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Hot hatches

Fastest Nurburgring lap times 2025: quickest cars and lap records
Mercedes AMG-One at Nurburgring

Fastest Nurburgring lap times 2025: quickest cars and lap records

Check out the top 10 fastest production cars around the Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit in Germany
Best cars & vans
23 Oct 2025
Long-term test: Honda Civic Type R
Honda Civic Type R - front end on a cliff

Long-term test: Honda Civic Type R

Second report: the last ever Type R looks like it’s also going to be Honda’s best ever
Long-term tests
22 Oct 2025
Alpine A290 review
Alpine A290 UK - dynamic front

Alpine A290 review

The Alpine A290 all-electric hot hatchback is rounded, well priced, and has desirability in spades
In-depth reviews
17 Oct 2025
Audi RS 3 review
Audi RS 3 Sportback - front

Audi RS 3 review

The latest Audi RS 3 is a sensational hot hatch with a powertrain to match, but the interior could be more premium at this price point
In-depth reviews
15 Oct 2025
Best hot hatchbacks to buy 2025
Best hot hatchbacks - header image

Best hot hatchbacks to buy 2025

These hatchbacks offer serious driving fun along with room for all the family
Best cars & vans
15 Oct 2025
Long-term test: MINI John Cooper Works
MINI John Cooper Works - front end header

Long-term test: MINI John Cooper Works

First report: hot hatch joins our fleet and immediately hits the track
Long-term tests
12 Oct 2025
Car Deal of the Day: A VW Golf R for £15 more monthly than a GTI?
Volkswagen Golf R - full froint

Car Deal of the Day: A VW Golf R for £15 more monthly than a GTI?

It’s a car that can do it all – the Golf R is our Deal of the Day for October 10.
News
10 Oct 2025
Skoda Fabia 130 is a 174bhp hot hatch for under £30k
Skoda Fabia 130 - front cornering

Skoda Fabia 130 is a 174bhp hot hatch for under £30k

Along with more power the hot Fabia gets revised suspension and steering
News
7 Oct 2025
Car Deal of the Day: This Audi RS 3 is a howling hot hatch for only £542 a month
Audi RS 3 Sportback - front action

Car Deal of the Day: This Audi RS 3 is a howling hot hatch for only £542 a month

The final five-cylinder hot hatch could be more affordable than you’d expect with this deal
News
4 Oct 2025
Toyota GR Yaris Aero Performance arrives with race and rally inspiration
Toyota GR Yaris Aero Performance - front static

Toyota GR Yaris Aero Performance arrives with race and rally inspiration

Experience both on and off road has influenced the new £49k version of the brilliant GR Yaris
News
1 Oct 2025
Farewell Ford Focus ST: production of iconic hot hatch ends
Ford Focus ST - front cornering

Farewell Ford Focus ST: production of iconic hot hatch ends

It’s the end of an era for the Ford Focus ST, with iconic performance model following the Fiesta ST into history
News
30 Sep 2025
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Long-term test: Volkswagen Golf R
VW Golf R LT - header

Long-term test: Volkswagen Golf R

First report: performance Golf takes us on a high-speed trip down Memory Lane, but is it fit for a family?
Long-term tests
28 Sep 2025
Honda Civic Type R vs Audi RS 3: the ultimate hot hatch face-off
Honda Civic Type R vs Audi RS 3 - front end

Honda Civic Type R vs Audi RS 3: the ultimate hot hatch face-off

Honda’s Civic Type R takes its final bow with the Ultimate Edition. Will it go out on a high against its Audi RS 3 rival?
Car group tests
27 Sep 2025
Car Deal of the Day: Hyundai Ioniq 5 N can outrun supercars for £426 a month
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N - front action

Car Deal of the Day: Hyundai Ioniq 5 N can outrun supercars for £426 a month

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N sets a new standard for fast EVs, and is our Deal of the Day for September 22
News
22 Sep 2025
New Kia EV4 GT hot hatch to challenge the mighty VW Golf R
Kia EV4 GT teaser Ellis Hyde

New Kia EV4 GT hot hatch to challenge the mighty VW Golf R

The electric hot hatch will feature dual motors to deliver all-wheel drive and around 300-400bhp
News
22 Sep 2025
Car Deal of the Day: Alpine A290 is hot hatch heaven at £263 a month
Alpine A290 UK - dynamic front

Car Deal of the Day: Alpine A290 is hot hatch heaven at £263 a month

Want an electric car that’s as fun as it is efficient? Step into the Alpine A290, our Deal of the Day for September 20
News
20 Sep 2025
BMW 1 Series review
BMW 1 Series - main image

BMW 1 Series review

The BMW 1 Series is a well-built family hatchback that handles nicely, but practicality isn’t the best
In-depth reviews
19 Sep 2025
Volkswagen Golf review
Volkswagen Golf - main image

Volkswagen Golf review

The latest VW Golf has cleaner engines, an updated interior and improved on-board tech, but it still misses top honours
In-depth reviews
18 Sep 2025
Toyota GR Corolla hot hatch updated but the wait for a UK release goes on
Toyota GR Corolla - front tracking

Toyota GR Corolla hot hatch updated but the wait for a UK release goes on

While drivers continue to wait for the Toyota GR Corolla to hit UK roads, Toyota has introduced upgrades to the hot hatch in Japan
News
18 Sep 2025
New Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport 2025 review: an incredibly capable hot hatch but there's a catch
Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport - front tracking

New Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport 2025 review: an incredibly capable hot hatch but there's a catch

The hottest front-wheel-drive Golf has sharpened up its act in Mk8.5 form, but it's not as fun as we'd like it to be
Road tests
11 Sep 2025
Used Cupra Leon (2020-date) buyers’ guide: hot hatch fun with room for the family
Used Cupra Leon - front

Used Cupra Leon (2020-date) buyers’ guide: hot hatch fun with room for the family

A full used buyer’s guide on the Cupra Leon that has been on sale in the UK since 2020
Used car tests
10 Sep 2025
Hyundai Ioniq 3 N on the cards as demand for hot hatches grows
Hyundai Concept Three - full front

Hyundai Ioniq 3 N on the cards as demand for hot hatches grows

The Hyundai Ioniq 3 is set to arrive in the UK in 2026, and now the brand has hinted at hot 'N' version will follow
News
10 Sep 2025
The Volkswagen ID.3 GTX is dead: long live the ID.3 GTI!
Volkswagen ID.3 GTX - front action

The Volkswagen ID.3 GTX is dead: long live the ID.3 GTI!

VW’s much maligned GTX models are set to be retired, with the firm confident its EVs can now carry the hallowed GTI badge
News
9 Sep 2025
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Leapmotor reveals performance brand, but will it come to the UK?
Leapmotor performance brand - rear teaser

Leapmotor reveals performance brand, but will it come to the UK?

Leapmotor is set to enter the electric hot-hatch game, with the recently-unveiled B05 being the first car to get the souped-up treatment
News
9 Sep 2025
New Volkswagen ID. Polo GTI debuts in Munich aiming to be a proper electric hot hatch
 ID. Polo GTI at Munich - front angled

New Volkswagen ID. Polo GTI debuts in Munich aiming to be a proper electric hot hatch

Volkswagen is bringing its electric Alpine rival to the Munich Motor Show
News
8 Sep 2025
Three-car garage: Mazda MX-5, MINI Electric and Volkswagen Golf GTI all for £35k
3-car garage for 35k

Three-car garage: Mazda MX-5, MINI Electric and Volkswagen Golf GTI all for £35k

This fantastic trio of small cars is available through Auto Express, and combined cost less than the price of an electric DS 3
Features
1 Sep 2025
VW Golf R to up its game again: could hot new special edition top 400bhp?
VW Golf R spy shot - front 3/4

VW Golf R to up its game again: could hot new special edition top 400bhp?

It feels like VW has been teasing an ultra-high performance variant of its Golf R for years, but it might be too late for a 400bhp monster
News
26 Aug 2025
Audi RS 3 swansong special edition will also bid farewell to the brand’s 5-cylinder engine
Audi RS3 GT - front 3/4

Audi RS 3 swansong special edition will also bid farewell to the brand’s 5-cylinder engine

Audi’s saying goodbye to its high-performance five-cylinder engine with a very limited-run special
News
26 Aug 2025
Car Deal of the Day: Sporty Cupra Leon will set pulses racing at only £211 per month
Cupra Leon cornering

Car Deal of the Day: Sporty Cupra Leon will set pulses racing at only £211 per month

Our Deal of the Day for 24 August is a very affordable offer on Cupra’s fun-to-drive hatchback
News
24 Aug 2025
Alpine A290 vs MINI JCW Electric: an electric hot hatch clash
Alpine A290 vs MINI JCW Electric - front tracking

Alpine A290 vs MINI JCW Electric: an electric hot hatch clash

Is a pure-electric hot hatch really the future? Well, the Alpine A290 and MINI JCW prove that the road ahead looks very bright indeed
Car group tests
23 Aug 2025
New Volkswagen ID.3 GTX Fire & Ice edition is an ultra-violet throwback
Volkswagen ID.3 GTX Fire & Ice edition - front 3/4

New Volkswagen ID.3 GTX Fire & Ice edition is an ultra-violet throwback

Priced from £48,360, the new ID.3 GTX Fire+Ice is a tribute to the Mk2 VW Golf Fire and Ice special edition from 1990
News
4 Aug 2025
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N review
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N - front

Hyundai Ioniq 5 N review

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N really is the first electric vehicle that can be considered a true driver’s car
In-depth reviews
1 Aug 2025
Nissan Micra Nismo on the way to challenge the hot hatch elite
NIssan Micra Nismo exclusive image

Nissan Micra Nismo on the way to challenge the hot hatch elite

Leveraging the work Alpine’s done on the A290, a high-performance Nissan Micra could be on the cards and our exclusive image previews how it could loo…
News
29 Jul 2025
Car Deal of the Day: MG4 XPower offers supercar performance for just £282 a month
MG4 XPower tracking

Car Deal of the Day: MG4 XPower offers supercar performance for just £282 a month

The MG4 is an excellent electric hatch, and the XPower offers extra excitement. It’s our Deal of the Day for July 25
News
25 Jul 2025
What is Toyota GR? Past, present and future of the Gazoo Racing brand
Gazoo racing - Tom in a room of endurance cars

What is Toyota GR? Past, present and future of the Gazoo Racing brand

Inside look at Toyota GR, the “Meisters of the Nurburgring”
Features
22 Jul 2025