5 Red-Hot Hatches Road-Tested by Regit

Famed for its go-kart handling, it will come as no surprise that this is one of the cars we enjoyed most when tested in August. Our road-tester Tim Barnes-Clay credited the JCW’s ‘unbeatable grin-factor’ as one of the key attributes of the new hot-MINI. There’s no denying that one of the main reasons the MINI sells so well is because how it makes you feel as a driver, and now even in the fastest version available you can get an excellent experience behind the wheel while averaging over 40mpg in a car small enough to park around town. As city cars go, this is still big enough for a weekly shop and as long as you’re not going on a particularly long journey, you’ll be able to squeeze two passengers in the back. 

The Focus ST has been a fan favourite in the UK for quite some time, as we have an unparalleled love for Fast Fords, particularly in hatchback form, which goes back as far as forty years. We test drove this car back in July and adored everything that the Focus ST had to offer. There’s loads of power, as you’d expect, but it’s also a car that is extremely easy to live with. This new model is available exclusively as a 5-door, and it can seat 5 adults with no issues whatsoever. The boot is practical too, with 357 litres on offer with the rear-row upright and, 1,354 litres of luggage space with the rear row flattened. Plenty of space for a trip to IKEA and Ford reckon you’ll get 35.7 mpg back when driven correctly. The Focus ST is on sale now from £31,995 and it’s one of those cars that you’ll have to test drive to fully appreciate.

The end is near for the Mark 7 Golf so, naturally, it was time for Volkswagen to launch a race-inspired version of their epic GTi model. Enter, the GTi TCR (Touring Car Racing). We tested this upon launch back in July and found it to be a surprisingly well-balanced car, even though it’s got a massive 290PS running through the front wheels. Volkswagen hasn’t stripped out the interior to save weight and you can still fit 4 occupants with comfort and a fifth for a cosy fit. It is also available as a 3-door and a 5-door so buyers are at least given a choice, the same can’t be said for several other hot hatches in this class which are now exclusively 5-door models. This is a limited run Golf GTi so prices start from £35,305 although we can see this car holding its value exceptionally well thanks to its exclusivity. Like what you see? Read our full review to find out more...

The A35 pitches itself as a more accessible and modestly powered alternative to the previous A45 AMG from Mercedes. We tested it back in June and the stand-out selling point is certainly the interior. Yes, the blistering pace and forgiving 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system are both great, but the A35 is by far and away the most luxurious hot-hatch on the market. This model features all of Mercedes’ new technology and equipment and it is all beautifully crafted together - as you would expect from the Mercedes-Benz brand. When you’re spending this much money (from £35,580) on a premium performance hatchback then you don’t want to settle for anything less than the best, and there’s not much on the market more desirable than the A35.

And last but certainly not least is the all-new Audi S3 Sportback. We tested this back in July and, like the Mercedes, we were taken aback by just how much equipment is inside these modern premium hot-hatches. The S3 takes a somewhat minimalist approach to its interior, with only a few buttons on the centre console and the majority of functions being controlled with the centrally-mounted display and within the large virtual cockpit. The Audi is exceptionally comfortable thanks to highly adjustable seats and premium leather upholstery. Of course, the star of the show is the 2.0-litre turbocharged engine which produces a biblical 310 PS and 400 Newton Meters of torque, enough to launch the car from 0-60 in just 4.6 seconds - which is faster than most of us will ever need. The S3 is electronically limited to a top speed of 155mph but the most fun can be had between 30mph and 70mph where it proves eager, safe and responsive. Have a read of our full review to find out more and book yourself in for a test drive...