The hatchback may have been around for many decades but in this time, the formula has changed very little, and that's great. The hot hatch needs to be well priced, well-made, somewhat practical, and above all, fast.
Today's hot hatches are far different on the outside from their older relatives, but deep down inside there's still that classic feeling and handling you can only get with a hot hatch. Below are 10 cars which show the immense evolution of the hot hatch.
10 BMW 2000 tii Touring - 1971
It may be surprising to even the biggest fans of the hot hatch that the first ever recognized hot hatch was in fact made by BMW in the very early 70s.
The shape is far from what we see on modern hatchbacks, given that the BMW is more sloped at the rear and seems like a sedan that's been chopped rather than a traditional hatchback. This may be because the standard version of the 2000 tii is actually a sedan. Either way, there were only ever around 5,000 of these cars made, with roughly 100 or so remaining, making it very rare indeed.
9 MK1 VW Golf GTi - 1976
The Golf GTi is considered the benchmark for what a good hatchback should be. The beauty of the Golf still lies in the DNA of almost every hot hatch we see even today, with a simple recipe for success. The Golf showed us that all it takes for a great car is a reasonable amount of power, good build quality, and a good interior at a reasonable price.
Volkswagen really gave power to the people with the Golf, producing over 460,000 of them, making it a huge success. The first Golf GTi came with a 110 hp engine capable of taking the family hatchback to 112 mph, not bad for a car from the 70s. But it was the reasonable price of the car that made it so popular and also the fact that it was usable every day, leading to multiple copycats over the decades.
8 Renault 5 Turbo - 1980
Not long after the Golf came to be, France's top manufacturers were taking note. They tried to improve on the formula of the hot hatch, adding some more spice in the process, like we see here with the Renault 5 Turbo.
This car took hot hatches into the sportier realms of things by offering a mid mounted 4-cylinder engine making 160 hp, rear-wheel drive and to top it all off, only 2 seats. It's lightweight frame and sporty suspension made the Renault 5 Turbo one of the first truly hot, hot hatches and showed the world what could be done with the hatchback design.
7 Peugeot 205 GTi - 1984
Sticking with France but going back to GTi's, we have the Peugeot 205 GTi. The hot hatch really took off in this decade, becoming increasingly popular and Peugeot's attempt is one of the best to date.
The 1.6-liter 205 GTi was released in 1984, but a few years later they released a 1.9-liter version which was capable of surpassing 120 mph. The rally background of the 205 meant it had sharp and responsive steering, great brakes, and just great all round handling, making for one of the most exciting drives possible in any hatchback ever. This is perhaps why 205 GTi's are so popular even today, and the great build quality means they are easy to find in good condition too.
6 Renault Clio Williams - 1993
Even as we reach the mid 90s, we still see hatchbacks with boxier shapes, much like the original Golf GTi from the 70s. Renault created the Clio which became immensely popular and to capitalize on this, they made an improved version named the Clio Williams.
The Clio's biggest draw is the association to the Williams Formula One team and, like many hatchbacks, had a focus on rallying in particular. The Clio Williams actually made this car as a homologation special in order to enter their cars into rallying, which requires a maximum 2-liter engine and at least 2500 cars built. The Williams was given an improved crankshaft, pistons, camshafts and a lightweight exhaust.
5 Honda Civic Type R - 1997
This is our first entry from Japan and also the first car to adopt the rounder body design, which is more popular with today's hatchbacks. The Civic is without a doubt one of the most popular hatchbacks of all time, and part of that reason is down to the incredible engines made by Honda.
Yes, VTEC is often joked about and used in memes, but that's because the engines are just so good. The Civic Type R came with a 182 hp 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and saw some changes over the regular Civic it was based on, such as a stiffened chassis and some weight saving measures. The Type R is a dream to drive, as Honda spent much time to ensure the handling was top-notch and also gave it enough power and low weight to help it compete on the straights. The Honda is also one of the more customizable cars on this list, as is often the case with JDM cars, meaning it's very easy to make the Type R truly your own.
4 Ford Focus RS - 2002
The early 2000s saw the rise of the large hot hatch, and one of the best of all was the rally-focused Ford Focus RS from 2002.
Coming with sporty seats and a few carbon fiber trimmings, the Focus RS was truly a driver's car, and this meant it was difficult to handle for those less experienced with cars of this nature. The RS came with 215 hp, but despite this massive power, it still had a well-made and spacious interior with plenty of room for storage which was quite unlike the hot hatches from before. Surprisingly too, the RS manages around 30 or so mpg, which for a sports-focused hatchback is not bad at all. This is around the time practicality became important in hot hatches.
3 Renault Megane R26.R - 2008
The bulkier Meagne may not be to everyone's tastes aesthetically, but this Renault certainly packs a punch when you're sitting behind the wheel.
With a top speed of just under 150 mph, the Renault's interesting decals and exterior design are clearly not just for show. It also has sporty bucket seats and an actual roll cage in the back as further proof of its racing nature. The titanium sports exhaust and turbo make the R26.R feel like a racecar for the road, and the new and improved suspension make it handle like a dream. This isn't just a figure of speech either as the R26.R managed to lap the Nürburgring in 8 minutes and 17 seconds making it, at the time, the fastest FWD car to do this.
2 Toyota GR Yaris - 2021
The beloved GR Yaris may have only been around for a year but in this time, it has managed to cement itself as possibly the greatest hatchback of recent times and quite possibly, one of the greatest hatchbacks of all time.
Toyota's dedication has not gone unnoticed here, as the rally focused Yaris was developed in part with rally legend and current Toyota WRC boss Tommi Makinen. Almost nothing from the original Yaris remains, and its modern and sophisticated AWD system allows for the driver to send the majority of power to the rear wheels for one of the wildest drives from any car on this list.
1 VW Golf R - 2021
It seems fitting to return to the Golf, having spoken about the original earlier. Since the 70s, the Golf has seen improvements as far as technology and practicality are concerned but underneath, it does still have the heart of a classic hot hatch.
The new, 4-door Golf R is a far cry from the original GTi from 40-plus years ago, but that's because the Golf R is a faster version of the current Golf GTi and this means it can reach 0-60 in around 5 seconds thanks to its 300 hp. It's also very practical, offering lots of space inside and a very reasonable fuel efficiency. However, if you put the pedal to the floor, the Golf performs just as a Golf should and is responsive and agile despite its size, and that makes it just like the Golfs from of the past.
Sources: Munich Legends, Car Magazine UK, Renault Press Office, Auto Express, EVO, Parkers, Top Gear