The hot hatch is dead; long live the hot hatch. That’s the message from car makers as they issue forth a new line of electric performance cars to continue the lines of the hot models we’ve come to love.
The latest is Renault, which has revealed that it’ll reposition the top-of-the-range Megane E-Tech as a performance model, possibly even reviving the RS branding that made hot Meganes so iconic in recent decades.
Mind you, these new electric hot hatches sit rather at odds with their lighter, simpler predecessors. And there’s one thing they simply can’t deliver: the pure joy of a soulful engine note.
On the plus side, as the electric hot hatch revolution takes flight, it’s a great time to buy yourself an older model, as early adopters jump on the bandwagon and nearly-new hot hatches’ prices sink.
There are already some great bargains around. For example, how about a Ford Focus ST, one of the great modern hot hatches? Sadly discontinued by Ford earlier this year, the ST was renowned for punching way above its weight in terms of its ability, and its sublime blend of intuitive steering feel, chassis balance, and barrel-chested power (276bhp from a 2.3-litre turbo engine, to be precise) made it a captivating companion on a back road.
With all that in mind, £18,600 for a 2020 example with just 28,810 miles on the clock feels like a bit of a steal. And indeed it is – as confirmed by a CarGurus Instant Market Value (IMV) estimate of £20,981, which suggests this particular example is for sale for around £2,381 less than it’s actually worth.
That’s a lot of car for the cash – especially when you consider what a great all-rounder the ST is, just as capable of long-distance cruising and easy-going town driving as it is of plastering a big, cheesy grin across your face. And with a 0-62mph time of 5.7 seconds, you’re never going to get left behind at the lights.
But if we’re talking about all-round ability, then the master must surely be the Volkswagen Golf GTI. While perhaps not quite as exciting as the best hot hatches, the GTI’s grippy, confidence-inspiring nature and gutsy engine make it great fun on a back road.
And when you’re not hooning around like your hair’s on fire, the GTI is like any other Golf: comfortable, fast, roomy, well built, and easy to live with.
The Golf has just celebrated its 50th anniversary, and in that time there have been eight different GTI models – some better than others. But the seventh generation is widely acknowledged to be one of the model’s high water marks, and nowadays it’s starting to look distinctly affordable.
For £18,500, I unearthed a 2019 GTI Performance with 40,000 miles. Now, that might not look all that cheap compared with the Focus above – but look at what you’re getting.
For one thing, that DSG automatic gearbox adds value, as does the Performance pack with which this particular GTI is fitted, which means a 227bhp 2.0-litre turbo engine, a limited-slip differential, and bigger brakes than the standard car, all of which give it a bit of extra edge by comparison – and result in a 6.4-second 0-62mph time.
No wonder CarGurus rates this particular example as being on for a whopping £2,577 less than its IMV – a spectacular saving that makes this one of the best-value GTIs on the market today.
The Golf is pretty upmarket, so it should do a good job of impressing the neighbours. But what if you want something that really makes them green with envy? Well, how about a hot hatch that wears the three-pointed star on its nose?
The Mercedes-Benz A35 AMG should do the trick. Smooth, suave, and devilishly quick, the A35 is a more refined alternative to the ballistic A45 S, and while it doesn’t have quite as much power, it’s a much more usable proposition.
That’s not to say that the A35 isn’t quick. Its 2.0-litre engine produces 302bhp and allows the A35 to sprint to 62mph in just 4.7 seconds; pair that with a deliciously agile chassis and one of the smartest interiors of any hot hatch, and it isn’t hard to see why the A35 commands a premium over the other cars here.
The example I found is particularly tempting; with just 15,000 miles on the clock, it should feel largely like a new car to drive. Yet priced at £26,078, it’s £2,323 less than its CarGurus IMV.
Which one to choose? Well, there’s no wrong answer here – these are all great cars that you’d be proud to own. But I reckon I’d spend my money on that raffish Ford Focus ST – it’s the most exhilarating car here, and for the price, I can’t think of many other cars this modern that’ll make you smile quite as hard.