Last updated September 11, 2025 by
Tom Wiltshire
Best cheap hot hatches of 2025
Hot hatchbacks have always been popular for their combination of an accessible price, practical body and impressive performance - but the latest models can often stretch the definition of one of those. You see, while cars such as the Toyota GR Yaris, Volkswagen Golf R and Mercedes-AMG A45 are all amazing cars, they’re also rather pricey.
That’s where the cars on this list come in. They may not have the outright pace or incredible stats of the best hot hatchbacks, but they offer a good portion of the thrills for a fraction of the price.
In many cases, they’re actually easier to live with day-to-day as well. The Mini Cooper S isn’t as quick as the full fat Mini Cooper JCW, for example - but it won’t rattle your teeth out if you go over a bumpy road, either. Ditto the Skoda Octavia vRS, which is similar to the Volkswagen Golf GTI under the skin but is a little cheaper and a whole heap more practical thanks to its massive boot.
And it’s not that the cheap hot hatchbacks on this list are particularly slow, either. In fact, it’s only the rapid pace of modern cars that makes them seem that way - compare their top speeds or 0-62mph times to cars from a decade ago and many of them come out very favourably.
Our expert road testing team has driven all the latest models so we can recommend the following cheap hot hatchbacks to you. You might not get 100% of the thrills you’d find in one of the best sports cars or best hot hatchbacks, but these bargain performance machines are still great cars in their own right.
2025
Urban Living Award
Highly Commended
1. Mini Cooper S
MINI Cooper review
Best for: the baby hot hatch experience
Mini’s electric models might be making all the headlines but there’s still plenty to like about the petrol Mini Cooper - not least that you can get the powerful Cooper S model for less than £30,000. With over 200hp on tap, this certainly isn’t a slow car - 0-62mph takes just 6.6s, which is thoroughly respectable.
All of that power is wrapped up in a dinky three-door body - in fact, the Cooper is one of the last three-door hatchbacks you can still buy, though a five-door model is available if you need a bit more practicality. There’s loads of appeal in the Mini’s retro silhouette, expressive round headlights and small dimensions.
That appeal continues on the inside, where retro meets futuristic in considerable style. The cabin is dominated by a huge circular display, which apes the central speedometer of Minis past but offers a full infotainment experience. You suffer a bit for style - there’s no driver information display, for example, with speed and other info crammed into the top of the screen. You also feel the limitations of the circular shape when you try to use the resolutely square Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, too.
Other compromises will be familiar to any Mini owner, but don’t expect to be taking the whole family away for the weekend in a Cooper. The rear seats are cramped and the boot is tiny.
These complaints soon melt away when you drive it on a good road, though. The Cooper S takes corners very keenly, with quick, darty steering and a playful driving experience. It’s a shame that you can’t get one with a manual gearbox any more, though - and that you don’t even get gearshift paddles unless you opt for the more expensive Sport model.
Mini’s electric models might be making all the headlines but there’s still plenty to like about the petrol Mini Cooper - not least that you can get the powerful Cooper S model for less than £30,000. With over 200hp on tap, this certainly isn’t a slow car - 0-62mph takes just 6.6s, which is thoroughly respectable.
All of that power is wrapped up in a dinky three-door body - in fact, the Cooper is one of the last three-door hatchbacks you can still buy, though a five-door model is available if you need a bit more practicality. There’s loads of appeal in the Mini’s retro silhouette, expressive round headlights and small dimensions.
That appeal continues on the inside, where retro meets futuristic in considerable style. The cabin is dominated by a huge circular display, which apes the central speedometer of Minis past but offers a full infotainment experience. You suffer a bit for style - there’s no driver information display, for example, with speed and other info crammed into the top of the screen. You also feel the limitations of the circular shape when you try to use the resolutely square Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, too.
Other compromises will be familiar to any Mini owner, but don’t expect to be taking the whole family away for the weekend in a Cooper. The rear seats are cramped and the boot is tiny.
These complaints soon melt away when you drive it on a good road, though. The Cooper S takes corners very keenly, with quick, darty steering and a playful driving experience. It’s a shame that you can’t get one with a manual gearbox any more, though - and that you don’t even get gearshift paddles unless you opt for the more expensive Sport model.
Best for: maturity
Nobody’s ever going to accuse the Volkswagen Polo GTI of being too wild. It’s like the college athlete who’s great at sports but never lets their hair down once they’re off the pitch. But, if your idea of a good time is a car that’s more discreet than it is shouty, the Polo GTI is an excellent fast family chariot.
