Small is beautiful, and in the case of some cars, very potent. Tiny cars that pack a big punch are great fun. Delivering thrills and excitement that many gearheads wouldn't believe possible. Capable of blitzing overpriced sports sedans and upsetting many respected sports cars, these superminis are bundles of raucous fun.
Shoehorning decent horsepower under the hood of a tiny car is more difficult than it sounds. Getting the balance between raw grunt and handling finesse is key. Once achieved, these little pocket rockets will entertain, and they often do it in ways that larger performance vehicles can't match.
Diminutive pugilists that never back down from a fight. All bursting with attitude and muscle. Here are 10 tiny cars that punch way above their weight.
10 The MK7 Ford Fiesta ST
A bar-setting vehicle, the Fiesta ST is not just a fantastic little hot hatch, it's an awesome performance car, period. One of the best-driving Fords ever made. Handling and steering feedback gets dialed to perfection. Crisp and scalpel-sharp. A Fiesta ST is simply superb to drive.
Under the stubby hood hides a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine. Generating 179hp and 177lb/ft of torque, it will launch itself to 60mph in 6.7 seconds. Bursting with explosive in gear clout, the Fiesta ST is a little tearaway that loves to tackle twisting roads and seek out apexes.
9 The MK6 Volkswagen Polo GTI
It could get perceived as the sensible option, but rest assured, the Polo has inherited plenty of Volkswagen GTI DNA, making it an excellent sports car. Refined and very well-made, the Polo GTI has a solid feel, both inside and out, marking it as a high-quality product.
Boasting a 2.0-liter turbo-fed engine, the Polo GTI relies on 204hp and a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox to make rapid progress. Hitting 60mph takes 6.5 seconds, and flat out it will top 149mph. Competent in the bends, the Polo wears its Volkswagen GTI credentials with pride.
8 The Audi S1
On any level, the Audi S1 is a quick car. A feature-packed, powerhouse of a vehicle that flattens its competition. Small, yet delivering huge thrills. It's an Audi gem that many gearheads have yet to fully discover. A bundle of fun that's even more appealing due to its bargain price.
Quattro AWD drive ensures that the S1 sticks to the road, while the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine and 228hp whisks it to 60mph in 5.8 seconds. Deeply rewarding to drive, the Audi S1 can get tuned to deliver even higher outputs, resulting is a supercar-slaying miniature.
7 The Mini Cooper Works GP
Wearing an aggressive suit, and packing a mighty punch, the Mini Cooper GP has figures that would frighten many a muscle car. All wrapped up in a pint-sized shell and visually alarming, the Mini GP looks more like a full-on track day special than a regular street car.
Fire the GP up and the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine snaps into life. There are 302hp and 332lb/ft of torque on tap to play with. Unleash this power and 60mph gets reached in 5.2 seconds. Terrifically agile, the Mini GP bites into the asphalt, eagerly chasing the horizon line.
6 The Abarth 695 Biposto
Touted as the world's smallest supercar, the Abarth 695 Biposto is a fiery Italian with some impressive parts. The most notable being the 1.4-liter turbocharged Formula 4 racing engine. Cranking out 190hp of road-menacing fireworks, snappy power has never sounded so good.
Able to blast to 60mph in 5.9 seconds, the 695 Biposto looks splendidly aggressive. Blistered bodywork and gaping tailpipes add to the appeal. The Abarth 695 Bispoto also has a natural talent for annihilating roads. Honed and special, it's a pocket-sized gearhead's hero.
5 The Toyota GR Yaris
One of the finest performance cars released in the past decade, the Toyota GR Yaris can stomp supercars into the concrete. Something it does with finesse using a three-cylinder engine. A turbocharged unit that generates 257hp. Impressive power fed to all four wheels.
As close to a road-based rally car as a buyer can get, the Yaris GR crackles with energy. Out of the gate, it will romp to 60mph in 5.5 seconds. Cross-country, it will leave more expensive, more exotic machinery for dead, earning itself a position as an all-time great.
4 The Peugeot 208 GTI PS Anniversary
The two-tone paint might not be to everyone's liking, but the Peugeot 208 GTI PS Anniversary is a car that begs to get driven hard. And by digging into the car's deep bag of talent, a gearhead can become truly rewarded, experiencing driving pleasure in its unadulterated form.
A punchy 1.6-liter engine spits out 205hp and 221lb/ft of torque. Always on the boil, it propels the little Peugeot 208 GTI forward with vigor. Scrabbling to 60mph in 6.5 seconds, the 208 GTI easily tackles sweeping roads, launching itself onward thanks to huge amounts of grip.
3 The Hyundai i20 N
Looking to rob the Fiesta ST of its crown, the Hyundai i20 N makes for a formidable foe. Packing a 201hp 1.6-liter turbocharged engine, the i20 N can cover the 0-60mh sprint in 6.4 seconds on its way to hitting 144mph. A limited-slip differential aids traction in corners.
Deeply satisfying to drive, it will hustle from point to point with ease. The Hyundai also features a well-equipped interior. It comes loaded with impressive technology, with launch control software featured as standard, so there is really no excuse not to get off the line cleanly.
2 The Vauxhall VXR Nurburgring
The most honed version in the Corsa VXR range, the Nürburgring edition has been specially set up to tackle the infamous German racetrack. An enviable parts array got added. Bilstein dampers, Brembo disc brakes, and a mechanical LSD were all on the shopping list.
Its 1.6-liter turbocharged engine makes 202hp, this provides a 6.3-second 0-60mph time. On the go, the VXR Nürburgring is nothing short of sensational. Cutting up asphalt in a way that would shame cars ten times the VXRs value. Grin-inducing fun in a micro-sized package.
1 The Renault Clio RS 220 Trophy
Early Renault Sport Clios set the standard for small, fast cars. A lot of their magic got lost when the range got overhauled. The Clio RS 220 Trophy regains a lot of what disappeared, but serves it up in a modern, evolved manner, one ready to tackle a new breed of rivals.
A gutsy 1.6-liter turbo-fed engine makes 220hp. Only available with a dual-clutch gearbox, the Clio will hit 60mph in 6.6 seconds. Fast and fluid in the corners, the RS 220 Trophy makes a driver feel confident behind the wheel, able to push the car without feeling overwhelmed.
Sources: VW, Toyota, MINI