Pocket rockets: the best small hot hatches on sale
From Fiesta ST to Suzuki Swift, here are the small cars that pack a big punch
Suzuki Swift Sport
Price: £13,999
Specs: 136bhp, 118lb ft, 0-62mph in 8.7secs, VMax 121mph, 44.1mpg, 147g/km CO2Perhaps the last of the naturally-aspirated hot hatches. Cheap, but rather brilliant. Only 136bhp, but who cares when you've only got a little over a ton of car to hurl about.
Advertisement - Page continues belowVolkswagen Polo GTI
Price: £19,235
Specs: 192bhp, 236lb ft, 0-62mph in 6.7secs, VMax 147mph, 47.1mpg, 140g/km CO2Much better than the car it replaced, chiefly for its manual gearbox (the old one was DSG only), and 1.8-litre turbo motor. Less hardcore than a Fiesta ST.
Renaultsport Clio 220 Trophy
Price: £22,425
Specs: 220bhp, 207lb ft, 0-62mph 6.6secs, VMax 146mph, 47.9mpg, CO2 135g/kmPaddleshift gearbox, turbo, five doors. It’s a Renaultsport folks, but not as we know it. Better in everyday areas, but with the wild streak dialled out. Shame.
Advertisement - Page continues belowMini John Cooper Works
Price: £24,520
Specs: 231bhp, 236lb ft, 0-62mph 6.1secs, VMax 153mph, 49.6mpg, CO2 133g/kmMight not quite match the Fiesta’s cheeky charm, but the new Mini still knows how to have a good time. Steady on the options or the price spirals alarmingly.
Audi S1
Price: £25,600
Specs: 228bhp, 273lb ft, 0-62mph 5.8secs, VMax 155mph, 40.4mpg, CO2 162g/kmAll-wheel drive means the littlest, and best, of all the mainstream Audis will, when things get wet, run rings around these others. Pricey, but worth it.
Peugeot 208 GTI by PS
Price: £22,900
Specs: 205bhp, 221lb ft, 0-62mph 6.5secs, VMax 143mph, 52.3mpg, CO2 125g/kmThey claim it’s a replacement for the 205 GTI. It isn’t. But it never could be. Far too safe and well built. But it is a very fine effort and for that we should be thankful.
Ford Fiesta ST
Price: £17,895
Specs: 180bhp, 177lb ft, 0-62mph 6.9secs, VMax 139mph, 47.9mpg, CO2 138g/kmEffervescent little hot hatch that’s as good as we dared hoped and better than rivals. Sharp nose, accurate steering, energetic turbo and a tail that gets involved.
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