The 2.0-litre petrol engine provides plenty of power, a boisterous exhaust noise and a 0-62mph sprint of just 6.5 seconds. In the corners, it’s not as exciting as a Mini Cooper S - it leans towards safe and steady more than it does fun and enjoyable - but it still feels stable at speed and grips keenly when you turn in.
It’s also far more practical as an everyday car than the Mini. The Polo’s rear seats can accommodate six-foot adults, and the 305-litre boot will easily take a week’s shop or a couple of big suitcases.
Up front, it’s similarly spacious, with loads of storage and a sensibly laid-out dashboard. You get some nicely supportive sports seats and a few flashes of red trim but otherwise it’s typical Polo - which means it’s beautifully screwed-together in typical Volkswagen fashion but doesn’t quite feel plush enough for a £30,000 car.
The VW Polo GTI isn’t the most exciting hot hatchback you could buy, but if what you’re really after is a small car that can do double duty as your daily driver and still be a bit of a laugh on a good back road, then it’s an excellent option.
Nobody’s ever going to accuse the Volkswagen Polo GTI of being too wild. It’s like the college athlete who’s great at sports but never lets their hair down once they’re off the pitch. But, if your idea of a good time is a car that’s more discreet than it is shouty, the Polo GTI is an excellent fast family chariot.
The 2.0-litre petrol engine provides plenty of power, a boisterous exhaust noise and a 0-62mph sprint of just 6.5 seconds. In the corners, it’s not as exciting as a Mini Cooper S - it leans towards safe and steady more than it does fun and enjoyable - but it still feels stable at speed and grips keenly when you turn in.
It’s also far more practical as an everyday car than the Mini. The Polo’s rear seats can accommodate six-foot adults, and the 305-litre boot will easily take a week’s shop or a couple of big suitcases.
Up front, it’s similarly spacious, with loads of storage and a sensibly laid-out dashboard. You get some nicely supportive sports seats and a few flashes of red trim but otherwise it’s typical Polo - which means it’s beautifully screwed-together in typical Volkswagen fashion but doesn’t quite feel plush enough for a £30,000 car.
The VW Polo GTI isn’t the most exciting hot hatchback you could buy, but if what you’re really after is a small car that can do double duty as your daily driver and still be a bit of a laugh on a good back road, then it’s an excellent option.
Battery range up to 226 miles
Best for: standing out from the other EVs
The Alpine A290 is based on the Renault 5, which is already a fantastic small electric car that’s great to drive. The Alpine variant turns up the volume with more power and an achingly cool makeover both inside and out, and while the result is pricier than the otherwise excellent Renault 5 it’s a transformation that really works.
The most obvious difference to the styling is at the front, where the A290 has a reprofiled bumper and has moved the daytime running lights from the bumper to the front edge of the bonnet. They have an X motif and look just like foglights on a rally car.
With unique alloy wheel designs and paint colours, the Alpine is a lot more distinctive than you might expect considering just how much it shares with the Renault 5.
There are changes inside, too - sports seats and a gear selector that’s moved to the centre console from the steering column. That comes with an annoying issue, though - the Alpine A290 doesn’t have a single cupholder, which is likely to grate if you’re fond of a takeaway coffee.
There are two power outputs available across four trim levels but all cost less than £40,000 which means they’re eligible for the UK government’s EV grant, providing a useful cost saving. The A290 doesn’t feel rabidly quick, nor does it take corners like a supercar - but it has an excellent level of performance that can be used effectively on real roads without feeling like you’re going to get a speeding ticket.
The Alpine A290 is based on the Renault 5, which is already a fantastic small electric car that’s great to drive. The Alpine variant turns up the volume with more power and an achingly cool makeover both inside and out, and while the result is pricier than the otherwise excellent Renault 5 it’s a transformation that really works.
The most obvious difference to the styling is at the front, where the A290 has a reprofiled bumper and has moved the daytime running lights from the bumper to the front edge of the bonnet. They have an X motif and look just like foglights on a rally car.
With unique alloy wheel designs and paint colours, the Alpine is a lot more distinctive than you might expect considering just how much it shares with the Renault 5.
There are changes inside, too - sports seats and a gear selector that’s moved to the centre console from the steering column. That comes with an annoying issue, though - the Alpine A290 doesn’t have a single cupholder, which is likely to grate if you’re fond of a takeaway coffee.
