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Hot hatches

New Honda Civic Type R concept has us yearning for a UK comeback
Honda Civic Type R concept car - front

New Honda Civic Type R concept has us yearning for a UK comeback

New Honda Prelude S+ Shift technology is coming to the Civic
News
9 Jan 2026
A new Renault Clio RS isn’t likely, but this hot hatch might fill that gap
Clio Renaultsport 200 EDC Lux badge

A new Renault Clio RS isn’t likely, but this hot hatch might fill that gap

Strict emissions rules are strangling the business case for a modern-day version of the Clio RS
News
9 Jan 2026
New Toyota GR Yaris Morizo RR is an ultra-hot hatch with Nürburgring roots
Toyota GR Yaris Morizo RR - front 3/4

New Toyota GR Yaris Morizo RR is an ultra-hot hatch with Nürburgring roots

Only 100 examples of fearsome hot hatch are earmarked for Europe, with another 100 to be sold in Japan
News
9 Jan 2026
Hot Kia EV3 GT gets 288bhp and all-wheel-drive
Kia EV3 GT - front

Hot Kia EV3 GT gets 288bhp and all-wheel-drive

Flagship GT will offer more power, more driven wheels and a few sporty design elements
News
9 Jan 2026
New Skoda Fabia 130 2026 review: a likeable warm hatch, but it’s no vRS
Skoda Fabia 130 - front tracking

New Skoda Fabia 130 2026 review: a likeable warm hatch, but it’s no vRS

The new 130 is the hottest Fabia we’ve seen in a while, but it’s also one of the most expensive
Road tests
29 Dec 2025
Nissan Micra Nismo hot hatch due as brand takes walk on the wild side
NIssan Micra Nismo exclusive image

Nissan Micra Nismo hot hatch due as brand takes walk on the wild side

A hot Nissan Micra would leverage the work done for the closely-related Alpine A290, and our exclusive image previews how it could look
News
16 Dec 2025
Car Deal of the Day: Hot damn! Athletic Alpine A290 for under £250 per month
Alpine A290 UK - dynamic front tracking

Car Deal of the Day: Hot damn! Athletic Alpine A290 for under £250 per month

With our Deal of the Day for 7 December, the only thing more appealing than this brilliant electric hot hatch is its price
News
7 Dec 2025
Volkswagen Golf R32 vs Alfa Romeo 147 GTA: retro V6 hot hatch battle
Volkswagen Golf R32 vs Alfa Romeo 147 GTA - front 3/4

Volkswagen Golf R32 vs Alfa Romeo 147 GTA: retro V6 hot hatch battle

The Volkswagen Golf R32 and Alfa Romeo 147 GTA each took a different approach to the big-engined hot-hatch formula. But which is king – Teutonic titan…
Car group tests
6 Dec 2025
Peugeot GTi masterplan revealed as boss rules out hot SUVs
Peugeot E-208 GTI

Peugeot GTi masterplan revealed as boss rules out hot SUVs

Peugeot boss Alain Favey is rebooting GTi – and we ask him if SUVs and hybrids will follow the hot E-208
News
5 Dec 2025
New Cupra Raval prototype review: on course to be the Spanish brand’s best EV yet
Cupra Raval prototype - front

New Cupra Raval prototype review: on course to be the Spanish brand’s best EV yet

We go for an early drive in the new Cupra Raval to see if its MEB+ underpinnings bode well for the VW Group's future
Road tests
28 Nov 2025
Abarth 500 could gain hot petrol variant
Abarth 500e - front

Abarth 500 could gain hot petrol variant

Latest Fiat 500 Hybrid could pave the way for a new generation of combustion-engined hot hatchbacks
News
26 Nov 2025
New Cupra Leon VZ review: Spanish brand’s most fun hot hatch yet
New Cupra Leon VZ - front 3/4

New Cupra Leon VZ review: Spanish brand’s most fun hot hatch yet

The new Cupra Leon VZ produces 320bhp with plenty of grip and agility
Road tests
25 Nov 2025
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Best used hot hatchbacks to buy 2026
Best used hot hatchbacks - header image

Best used hot hatchbacks to buy 2026

Our picks for the best used hot hatchbacks in the UK
Best cars & vans
19 Nov 2025
New track-ready Cupra Leon VZ TCR hot hatch has 321bhp and no back seats, if you like
CUPRA Leon VZ TCR and CUPRA Leon VZ - front and rear

New track-ready Cupra Leon VZ TCR hot hatch has 321bhp and no back seats, if you like

The limited-edition hot hatch has been inspired by Cupra’s championship-winning Leon touring car racer
News
13 Nov 2025
The scariest cars we've ever driven
Scariest cars we've ever driven - header image, 2025

The scariest cars we've ever driven

The Auto Express team have cast their minds back to the scariest cars they’ve had to endure
Best cars & vans
31 Oct 2025
Fastest Nurburgring lap times 2026: quickest cars and lap records
Mercedes AMG-One at Nurburgring

Fastest Nurburgring lap times 2026: 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
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 2026
Best hot hatchbacks - header image

Best hot hatchbacks to buy 2026

These hatchbacks offer serious driving fun along with room for all the family
Best cars & vans
15 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
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
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
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
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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
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
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
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
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