty Ioniq 5 N is a peach on fast, twisty roads.
There are two battery pack options, the larger of which will take you up to a claimed 354 miles on a single charge - and Hyundais are generally reliable on range so you’ll be able to get near that with some gentle driving.
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 certainly pushes the envelope when it comes to fulfilling the hatchback brief. Yes to all intents and purposes it is just a hatchback, but it’s SUV-sized and it has more ground clearance than most of the other cars on this list.
It also pushes the envelope when it comes to design, with an outlandish retro-futuristic look that’s unlike anything else on the road thanks to its funky pixel-esque headlights and taillights, and sharp creases and jagged edges everywhere you look; it all works very well.
The cabin is almost as dramatic as the exterior, with a minimalist cabin that places a pair of enormous 12.3-inch screens on the leading edge of the dashboard. The layout is funky, with a climate control panel that kinks up to meet the infotainment screen and an airy, lounge-like feel.
The front seats are comfortable with loads of adjustment, and the rear seats have plenty of headroom and legroom. There are some questionable plastics in some parts of the cabin and the drive selector behind the wheel is an odd shape, but overall the Ioniq 5’s interior is a triumph. Boot space is a good 520 litres, but it’s quite a shallow load space.
On the road the Ioniq 5 is a relaxing car to drive, with light steering encouraging a gentle turn of pace. This makes the Ioniq 5 easy to manoeuvre around town, especially in tight spots thanks to a great camera system and good all-round visibility. The suspension is stiffer than some alternatives though, and you do get rattled around over broken roads as a result.
Motorways are comfier as the suspension feels more settled at high speed which makes for a relaxing cruise, especially with Hyundai’s excellent lane assist and active cruise control modes. The regular model isn’t particularly fun to drive, but the sporty Ioniq 5 N is a peach on fast, twisty roads.
There are two battery pack options, the larger of which will take you up to a claimed 354 miles on a single charge - and Hyundais are generally reliable on range so you’ll be able to get near that with some gentle driving.
What's good
What’s not so good
Best for: getting on with daily life
The Civic model name is synonymous with family hatchbacks, and it has been for over 50 years at this point. Where some alternatives try to carve out niches, Honda has kept its Civic recipe simple and turned out yet another dependable, comfortable and fun to drive hatchback.
It’s a handsome car, with clean, strong lines and fairly neutral design features. The wide, hexagonal headlights look neither too aggressive nor generic, and the sporty, sloping roofline stands out when compared to alternatives such as the VW Golf and BMW 1 Series.
The interior design sets the Civic apart from its alternatives too, with a simpler, cleaner design than the typical German and Spanish hatchback suspects. A honeycomb mesh spans the width of the dashboard which hides the air vents, while a simple rectangular infotainment screen sits above it.
It’s the material quality which impresses the most in the Civic, with plush, soft touch materials everywhere within reach and a set of easy to use and solid-feeling climate control buttons underneath the middle vents. Some alternatives may have a bit more design flair, but the Civic’s cabin has a relaxing vibe to it.
Front and rear passengers all have plenty of legroom and storage solutions, though headroom is a little tight in the back as a result of the Civic’s sloping roofline. The boot capacity is enormous, and at 410 litres it’s well ahead of most alternatives. Bose audio-equipped cars lose a few litres to a subwoofer, but that’s almost inconsequential.
It’s not just practicality where the Civic shines, but it’s a fantastic car to drive too. There’s only one engine, a 2.0-litre petrol hybrid, but that’s no bad thing as it strikes a good balance of performance and economy.
The Civic is supremely comfortable at low speeds, soaking up bumps and potholes on city roads with ease. It’s comfortable and refined at motorway speeds too, but it’s just as fun to drive on a twisty road as it is to cruise long distances thanks to well weighted steering and a lack of body lean when carving through corners.
The Civic model name is synonymous with family hatchbacks, and it has been for over 50 years at this point. Where some alternatives try to carve out niches, Honda has kept its Civic recipe simple and turned out yet another dependable, comfortable and fun to drive hatchback.
It’s a handsome car, with clean, strong lines and fairly neutral design features. The wide, hexagonal headlights look neither too aggressive nor generic, and the sporty, sloping roofline stands out when compared to alternatives such as the VW Golf and BMW 1 Series.
The interior design sets the Civic apart from its alternatives too, with a simpler, cleaner design than the typical German and Spanish hatchback suspects. A honeycomb mesh spans the width of the dashboard which hides the air vents, while a simple rectangular infotainment screen sits above it.