There are two power outputs available across four trim levels but all cost less than £40,000 which means they’re eligible for the UK government’s EV grant, providing a useful cost saving. The A290 doesn’t feel rabidly quick, nor does it take corners like a supercar - but it has an excellent level of performance that can be used effectively on real roads without feeling like you’re going to get a speeding ticket.
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Best for: boot space
We’re pushing the envelope here, because the Ford Puma ST is definitely an SUV rather than a hatchback - but it’s a small car, with a practical shape, that’s been worked over by performance gurus at Ford’s HQ, so we think it counts. It’s also great value considering the space and performance on offer.
Earlier on in the Puma’s lifespan, you could get the ST with a 1.5-litre, 200hp engine - but that’s no longer the case. Versions now get a 1.0-litre mild hybrid engine with 170hp, and an automatic gearbox as standard. The result feels a little less urgent and zippy than you might like from a hot hatchback, but 0-62mph still takes a respectable 7.4 seconds.
Ford has always been good at making ‘normal’ cars very enjoyable to drive and it’s no different with the Puma - the steering feels really natural and it’s fun to get a good rhythm going on a twisty back road. The letdowns are that the steering wheel is utterly mahoosive, that the automatic gearbox feels dimwitted, and that the suspension is far too stiff.
The truth is that you’ll have almost as much fun driving the ‘standard’ Puma with its 155hp engine - but that doesn’t have any hot hatch pretensions at all.
We’re pushing the envelope here, because the Ford Puma ST is definitely an SUV rather than a hatchback - but it’s a small car, with a practical shape, that’s been worked over by performance gurus at Ford’s HQ, so we think it counts. It’s also great value considering the space and performance on offer.
Earlier on in the Puma’s lifespan, you could get the ST with a 1.5-litre, 200hp engine - but that’s no longer the case. Versions now get a 1.0-litre mild hybrid engine with 170hp, and an automatic gearbox as standard. The result feels a little less urgent and zippy than you might like from a hot hatchback, but 0-62mph still takes a respectable 7.4 seconds.
Ford has always been good at making ‘normal’ cars very enjoyable to drive and it’s no different with the Puma - the steering feels really natural and it’s fun to get a good rhythm going on a twisty back road. The letdowns are that the steering wheel is utterly mahoosive, that the automatic gearbox feels dimwitted, and that the suspension is far too stiff.
The truth is that you’ll have almost as much fun driving the ‘standard’ Puma with its 155hp engine - but that doesn’t have any hot hatch pretensions at all.
Battery range up to 200 miles
Best for: being a bit silly
The Abarth 600e, like the Ford Puma ST, is technically an SUV rather than a hot hatchback - but we’re willing to forgive it because it embodies the spirit of hot hatchbacks so well. You see, it’s just a bit of a laugh.
Abarth’s done an excellent job of mean-ing up the styling of the friendly and rounded Fiat 600e, with striking alloy wheels, a massive roof spoiler and wider silhouette. The same goes for the inside, where top models get aggressive Sabelt seats. And unlike most electric cars, you can even hear the 600e coming - it has an external speaker that plays faux engine noises.
Top models are the ones to go for as they get a healthy 280hp as well as a limited-slip differential - all you need to know about that is that it allows the 600e to corner at frankly silly speeds without washing wide. Electric range takes a hit, and it’s not very comfy, but the Abarth 600e is a laugh a minute - and the whole range comes in under £40,000.
The Abarth 600e, like the Ford Puma ST, is technically an SUV rather than a hot hatchback - but we’re willing to forgive it because it embodies the spirit of hot hatchbacks so well. You see, it’s just a bit of a laugh.
Abarth’s done an excellent job of mean-ing up the styling of the friendly and rounded Fiat 600e, with striking alloy wheels, a massive roof spoiler and wider silhouette. The same goes for the inside, where top models get aggressive Sabelt seats. And unlike most electric cars, you can even hear the 600e coming - it has an external speaker that plays faux engine noises.
Top models are the ones to go for as they get a healthy 280hp as well as a limited-slip differential - all you need to know about that is that it allows the 600e to corner at frankly silly speeds without washing wide. Electric range takes a hit, and it’s not very comfy, but the Abarth 600e is a laugh a minute - and the whole range comes in under £40,000.
Best for: sheer space
It’s not that the Skoda Octavia vRS is a cheap car - but it’s the cheapest of the performance cars in its ‘family’ at just over £39,000 and so deserves a mention. The VW Golf GTI, Cupra Leon and Audi S3 all share their underpinnings with the Octavia, but Skoda has done what Skoda does best - it’s made it bigger and cheaper.
