We love hot hatches here at CarSite. We love the way they combine blistering performance and sports-car-like handling with drip-dry practicality. With a good hot hatch, there should be very few downsides to the ownership experience.
Our best hot hatch of 2013 therefore has to be as fast and as fun to drive as it is practical, cheap to buy and easy to live with on a day-to-day basis.
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Ford Focus STFord has built some sensational hot hatchbacks over the years and this is the latest in a long line of fast Fords. The Focus ST handles brilliantly and its 2.0-litre engine is an absolute peach. Factor in its low price tag and practical interior and you're left with a very tempting package. |
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Vauxhall Astra VXRWith the Astra VXR, Vauxhall has created that rarest of beasts, a blistering, high-performance hot hatchback with everyday usability. With 276bhp, oodles of grip and matinee idol good looks, the Astra VXR puts a big fat tick in all of the right boxes. We absolutely love it. |
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Renault Megane Renaultsport 265 CupRenault are arguably the hot hatch kings, and the latest hot Megane is a perfect example of why. The Megane's 2.0-litre engine develops 261bhp -- which is a lot -- and thanks to the inclusion of a limited-slip diff, stiff suspension and crisp steering, it's a hoot through the bends. It's not the most refined or the most practical car in its class, but for sheer thrills the Megane is nigh-on peerless. |
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