Last updated June 12, 2024 by
Darren Cassey
Best hot hatches of 2025
Hot hatches have been a hugely important part of UK car culture for decades. The mix of performance and practicality in a relatively affordable package is an enticing recipe, because if you love driving but can’t justify running a sports car alongside your family car, hot hatchbacks let you have your cake and eat it.
What is a hot hatch? Well, they are typically based on a regular family hatchback, but upgraded with more power and mechanical bits that make them more capable – and importantly, more fun – on a twisty road.
Here's Carwow’s expert reviews team’s rundown of the best hot hatches in 2024.
2025
Pleasure of Driving Award
Highly Commended
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The Toyota GR Yaris is our favourite hot hatch, because it’s basically a rally car for the road. The original was a manic little bundle of fun, and the new one moves the game on – you get more power at 280hp, up from 261hp, a revised interior that addresses complaints about the old one such as the high driving position, and a new automatic gearbox. Unchanged is the fact the GR Yaris is all-wheel drive, helping you rocket out of corners with a massive grin on your face.
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If the GR Yaris appeals but you want something a bit more spacious, the Honda Civic Type R is a great option. Don’t be fooled by the extra practicality, because this is still a serious bit of kit. It sends a whopping 329hp through the front tyres, but clever upgrades mean it’s playful rather than a mess of squealing rubber everytime you press the throttle. Despite this fun side, the Civic Type R can feel sensible and grown up when you need it to do the family car stuff.
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2025
Tech Trailblazer Award
Battery range up to 278 miles
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Now here’s a curveball – the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is the only electric car on this list, but boy is it worthy of its place. At its peak it has a ridiculous 650hp, but loads of EVs have silly power. What makes the Ioniq 5 N special is that it has been given new suspension, big brakes and more to make it capable of making the most of that power, but more importantly, it has software to mimic petrol engine noises and even gear changes. It makes this the most involving and enjoyable electric car to drive, bar none.
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The old Audi RS3 Sportback felt like a bit of a blunt instrument. It had monstrous performance but deployed it with all the finesse of a bull in a china shop. The new model is a completely different beast. It still has silly power – 400hp from a rare five-cylinder engine, to be precise – but now it feels more agile. Rather than simply mashing the throttle between corners to get your giggles, now you can enjoy this rapid Audi’s handling prowess, too.
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One of the original breed of mega hatches, the A 45 S feels like a supercar wrapped up in a small family car. Because that’s pretty much what it is. It has 421hp and all-wheel drive to help get all that oomph into the road, with the result being a 0-60mph time of 3.9 seconds, which makes it as fast as a Porsche 911. With all that power the security of AWD doesn’t make it any less fun, while the fruity exhaust note only makes your smile even bigger.
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The Hyundai i20 N really punches above its weight class in the hot hatch world. Based on the diddy i20 it’s not the most practical, but who cares when it’s so much fun to point down a country road? It really feels like a miniature rally car, which goes some way to make up for the fact the engine doesn’t sound too great. It also looks a bit like it was designed by someone who spent too much time reading Max Power magazine in the 1990s, but don’t let that put you off. This thing is great fun.
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The Volkswagen Golf R has long been one of the best all-rounders in the hot hatch world. That’s because you get Volkswagen build quality inside and all of the practicality you expect of a regular Golf, while also packing a 315hp petrol engine that will accelerate the car from 0-60mph in under five seconds. It’s not the most thrilling car to drive, but few alternatives offer such a wide scope of pop-to-the-shops-practicality and B-road blasting ability.
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The regular Ford Focus has long been regarded as one of the best hatchbacks to drive, so it’s no surprise the performance-orientated Focus ST is an absolute hoot too. Older versions have a reputation for being a bit scrappy, like you’re in a fight with the car to keep it pointing straight, but the latest version is a lot more sorted. As a result it feels more sensible, which might put you off, but it’s much easier and more enjoyable finding a rhythm on a twisty road than ever before.
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The BMW M135i has long been a popular hot hatch because it was the only option with rear-wheel drive. Sadly, the latest model has ditched this in favour of all-wheel drive, which offers more secure handling and more grip but makes it a little less fun. The free-revving six-cylinder engine is gone, too, but the four-cylinder that replaces it isn’t exactly lacking punch. Despite these complaints, the BMW M135i is still a great car that’s enjoyable to drive, but with its upmarket interior, also feels a bit more grown up.
The Cupra Leon is one of the best-looking hot hatches, with bodywork creases and sharp angles galore. Inside you get excellent build quality and a smart design that helps make the Leon ideal for daily driving duties while also being a bit more interesting than your average hatchback. You need to go for the 300hp petrol engine for it to be a proper hot hatch, though, because the lower-powered options (and the frugal plug-in hybrid) don’t suit its sporty ethos. There’s also an estate with all-wheel drive and 310hp if you need a bit more space.
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