Every Hot Hatch On Sale In 2023

Originally debuting in the 70s and blowing up in popularity in the 80s, the hot hatch has become a popular mainstay in the car market. It was in Europe where the hot hatch market took off thanks to their compact size. The small roads of Europe offered the perfect opportunity for the hot hatch to flourish. Hot hatches offer a sensible daily commuter that is fun to drive and reasonably priced.

Cars like the Volkswagen Golf GTI and the discontinued Ford Escort GT helped to popularize the hot hatch. These cars proved that a sensible daily commuter does not have to be a boring car to drive. With plenty of zip and sporty handling, hot hatches act as a good starting point for more sporty rides.

Today, with the popularity of smaller SUVs, some automakers have turned away from the hot hatch. However, there are still plenty of terrific hot hatches left on the market. With plenty of options to choose from, the hot hatch market is still alive and well. With some exciting new additions to compete with the usual suspects, hot hatches are some of the most versatile cars on the market. Practical and fun to drive, here are some of the best-performing hot hatches available in 2023.

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7 2023 Volkswagen GTI

Price: $30,050

While there are plenty of hot hatches on the market, the Golf GTI has long been their poster boy. With its iconic style and reasonable price point, the GTI has earned its reputation as the king of the hatchback. It was one of the cars that popularized the hot hatch, and it remains popular today. With exceptional handling and tremendous cornering ability, the GTI is a joy to drive. It is a comfortable ride with plenty of power thanks to its four-cylinder turbocharged engine. The 2.0-liter engine produces 241 horsepower, which is plenty of power to keep the front-wheel drive GTI feeling like a sporty ride.

Performance Specs

With a seven-speed automatic transmission, and an optional six-speed manual transmission, the Golf GTI still remains the definitive hot hatch. Throughout its storied history, the GTI is no stranger to speed, and that continues with the 2023 GTI. The GTI has a respectable top speed of 155 miles per hour and a 0-60 time of 5.1 which is faster than competitors like the Civic R. However it is not the fastest Golf that that is offered with that honor going to the beefed up Golf R.

6 2023 Mini Cooper JCW

Price: $35,900

While the Golf GTI is the poster boy of the hot hatch market, the Mini Cooper has been offering compact sporty vehicles since the 1960s. Mini Coopers have long been popular rally cars, winning the Monte Carlo Rally three times. The road versions continued this legacy of success. This legacy for high performance continues with the 2023 Mini Cooper JCW. Under the hood, the JCW has a 228-horsepower turbocharged inline-four engine and front-wheel drive. With its snappy and quick responding handling, the JCW is a treat to drive.

Performance Specs

The JCW comes in both hardtop and convertible body styles. Both styles come with specially tuned suspension and upgraded brakes. The hard body style comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission and an optional automatic eight-speed. While the eight-speed automatic comes standard in the convertible.

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5 2023 Honda Civic Type R

Price: $44,890

After a one-year hiatus, the 2023 Honda Civic Type R returns with a vengeance. With a more refined look than its predecessor, the Type R is a sleek looking ride that improves on the base Civic design. The Type R has a larger chassis than its predecessor, but it has smaller 19-inch wheels and rear fixed wing. The front-wheel drive Type R has is also beefed up under the hood with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine.

Performance Specs

This four-cylinder produces 315 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque to make the Type R a beast on the track. The Type R possesses an upgraded six-speed manual transmission to account for the increased power. Honda also improved the brake cooling on the Type R by widening the front and rear tracks. With its refreshed and stylish exterior, and its exceptional performance, the Type R is an exciting addition to the 2023 hot hatch market.

4 2023 Volkswagen Golf R

Price: $44,740

Volkswagen is obviously no stranger to the hot hatch game thanks to the GTI, but that is not the only hatchback they offer. The Golf R is the GTI’s bigger, performance focused sibling. With a turbocharged 2.0 liter four-cylinder engine under the hood, the R is much more powerful than its sibling. The R’s engine produces 315 horsepower, which is over 70 more ponies than that of the GTI. The R also comes with all-wheel drive and can produce 315 pound-feet of torque.

Performance Specs

While it is more expensive, the GTI the R comes with a drift mode to make driving this beast of a hot hatch even more enjoyable. The R is also fitted with larger brakes than the GTI to accommodate for the extra power under the hood. The R is also a certified rocket with a top speed of 155 miles per hour and a 0-60 MPH speed of a blisteringly fast 3.9 seconds. This impressive 0-60 time that is a 1.2 seconds faster than the GTI makes the Golf R a force in the hot hatch game.

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3 2023 Toyota GR Corolla

Price: $35,900

While the name Corolla brings up images of Toyota’s mundane daily driver, this Corolla is a different beast altogether. The GR is the Corolla that took all its vitamins growing up, and it shows in its exceptional performance. Under the hood of the GR is an impressive turbocharged 1.6 liter three-cylinder engine that produces 300 horsepower.

Performance Specs

The GR features a multi-mode all-wheel drive system and sport-tuned suspension to make it a little rocket. With this power, the GR is capable of keeping pace with the likes of the Civic R and the Golf R. Agile and swift, the GR comes with a manual six-speed transmission. Even with the added power, the GR remains a comfortable ride even on long car drives. The GR is the pinnacle of performance in Toyota’s Corolla lineup.

2 2023 Mazda3 Turbo Hatchback

Price: $32,450

Though it’s not marketed as a hot hatch, the Mazda3 Turbo Hatchback more than holds its own on the hot hatch market. The Turbo Hatchback is a premium feeling compact car that is capable of punching out of its weight class. Under the hood, the Turbo has a 2.5 liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 227 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque.

Performance Specs

The Turbo comes standard with all-wheel drive, an option that is not available on the Mazada3’s base trims. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard with all Turbo trims. Crisp and responsive handling make the Turbo an impressive addition to the hot hatch market. With plenty of power and a premium feel, the Turbo is a fantastic hot hatch that is available for a price that won’t break the bank.

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1 2024 Acura Integra Type S

Price: $50,800

A new addition to the market for 2024, the Integra Type S is an exciting new addition to the hatchback market. The Type S is an impressive compact sports car that is essentially a Honda Civic Type R that got refined and tailored into a gentlemen’s car. With all the fun and agility of the Civic Type R, the Integra Type S is more elegant than its energetic sibling.

Performance Specs

However, this enhanced elegance doesn’t mean that the Integra Type S is a snooze to drive, far from it. With a powerful 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine that outputs 320 horsepower, this compact front-wheel drive sports car has plenty of power to make even the most mundane commutes exciting. Though it has a hefty price tag, this hot hatch is the perfect balance between elegance and excitement.