10 Compact Cars That Pack Serious Power

Decades and decades ago, if you wanted to buy a performance car, you had to make some compromises. Most of those compromises centered around practicality and fuel efficiency, as performance cars tended to have only two doors, they rarely had rear seats, and their cargo space was nothing to write home about. They were also prohibitively expensive for most.

But then, the advent of hot hatchbacks in the 1970s changed the course of performance cars forever. These little bundles of fun had more power and better dynamic capabilities, but they didn’t sacrifice any of the things that made their regular counterparts so good. Nowadays, hot hatchbacks and fast compact cars are serious business, and there are some compacts out there that also pack a serious punch.

10 2022 Volkswagen Golf R

The first time we saw an R badge on a VW Golf was the Mk4, with the future classic R32 and its fabulous VR6 engine. Sadly, emissions regulations made it impossible for such a car to continue well into the 2010s, but the replacement Golf R definitely honors the name. The Mk8 arrived in North America a couple of years ago, and alongside the GTI, it’s one of only two ways you can have a Golf in the States and Canada.

RELATED: 2012-2014 Volkswagen Golf R: Prices, Specs, And Features

Power comes from the familiar EA888 2.0-liter turbocharged I4, which gives the Golf R some truly excellent performance figures. You can also have it with a manual or quick-shifting dual-clutch automatic transmission, and as ever, AWD is standard for the best possible dynamic capabilities. The Golf R really is a car that every self-respecting gearhead should drive.

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9 2020 Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 S

Mercedes’ AMG department has almost always focused on the things that they do best: big V8 sedans and wagons with a serious (tire) smoking habit. However, in the early 2010s, they finally joined the fast compact car craze with the A45 AMG and the CLA45 AMG, the latter of which was the only one of the two available in North America.

The latest AMG CLA 45 S has been on the market for a couple of years, being the more stylish cousin to the A-Class, which is only available as a sedan in North America, and there’s so much to love about it. It features the most powerful production four-cylinder engine you can currently buy, plus AWD and a quick-shifting automatic transmission. All of that results in performance that can make some sports cars blush.

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8 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X FQ-400

At its core, the Mitsubishi Evo was just a fast, rally-bred compact car. However, due to the engine’s insane ability to handle heaps and heaps of horsepower, Mitsubishi had a slew of special edition models with increasingly ridiculous power outputs. One of the best examples of this was the Evo X FQ-400.

Back in the day, there was a lot of controversy surrounding the underrated Evo X due to it being the first ever Evo to not use the 4G63 turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Despite the 4B11 switching to an aluminum block, Mitsubishi went ahead and proved that the Evo X is just as good at making massive power from a relatively small engine as its ancestors. This was a compact car with over 400 hp before it was cool.

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7 2018-2023 Mini John Cooper Works Countryman

While the Mini Cooper is good at all sorts of things, practicality isn’t really one of them. The Mini is perhaps a little infamous for having a small back seat, and the cargo area isn’t particularly cavernous either. One of the ways that Mini tried to remedy this, and succeeded, is with the excellent Countryman.

The Countryman is a small crossover that looks like a Mini, and as a result, offers all the character that its smaller cousin has, but with a lot more practicality and versatility. Of course, the Countryman also offers the same fun driving experience, and the John Cooper Works model is the most powerful regular production Mini you can buy.

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6 2023 Audi RS3 performance

Currently, there is only one performance car you can buy that has a five-cylinder engine, and that’s the Audi RS3. Despite tightening emissions regulations and a changing performance car landscape, the latest Audi RS3 still uses the trusty 2.5-liter turbocharged I5 engine.

RELATED: 10 Reasons Why The Audi RS3 Is A Glorious Performance Car Bargain Every Gearhead Should Drive

All of that is wrapped up in a surprisingly attractive sedan or hatchback body, and it’s paired with the excellent Quattro AWD and a quick-shifting DSG automatic transmission. To sweeten the deal even more, Audi recently released an RS3 performance. Because, you know, the regular one wasn’t powerful enough. We think that the RS3 belongs in every gearhead’s car collection.

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5 2023 Acura Integra Type S

After years of waning sales for the smallest ILX, Acura decided to replace it with something different, while reviving an iconic nameplate from their history. Ever since the new Integra went on sale, it has been a hot topic for enthusiasts everywhere, for good and bad. This is especially true of the Type S.

Obviously, it’s the Acura counterpart to the new Honda Civic Type R. As well as a slightly bigger focus on luxury, the Integra Type S features surprisingly attractive and undeniably more subtle styling, and a powerhouse of a turbocharged I4 under the hood. Look past all the judgments about the number of doors and the badging, and the Type S is a compelling compact performance car package.

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4 2023 Toyota GR Corolla

Toyota surprised virtually everyone by taking their performance cars to the next level with the GR Yaris. The homologation special Yaris featured a bespoke three-door body, rally-bred AWD, and a boosted three-cylinder engine making over 250 hp. Unfortunately and perhaps predictably, the US and Canada never got the GR Yaris, but Toyota was quick to prepare a consolation prize.

That prize comes in the form of the GR Corolla. Based on the Corolla hatchback, it features a widened body, and the same turbocharged three-cylinder engine and GR-FOUR AWD system as the Yaris, but it’s more practical and has even more power. To make it even better, the hardcore limited Morizo Edition removes the rear seats, and for 2024, you can get a Circuit Edition. It’s just a shame that it’s one of the biggest victims of relentless dealer markups and shameless auction website flipping.

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3 2023 MG 4 XPower

The Chinese-owned MG Motor is doing the rounds in just about every one of the global automotive markets. They offer fantastic value for money, great post-sales support, and surprisingly compelling cars that you can buy with your heart as well as your head. The best example of this right now has to be the MG 4 electric hatchback.

This Volkswagen ID.3 competitor does a lot of things better than its German nemesis but at a much lower price. MG recently announced the hot hatch version of the MG 4, which revives the XPower name from the brand’s history. Powered by two electric motors and a 61.7 kWh battery, the MG 4 XPower is the fastest-accelerating and most powerful car in the brand’s history.

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2 2023 BMW M2

It may not be a compact hatchback in the true sense of the word, but the size of the BMW M2 definitely makes it a compact car, and one of the best ones that money can buy. Admittedly, that money isn’t exactly a small amount, but it’s well worth it. The second generation M2 recently hit the market, based on the latest 2 Series Coupe.

RELATED: Find Out If The New BMW M2 Can Compete With Modern Sports Cars

Powered by the familiar S58 3.0-liter twin-turbo six-cylinder engine, borrowed straight from the M3 and M4, the M2 is significantly more powerful than the model it replaces. This means it’s faster, of course, but it’s still a proper old-school performance car: you can still get it with RWD and an old-fashioned manual transmission. Overall, it’s a fantastic driver’s car.

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1 2016 Ford Focus RS

While we didn’t know it at the time, this would be the last time we would see the blue RS badge appear on the back of a Ford Focus. This was the first and only generation to be officially sold in the United States, and for this one, Ford decided to go absolutely all out. Luckily, they switched to a more practical four-door body style.

The Mk3 Focus RS, as it’s known, made it abundantly clear that it means business. It offered some unapologetically bright colors you couldn’t get on the standard Focus, and the aerodynamic upgrades spoke for themselves. Powered by a 2.3-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder paired up with AWD, the Focus RS was one of the best-performing hot hatchbacks ever. It has also managed to completely evade depreciation.

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