Sporty yet practical; business in the front, and junk in the trunk.
Hatchbacks are more popular than ever, feeding off of the craze of the SUV revolution. Most brands are offering hatchbacks these days to cater to people’s ridiculous need to be practical and have enough space for trips to IKEA and family vacations. Lucky for us, car companies have still kept us enthusiasts in mind, giving us some suped up hatches to put the fun back in daily(fun)driving.
Here are my Top 10 Hatchbacks you can pickup today!
10. Fiat 500 Abarth
Engine: 1.4 L 4-cylinder
Horsepower: 160 hp
Torque: 202 lb-ft
Curb weight: 2,512 lbs
MPG: 28 city / 33 highway
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Fun, Lightweight, and straightpiped from the factory. What the Fiat 500 Abarth lacks in reliability, it makes up for in smiles per gallon. It is by no means a speed demon, but you'll find yourself having the time of your life ringing out the gears in this 160 hp 5-speed manual clown car.
9. Hyundai Veloster Turbo N
Engine: 2.0 L 4-cylinder
Horsepower: 275 hp
Torque: 260 lb-ft
Curb weight: 3,036 lbs
MPG: 22 city / 28 highway
Transmission: 6-speed manual
The Hyundai Veloster Turbo N is a great hatch from a growing brand. Due to Hyundai still not being recognized as a top tier performance brand, you can drive this hatch under the radar, ready to jump all over everyone else at the stoplights. The Veloster and Genesis vehicle lines show that Hyundai is in it to compete with the best and is a force to be reckoned with moving forward.
8. Volvo c30 t5
Engine: 2.5 L 5-cylinder
Horsepower: 227 hp (250 w/ automatic)
Torque: 236 lb-ft
Curb weight: 3,200 lbs
MPG: 21 city / 29 highway
Transmission: 6-speed manual
The flagship brand for reliability, the Volvo C30 T5 provides a sporty, hot hatch and a safe family vehicle all in one neat little package. You don't usually associate Volvo with a fun driving experience; then again, you don't usually drive a C30 T5 either.
7. Mini Cooper JCW
Engine: 2.0 L 4-cylinder
Horsepower: 228 hp
Torque: 236 lb-ft
Curb weight: 2,845 lbs
MPG: 23 city / 32 highway
Transmission: 6-speed manual
The front wheel drive BMW. This means you can count on all the performance from the Bavarian auto group, as well as all of the higher maintenance costs that come with German Automobiles. Stay away from the Automatic transmission, and you should be able to keep annual maintenance costs down.
6. Fiesta ST
Engine: 1.6 L 4-cylinder
Horsepower: 197 hp
Torque: 202 lb-ft
Curb weight: 2,720 lbs
MPG: 25 city / 32 highway
Transmission: 6-speed manual
The little brother to the bigger Focus ST, the Fiesta is a feisty little hatch ready to hang with the big boys. While it may not reach the 200 hp mark, the 2,700 lb ST is still a fun, toss-able hatch that will save your wallet with its 32 mpg fuel rating!
5. MazdaSpeed3
Engine: 2.3 L 4-cylinder
Horsepower: 263 hp
Torque: 280 lb-ft
Curb weight: 3,281 lbs
MPG: 18 city / 25 highway
Transmission: 6-speed manual
The king of Torque-steer graces us with it's presence at Number 5. The Mazdaspeed 3 is an aggressive looking hatch that all of us car enthusiasts are begging Mazda to bring back. With 280 ft lb of Torque being produced by the 2.3 l turbocharged 4 banger, it'll take quite a bit of effort to keep this bad boy on the road when putting the pedal to the metal.
4. Subaru WRX/STI
Engine: 2.5 L 4-cylinder
Horsepower: 305 hp
Torque: 270 lb-ft
Curb weight: 3,373 lbs
MPG: 17 city / 23 highway
The STI is the staple Hatch for anyone living up north, where AWD is basically a necessity. The STI comes with it's signature 2.5 l turbocharged boxer engine putting down an impressive 305 hp. With a low center of gravity due to the configuration of the flat engine, it is the perfect vehicle to go from a family trip into the mountains to an afternoon canyon run.Just know that you'll have to break out your vapes and brace yourself for the inevitable "Subee" tax if you choose to add this vehicle to your arsenal.
3. Focus ST
Engine: 2.0 L 4-cylinder
Horsepower: 252 hp
Torque: 270 lb-ft
Curb weight: 3,223 lbs
MPG: 22 city / 30 highway
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Coming in at #3 is Big Brother, the Focus ST. Being labeled the "Mature Fiesta ST" by automotive journalists, it bring an upgraded, more grown-up driving experience. Since, the Focus is around 500 lbs heavier than the Fiesta, it is not as toss-able around corners. but definitely receives the edge in power and acceleration. With the ability to acheive 30 hwy mpg, this hot hatch can definitely help you save at the pump (if you can restrain yourself).
2. Volkswagen Golf R
Engine: 2.0 L 4-cylinder
Horsepower: 288 hp
Torque: 280 lb-ft
Curb weight: 3,300 lbs
MPG: 21 city / 29 highway
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Volkwagen has continued to produce some of the best hatchbacks in the automotive industry under the Golf name. The German auto group has mastered the ability to refine the hathcback, providing a more fulfilling driving experience. With 140 more Hp than the base Golf and the addition of AWD, the Golf R gives the VW faithfuls the chance to hang with some of the top performance cars you see on the road today. The one major downfall with the Golf is the cost of repairs due to a slightly higher price per part and over complicated configuration of the drive-train (Germans, am I right?). But do the right preventative maintenance and this car will be a great investment.
1. Honda Civic Type R
Engine: 2.0 L 4-cylinder
Horsepower: 306 hp
Torque: 295 lb-ft
Curb weight: 3,117 lbs
MPG: 22 city / 28 highway
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Topping the list is the one and only Honda Civic Type R. This hot hatch finally makes Honda a relevant competitor in the performance market since the discontinuation of the S2000. The Si has been under-performing since the early 2000's and the Type R has made the brand relevant again in the eyes of enthusiasts. Honda provides the reliability you want out of a daily driver, the ease to wrench on the car in your own driveway,and the performance of a track-focused beast. Get your hands on one of these if you really want to experience the best of both worlds.
These are my top 10 hatches, what are yours?
Let me know what you'd like to read about next! Until next time, Keep it Steemy!!