Best Hot Hatches of 2023

Characteristics of Hot Hatchbacks

As a dying breed, the few remaining hot hatchbacks all have quite a few things in common. This is what has kept them popular even as many buyers move towards flashier or more modern and trendy body styles and configurations:

• Performance: By definition, hot hatches are fast, small cars with a hatchback style. Therefore, they need a decent powertrain. Thanks to their small size, they don’t need a V6 or V8 to feel powerful, and they excel at maneuvering around town or tight bends. This same virtue means that they don’t suffer from using a front-wheel drivetrain instead of the RWD that is typical for sportier cars.
• Price: You could definitely find yourself spending a small fortune on a sport hatchback, but the fact that there are some sub-$20k models is noteworthy. What’s more, they are exceedingly fuel efficient, with mpg figures rivaling many economy-class cars out in the US. They are easily one of the cheapest ways to have fun.
• Aesthetic: This is a contentious topic as many buyers now see hatchbacks as undesirable. More rugged vehicles like SUVs or even crossovers are the current trend setters. That being said, some shoppers feel this outdated body style has its own cool factor, with something like the Mini Cooper often classified as “quirky.”

What to Consider Before Buying a Hot Hatch

A turbo-powered hatchback is a very niche vehicle to be investing in. It’s not as classically appealing as a sports coupe nor as practical as mainstream crossovers. But that’s not to say there aren’t any advantages. In fact, there is a breakdown of the pros and cons to these pop culture outliers:

Pros

• Sporty, eye-catching, and standout aesthetics
• Sprightly performance and apt handling dynamics
• Turbocharged engines keep fuel economy decent
• Among the few styles you can still find a manual gearbox in

Cons

• Rear cabin passenger room is usually rather limited
• Trunk capacity is typically on the small side
• Some are overly styled and too focused

FAQs