It’s the material quality which impresses the most in the Civic, with plush, soft touch materials everywhere within reach and a set of easy to use and solid-feeling climate control buttons underneath the middle vents. Some alternatives may have a bit more design flair, but the Civic’s cabin has a relaxing vibe to it.
Front and rear passengers all have plenty of legroom and storage solutions, though headroom is a little tight in the back as a result of the Civic’s sloping roofline. The boot capacity is enormous, and at 410 litres it’s well ahead of most alternatives. Bose audio-equipped cars lose a few litres to a subwoofer, but that’s almost inconsequential.
It’s not just practicality where the Civic shines, but it’s a fantastic car to drive too. There’s only one engine, a 2.0-litre petrol hybrid, but that’s no bad thing as it strikes a good balance of performance and economy.
The Civic is supremely comfortable at low speeds, soaking up bumps and potholes on city roads with ease. It’s comfortable and refined at motorway speeds too, but it’s just as fun to drive on a twisty road as it is to cruise long distances thanks to well weighted steering and a lack of body lean when carving through corners.
Sell your car for what it's really worth
The free, easy way to get 5,500+ dealers all over the UK bidding on your car
Learn how to
sell your car
with Carwow
Best for: electric value
The MG4 commanded attention when it was first revealed because of its remarkably cheap list price for an electric family hatchback, but it immediately proved itself as one of the best small EVs you can buy.
It looks fantastic; super futuristic with sharp headlights, crisp angles and swoopy lines everywhere you look. Bright colour choices add to the MG4’s striking look, and inside is much the same story as the outside.
It’s not as futuristic or heavily styled, but there’s a striking minimalism to the MG4’s cabin with a 10.3-inch monitor seemingly floating above the dashboard. The driver also gets a 7.0-inch display, though neither screen is particularly easy to wrap your head around with cluttered layouts and laggy inputs.
Material quality is on par with more expensive alternatives, and there’s acres of room both front and back making it easy for passengers to get comfortable.
There are two battery options for the MG4, with the base model offering a modest 218 miles on a single charge. The long-range version is impressive, with a maximum suggested range of 323 miles to a charge.
The MG4 feels best in the city, with soft suspension, good visibility and a lack of engine noise making it a breeze to navigate tight streets comfortably and quietly. Motorways are rather comfortable too, though there is some road noise to contend with, though it may be a worthy sacrifice if you like a sporty driving experience, because the MG4 is a blast to chuck around on a country lane.
The MG4 commanded attention when it was first revealed because of its remarkably cheap list price for an electric family hatchback, but it immediately proved itself as one of the best small EVs you can buy.
It looks fantastic; super futuristic with sharp headlights, crisp angles and swoopy lines everywhere you look. Bright colour choices add to the MG4’s striking look, and inside is much the same story as the outside.
It’s not as futuristic or heavily styled, but there’s a striking minimalism to the MG4’s cabin with a 10.3-inch monitor seemingly floating above the dashboard. The driver also gets a 7.0-inch display, though neither screen is particularly easy to wrap your head around with cluttered layouts and laggy inputs.
Material quality is on par with more expensive alternatives, and there’s acres of room both front and back making it easy for passengers to get comfortable.
There are two battery options for the MG4, with the base model offering a modest 218 miles on a single charge. The long-range version is impressive, with a maximum suggested range of 323 miles to a charge.
The MG4 feels best in the city, with soft suspension, good visibility and a lack of engine noise making it a breeze to navigate tight streets comfortably and quietly. Motorways are rather comfortable too, though there is some road noise to contend with, though it may be a worthy sacrifice if you like a sporty driving experience, because the MG4 is a blast to chuck around on a country lane.
What's good
What’s not so good
Best for: simple practicality
Skoda has committed to the classic small car recipe for the Fabia, keeping it as simple and easy to live with as possible. It’s not particularly interesting, but the Fabia manages to squeeze a lot of interior space into a small car - and it’s very comfortable.
The Fabia is a good looking little car without being fussy in its design, no more, no less. You might lose it in a car park, but it’s not going to offend anyone either.
Interior quality is a plus, and while there aren’t many soft-touch materials in the cabin there are a few colour accents to help lift the ambience. Basic cars come equipped with a 6.5-inch infotainment screen, but it’s worth upgrading for the 8.0- or 9.2-inch items fitted to higher-spec models, though none of them are very responsive to the touch.
Passengers have plenty of space in the front and back, with more room than in most of the Fabia’s direct alternatives, and there’s an impressive 380-litre boot which is enough for a couple of small suitcases or a big shop.
