Hot Hatches

The car credited with starting the hot hatch craze is the original Volkswagen Golf GTI.

Released to enthusiastic reviews in 1976, the Mk1 Golf GTI had a 1588cc 4-cylinder engine that produced 110bhp and 103lb/f of torque. Not massive figures, but in a compact car weighing just 810kg the effects were impressive.

The light weight of the car combined with the nicely judged chassis to give nimble responses and a ride that was firm without being uncomfortable.

Power was delivered to the front wheels via a four-speed transmission. The unassisted steering was relatively light but full of feedback, which allowed you to throw the car into corners with confidence.

The Volkswagen engineers really did hit a sweet spot with the original GTI, and after thirty years it still stands as one of the greatest hot hatches ever built.

The turn of the century has seen a resurgence in the hot hatch market and a massive increase in the power of the top cars. To be considered a serious contender a hot hatch must have at least 200bhp, with the most powerful getting very close to 300bhp. However, as safety features have become more important and creature comforts more popular the weight of the cars has increased, so this has negated some of the power gains.

Take that original Golf GTI as an example - with 110bhp and 810kg, the power/weight ratio was 135bhp/ton. Now look at the modern Golf GTI Mk5, which has almost twice the power with 197bhp but weighs considerably more at 1328kg. That equates to 148bhp/ton, which is an improvement in performance terms over the original but not quite as much as you might have imagined.

Another new twist on the hot hatch genre is the trend for hot diesel hatchbacks, trading outright power for turbo-assisted torque and high MPG.

• Engine: 1984cc, turbocharged
• Power: 197bhp
• Torque: 207 lb/ft
• 0-60 mph: 6.7 secs
• Top speed: 145 mph

Ignoring the lacklustre MkIII and MkIV, the MkV GTI represents a magnificant return to form for the Golf GTI.

The smooth and powerful 2.0-litre engine combines with a balanced and entertaining chassis to produce an amazing all-round hot hatch.

By using independent multi-link suspension at the rear, the Golf GTI gives secure and entertaining handling without resorting to a stiff and jarring ride.

While the 197bhp from its engine might not look too competitive against the competition, the power delivery is smooth and civilised and isn't prone to the torque-steer that blights some of its rivals. Although it might 'only' have 197bhp, the Golf GTI is no slouch and when equipped with Volkswagen's excellent DSG transmission the GTI is even quicker off the line.

The Volkswagen Golf GTI's broad range of talents has helped it win many magazine group tests and plaudits from the motoring journalists who've driven it.

"It's easy to find yourself haring along at much more of a pace than you expect. The engine is very strong right through but especially in the low- and mid-ranges. At speed the ride soaks up everything a tricky road can throw at it, and there's so much cornering grip that, despite weighing a substantial 1328kg, the Golf can carry lots of speed through bends." - EVO, October 2004

• Engine: 1998cc, turbocharged
• Power: 227 bhp
• Torque: 229 lb/ft
• 0-60 mph: 6.2 secs
• Top speed: 147 mph

The Renaultsport Megane R26 shows how good a hot hatch can be in terms of handling and cornering ability. Fitted with a limited-slip differential, the R26 finds amazing traction out of corners and its chassis finds astounding levels of grip.

The F1 stickers might not be to everyone's taste, but you'd be hard-pressed to find a faster trackday tool then the Megane R26.

• Engine: 1998cc, turbocharged
• Power: 237bhp
• Torque: 236 lb/ft
• 0-60 mph: 6.8 secs
• Top speed: 140 mph

As you'd expect with 237bhp the Astra VXR is extremely quick. In a straight line it's fantastic fun, with loud induction roar accompanying the screaming 2.0-litre engine.

UK-spec Astra VXRs have had their chassis tuned by Lotus for the varied demands of the crumbling British road network. The car has excellent body control, behaving well over bumpy roads. It also has great cornering ability, settling into bends and responding well to adjustments on the throttle.

However, things are let down by overly assisted steering that can be upset by torque steer on big throttle openings. The throttle is so sensitive that it is easy to trigger a torrent of torque, resulting in the wheel writhing in your hands.

The styling is great with some beautiful alloy wheels, and this is one of the factors that has helped to make the Vauxhall Astra VXR such a popular hot hatch.

"We've been critical of some aspects of the Astra VXR, but still like it a lot. At times, its handling response and dynamism are so breathtaking that we'd happily drive it even if it had no doors. But the fact remains that it would be a better car, and an easier one to drive, if it the engine's response was more manageable. Nonetheless, on its day, it's a hugely entertaining machine." - Autocar, August 2005

• Engine: 1984cc, turbocharged
• Power: 237bhp
• Torque: 207 lb/ft
• 0-60 mph: 6.3 secs
• Top speed: 153 mph

Although the SEAT Leon is very closely related to its cousin, the Volkswagen Golf, sharing chassis, engines and interior components, the Leon Cupra is very different in character to the Golf GTI.

Whereas the Golf GTI is the understated and composed hot hatch, the Leon Cupra is the bolder, flashier and more flamboyant of the pair.

Although the Cupra uses the same 2.0-litre engine as the GTI, power has been boosted to 237bhp. This in turn brings greater acceleration and top speed, and so on paper the Cupra is definitely in the lead. Chassis settings are also more extreme in the Cupra, with a stiffer ride that brings greater cornering abilities at the expense of ride comfort.

Which you prefer depends on the sort of car you're after. If you want a harder-edged, faster hot hatch that's always ready for action then go for the Leon Cupra. If you want a smoother hot hatch that can be relaxing if you want then go for the Golf GTI.

The Leon's depth of talents make it a worthwhile adversary for the rest of the hot hatch competition. Despite the power the Cupra resists wheelspin surprisingly well, even with the ESP switched off, and although the steering may be lacking in feedback you can still corner with confidence due to the huge amounts of grip on offer.

"There's a particularly good uphill right-hander preceded by a long left. Exit the left, stay away from the brakes and just knock back from fifth to fourth in the left/right transition, then nail the throttle early through the right-hander. The Cupra corners flat and hard, a little gentle slip at the front bled out into the incline before it grips again and sets about the next straight. It's a steely display of dynamic control." - Evo, January 2007

• Engine: 1998cc, turbocharged
• Power: 212 bhp
• Torque: 229 lb/ft
• 0-60 mph: 5.9 secs
• Top speed: 144 mph

The Ford Focus RS was a cracking car that had a surprisingly short production run, being built between October 2002 and November 2003.

While the headline power output of 212bhp might not been that spectacular, the handling of the Focus RS was breathtaking. The torque-biased differential was the RS's biggest strength and weakness - rough surfaces could lead to torque steer, but on smooth surfaces power delivery was smooth and instant.

The Focus RS breathed life back into Ford's image, and led the way for future cars such as the Mk2 Focus ST and Fiesta ST.

The Ford Focus RS became an instant classic and is now a much sought after car on the secondhand market.

"Turn-in is swift and accurate, front-end bite remarkable. And the faster you go the better it gets: great steering feel, hardly any understeer, fabulous balance, sublime body control, stupendous brakes." - EVO Magazine, November 2002

There's been a new twist to the hot hatch formula, and at first glance it seems a bit unlikely. Sticking a diesel engine under the bonnet doesn't seems like the ideal recipe for a performance hatchback.

However, with the advances of diesel technology, namely common-rail injection, the diesel engine is now producing higher power outputs in a smoother manner, and can combine this with enormous torque output and higher MPG.

Gone are the associations with agricultural machinery, the modern diesel can match the pace of petrol-engined cars while keeping running costs down. Purists will moan about noise, narrow power bands and low-revving engines, but on the open road you can travel just as quickly in a diesel hot hatch as you could in a traditional petrol-powered car.

• Engine: 1900cc diesel, turbocharged
• Power: 147bhp
• Torque: 236 lb/ft
• 0-60 mph: 8.6 secs
• Top speed: 134 mph

One of the first and best hot diesels, the Leon took the looks of the petrol Cupra and swapped the petrol engine for a 147bhp diesel.

It's not just the power that counts, the massive torque of the engine gives huge mid-range grunt for effortless overtaking. Slightly lifeless steering and chassis let the show down, but the Leon could still prove to be very entertaining on an open road.

Despite the performance on offer, the Leon Cupra FR could still return in excess of 50mpg.

• Engine: 1900cc diesel, turbocharged
• Power: 128bhp
• Torque: 229 lb/ft
• 0-60 mph: 9.6 secs
• Top speed: 127 mph

A Skoda hot hatch? Surely this is some mistake?

You'd be forgiven for thinking so, but with a 128bhp Volkswagen diesel lump under the bonnet the Fabia vRS was rapid while remaining discrete and economical.

OK, the handling was a little on the soft side and the steering a touch too light to make it a proper hot hatch, but the torque on offer gave the little Fabia serious acceleration from any speed.

Sadly not in production anymore, the Skoda Fabia vRS remains a popular car with people who want to go fast without making a big statement.