You won’t find a hybrid or electric engine option with the Fabia, and the petrol engine options are far from quick, but what you lose in performance you gain in comfort. The Fabia has soft suspension which soaks up road imperfections and it’s as comfortable on the motorway as it is in town. Twisty roads aren’t exciting, but the little Skoda doesn’t want for grip or stability.
Skoda has committed to the classic small car recipe for the Fabia, keeping it as simple and easy to live with as possible. It’s not particularly interesting, but the Fabia manages to squeeze a lot of interior space into a small car - and it’s very comfortable.
The Fabia is a good looking little car without being fussy in its design, no more, no less. You might lose it in a car park, but it’s not going to offend anyone either.
Interior quality is a plus, and while there aren’t many soft-touch materials in the cabin there are a few colour accents to help lift the ambience. Basic cars come equipped with a 6.5-inch infotainment screen, but it’s worth upgrading for the 8.0- or 9.2-inch items fitted to higher-spec models, though none of them are very responsive to the touch.
Passengers have plenty of space in the front and back, with more room than in most of the Fabia’s direct alternatives, and there’s an impressive 380-litre boot which is enough for a couple of small suitcases or a big shop.
You won’t find a hybrid or electric engine option with the Fabia, and the petrol engine options are far from quick, but what you lose in performance you gain in comfort. The Fabia has soft suspension which soaks up road imperfections and it’s as comfortable on the motorway as it is in town. Twisty roads aren’t exciting, but the little Skoda doesn’t want for grip or stability.
What's good
What’s not so good
Best for: punchy compact power
Yet another MG success story, the MG3 has been transformed from a car you’d only buy on a shoestring budget to a genuinely appealing little car. It looks modern both inside and out, and it’s still very affordable.
It’s not classically handsome, but the MG3 does have a very distinctive look about it with a broad grille and pointy headlights, as well as sharp creases along its sides.
The interior is fairly minimalistic and it’s easy on the eye, especially with some fun little flashes of tartan here and there, but you can tell where the cost savings have come into play in the MG3’s material quality. The general ambience is on par with alternatives, but there are some incredibly scratchy plastics in places which let the MG3 down.
Space in the front and back is decent, but the MG3’s boot is a modest 293 litres and the rear seats aren’t split folding, which is incredibly frustrating if you want to fold one seat to make space for something big in the boot while having a passenger in the other.
The 191hp hybrid system stands out compared to the MG3’s alternatives, getting up to motorway speeds easily and allowing for fun, easy overtaking on a country lane. Electric assistance makes town driving a doddle, though the engine is noisy when it kicks in.
Yet another MG success story, the MG3 has been transformed from a car you’d only buy on a shoestring budget to a genuinely appealing little car. It looks modern both inside and out, and it’s still very affordable.
It’s not classically handsome, but the MG3 does have a very distinctive look about it with a broad grille and pointy headlights, as well as sharp creases along its sides.
The interior is fairly minimalistic and it’s easy on the eye, especially with some fun little flashes of tartan here and there, but you can tell where the cost savings have come into play in the MG3’s material quality. The general ambience is on par with alternatives, but there are some incredibly scratchy plastics in places which let the MG3 down.
Space in the front and back is decent, but the MG3’s boot is a modest 293 litres and the rear seats aren’t split folding, which is incredibly frustrating if you want to fold one seat to make space for something big in the boot while having a passenger in the other.
The 191hp hybrid system stands out compared to the MG3’s alternatives, getting up to motorway speeds easily and allowing for fun, easy overtaking on a country lane. Electric assistance makes town driving a doddle, though the engine is noisy when it kicks in.
What's good
What’s not so good
Best for: economical commuting
Toyota has condensed its hybrid drive system into a small, fun to drive and handsome city car with the Yaris. It’s got a clear interior layout and there are some funky colours to choose from to stand out from the crowd.
Sporty headlights, a moody grille and big wheel arches give the small Yaris more presence than most of its alternatives, though it manages to avoid being overly aggressive or contrived in its styling.
The interior design is driver focused, curving towards you behind the wheel, but no matter how bright the colourful highlights around the cabin are you can’t help but notice just how much grey plastic you’re surrounded by. It’s a shame that the cabin design isn’t as funky as the exterior.
A 1.5-litre self-charging hybrid system powers the Yaris, and it’s very well suited to town use. The CVT gearbox means the Yaris smoothly accelerates up to speed and the suspension absorbs blows dished out by potholes and cracked roads rather well.
Motorways are a bit less relaxing as the Yaris is slightly unsettled by bigger dips and bumps at higher speeds, but twisty roads are fun as the Yaris doesn’t lean much when cornering, and there’s a good amount of grip.
Toyota has condensed its hybrid drive system into a small, fun to drive and handsome city car with the Yaris. It’s got a clear interior layout and there are some funky colours to choose from to stand out from the crowd.
Sporty headlights, a moody grille and big wheel arches give the small Yaris more presence than most of its alternatives, though it manages to avoid being overly aggressive or contrived in its styling.
The interior design is driver focused, curving towards you behind the wheel, but no matter how bright the colourful highlights around the cabin are you can’t help but notice just how much grey plastic you’re surrounded by. It’s a shame that the cabin design isn’t as funky as the exterior.
A 1.5-litre self-charging hybrid system powers the Yaris, and it’s very well suited to town use. The CVT gearbox means the Yaris smoothly accelerates up to speed and the suspension absorbs blows dished out by potholes and cracked roads rather well.
Motorways are a bit less relaxing as the Yaris is slightly unsettled by bigger dips and bumps at higher speeds, but twisty roads are fun as the Yaris doesn’t lean much when cornering, and there’s a good amount of grip.
What's good
What’s not so good
Best for: interior style
Ever since its launch in 2019, the Peugeot 208 has stood out as one of the most stylish small cars you can buy. The latest refresh has made it even more chic, without losing any of what makes it a good car.
Distinctive feline-inspired LED lights at the front and back, a bold grille and retro window line all combine to create an incredibly striking small car, especially with contrasting wheel arch and roof colours.
The interior is also one of the best of any small cars on sale, with premium materials everywhere and a very quirky design. The small steering wheel is a typical Peugeot feature, as are the keyboard-inspired buttons on the dashboard, but some driving positions mean the steering wheel can obstruct the driver’s display.
As stylish as it is, the 208’s cabin is a little cramped both front and back, though the seats are very supportive and you get a healthy 311-litre boot capacity.
When it comes to driving, the 208 is a solid all-rounder. The small steering wheel means the 208 feels agile both in the city and on country lanes, even if it’s not quite as fun to drive as a Mini Cooper, and it feels stable and planted on the motorway.
Ever since its launch in 2019, the Peugeot 208 has stood out as one of the most stylish small cars you can buy. The latest refresh has made it even more chic, without losing any of what makes it a good car.
Distinctive feline-inspired LED lights at the front and back, a bold grille and retro window line all combine to create an incredibly striking small car, especially with contrasting wheel arch and roof colours.
The interior is also one of the best of any small cars on sale, with premium materials everywhere and a very quirky design. The small steering wheel is a typical Peugeot feature, as are the keyboard-inspired buttons on the dashboard, but some driving positions mean the steering wheel can obstruct the driver’s display.
As stylish as it is, the 208’s cabin is a little cramped both front and back, though the seats are very supportive and you get a healthy 311-litre boot capacity.
When it comes to driving, the 208 is a solid all-rounder. The small steering wheel means the 208 feels agile both in the city and on country lanes, even if it’s not quite as fun to drive as a Mini Cooper, and it feels stable and planted on the motorway.
Best for: sporty looks
Where VW is the all-rounder and Skoda is the sensible choice, Cupra is the edgy sibling of the bunch. The Cupra Born is the VW ID3’s sporty sibling, even if the Born’s overall silhouette is the same as the ID3, though it has aggressive, angular headlights and colour-contrasting copper trims all over the place to differentiate it from its German counterpart.
The interior is much the same, with interesting materials to elevate the otherwise straightforward cabin. A floating 12.0-inch display takes pride of place on the dashboard, with a separate driver display behind the steering wheel. The infotainment screen is rather laggy though, with a tendency to crash at times; frustrating when you’re relying on the sat-nav.
Cupra offers a pair of batteries with the Born, the smallest of which can travel a claimed 254 miles on a charge. The long-range version can go as far as a claimed 352 miles, and both models should be able to get fully charged overnight at home.
The Born isn’t quite as sporty to drive as its aggressive looks suggest, but it’s still fun to drive in a country lane with plenty of power to overtake and get up to motorway speeds. It’s comfortable at high speeds and around town, though its suspension is a little firm and can jiggle you about through potholes.
Where VW is the all-rounder and Skoda is the sensible choice, Cupra is the edgy sibling of the bunch. The Cupra Born is the VW ID3’s sporty sibling, even if the Born’s overall silhouette is the same as the ID3, though it has aggressive, angular headlights and colour-contrasting copper trims all over the place to differentiate it from its German counterpart.
The interior is much the same, with interesting materials to elevate the otherwise straightforward cabin. A floating 12.0-inch display takes pride of place on the dashboard, with a separate driver display behind the steering wheel. The infotainment screen is rather laggy though, with a tendency to crash at times; frustrating when you’re relying on the sat-nav.
Cupra offers a pair of batteries with the Born, the smallest of which can travel a claimed 254 miles on a charge. The long-range version can go as far as a claimed 352 miles, and both models should be able to get fully charged overnight at home.
The Born isn’t quite as sporty to drive as its aggressive looks suggest, but it’s still fun to drive in a country lane with plenty of power to overtake and get up to motorway speeds. It’s comfortable at high speeds and around town, though its suspension is a little firm and can jiggle you about through potholes.
2025
Urban Living Award
Highly Commended
What's good
What’s not so good
Best for: charming design
As far as hatchbacks go, the Mini Cooper is one of the most iconic out there. It still resembles the very first Minis that rolled off of the production line back in 1959, but without trying too hard to look retro.
The latest Mini is also the most convincing nod to the original car there’s ever been, with a smooth front end featuring big, round headlights. The non-sport models are sleek and chic, but if you want a lairy little Mini then the John Cooper Works trims feature an aggressive body kit.
The interior design of the Mini is another heritage nod, with the infotainment and most of the controls accessible through a glorious circular screen in the middle of the dashboard. You get a small heads up display for driver info, and the rest of the interior is great to look at thanks to Mini’s clever use of fabric trims.
Practicality is far from the Mini’s strong suit, and it’s best suited to two adults in the front. The rear seats are very tight, and the 210-litre boot is only really big enough for a small shop or some carry-on luggage.
Whether petrol or electric powered, the Mini is a blast to drive around town. It feels nippy and responsive, with good forward visibility and a tight turning circle. The suspension is stiff and the Mini does get shaken up by potholes, but supportive seats help on the motorway and a lack of body lean means the Mini is rather fun on a twisty road.
As far as hatchbacks go, the Mini Cooper is one of the most iconic out there. It still resembles the very first Minis that rolled off of the production line back in 1959, but without trying too hard to look retro.
The latest Mini is also the most convincing nod to the original car there’s ever been, with a smooth front end featuring big, round headlights. The non-sport models are sleek and chic, but if you want a lairy little Mini then the John Cooper Works trims feature an aggressive body kit.
The interior design of the Mini is another heritage nod, with the infotainment and most of the controls accessible through a glorious circular screen in the middle of the dashboard. You get a small heads up display for driver info, and the rest of the interior is great to look at thanks to Mini’s clever use of fabric trims.
Practicality is far from the Mini’s strong suit, and it’s best suited to two adults in the front. The rear seats are very tight, and the 210-litre boot is only really big enough for a small shop or some carry-on luggage.
Whether petrol or electric powered, the Mini is a blast to drive around town. It feels nippy and responsive, with good forward visibility and a tight turning circle. The suspension is stiff and the Mini does get shaken up by potholes, but supportive seats help on the motorway and a lack of body lean means the Mini is rather fun on a twisty road.
Hatchback cars to avoid
Advertisement
Browse all hatchback cars
How to choose the right hatchback car for you
What do you need it for?
If you prioritise style and chic interiors, the Renault Clio, Peugeot 208 or Mini Cooper could be ideal. If you need a dependable family car with plenty of space inside the Hyundai Ioniq 5 should do the job nicely, though the Honda Civic is better suited for family road trips as you won’t have any EV range anxiety.
What’s your budget?
A higher price doesn’t guarantee better standard equipment or a better driving experience, so even if you’re on a tight budget there are options which offer a lot of kit for not a lot of money. If you don’t mind forking out a bit more, there are some high-performance hot hatchbacks for sale, or some super-premium ones from posh manufacturers.
Where do you live?
Tight inner cities and small towns might be better suited to hatchbacks with a tiny footprint, which are easier to park and manoeuvre at the expense of passenger and boot space. Bigger towns and suburban communities with wider roads will be easier for bigger hatchbacks to navigate, and you’ll have more interior space to live with as a result.
Advice about hatchbacks
Hatchback FAQs
Browse other car types
- 4x4 Cars
- 7-Seater Cars
- Automatic Cars
- Cheap Cars
- Convertible Cars
- Coupe Cars
- Crossover Cars
- Electric Cars
- Estate Cars
- Executive Cars
- Family Cars
- First Cars
- GT Cars
- Hatchbacks
- Hot Hatches
- Hybrid Cars
- Luxury Cars
- MPVs
- Medium-sized Cars
- Most Economical Cars
- Motability Cars
- SUVs
- Saloon Cars
- Small Cars
- Sports Cars
- Superminis