To that end, the Octavia vRS gets a huge boot and space in the back seats for even tall adults to lounge, making it a true family car closer to the size of a Volkswagen Passat than it is a Golf. But you still get the classic hot hatch trappings - a sporty bodykit, figure-hugging front seats, and a 265hp engine that can do 0-62mph in just 6.4 seconds.
It’s an incredibly usable everyday car, even if some of the interior trim feels a bit cheap and the touchscreen can be vexing to use. As an all-rounder, few models can touch it.
It’s not that the Skoda Octavia vRS is a cheap car - but it’s the cheapest of the performance cars in its ‘family’ at just over £39,000 and so deserves a mention. The VW Golf GTI, Cupra Leon and Audi S3 all share their underpinnings with the Octavia, but Skoda has done what Skoda does best - it’s made it bigger and cheaper.
To that end, the Octavia vRS gets a huge boot and space in the back seats for even tall adults to lounge, making it a true family car closer to the size of a Volkswagen Passat than it is a Golf. But you still get the classic hot hatch trappings - a sporty bodykit, figure-hugging front seats, and a 265hp engine that can do 0-62mph in just 6.4 seconds.
It’s an incredibly usable everyday car, even if some of the interior trim feels a bit cheap and the touchscreen can be vexing to use. As an all-rounder, few models can touch it.
Best for: style
A new all-electric Peugeot 208 GTI is on the cards, but until that’s launched you can get a little of that experience with the top-spec version of the standard car. If you opt for a 208 in plush GT trim it looks fantastic, even more so in the eye-catching Agueda Yellow paint colour.
And go for the most powerful petrol engine - the 1.2-litre self-charging hybrid with 145hp - and you get a reasonable amount of performance for a diddy car. The benchmark 0-62mph sprint takes 8.1 seconds, significantly slower than in proper performance cars on this list like the VW Polo GTI, but still swift enough to have fun.
Peugeot’s i-Cockpit driver layout gives you a small steering wheel and quick steering for an even sportier feel, and when you’re just pootling around town you can enjoy both the 208’s great fuel economy and its fantastically plush, upmarket interior. It’s a little on the expensive side for a non-performance hatchback, but this version in particular does seem worth it.
A new all-electric Peugeot 208 GTI is on the cards, but until that’s launched you can get a little of that experience with the top-spec version of the standard car. If you opt for a 208 in plush GT trim it looks fantastic, even more so in the eye-catching Agueda Yellow paint colour.
And go for the most powerful petrol engine - the 1.2-litre self-charging hybrid with 145hp - and you get a reasonable amount of performance for a diddy car. The benchmark 0-62mph sprint takes 8.1 seconds, significantly slower than in proper performance cars on this list like the VW Polo GTI, but still swift enough to have fun.
Peugeot’s i-Cockpit driver layout gives you a small steering wheel and quick steering for an even sportier feel, and when you’re just pootling around town you can enjoy both the 208’s great fuel economy and its fantastically plush, upmarket interior. It’s a little on the expensive side for a non-performance hatchback, but this version in particular does seem worth it.
Best for: everyday solidity
Like the Peugeot 208 above, the Audi A1 isn’t really a proper hot hatchback, but go for a specific model and it gets about seven-tenths of the way there. Spec your Audi A1 in S Line trim and you can have it with a 150hp four-cylinder petrol engine that matches the 208's 0-62mph time of 8.1 seconds. It’s usefully cheaper too, at less than £30,000 for a car with the Audi badge.
S Line trim also brings a sporty-looking bodykit, which makes the already classy and stylish A1 look a million bucks. You feel it on the inside too with supportive seats and a driver-focused dashboard that feels great to sit in.
And unlike a lot of cars on this list, the A1 gets a glut of physical controls for all the car’s main functions and to compliment the touchscreen infotainment system - so even if you’re blatting down a back road at speed, you can still change the cabin temperature easily.
Like the Peugeot 208 above, the Audi A1 isn’t really a proper hot hatchback, but go for a specific model and it gets about seven-tenths of the way there. Spec your Audi A1 in S Line trim and you can have it with a 150hp four-cylinder petrol engine that matches the 208's 0-62mph time of 8.1 seconds. It’s usefully cheaper too, at less than £30,000 for a car with the Audi badge.
S Line trim also brings a sporty-looking bodykit, which makes the already classy and stylish A1 look a million bucks. You feel it on the inside too with supportive seats and a driver-focused dashboard that feels great to sit in.
And unlike a lot of cars on this list, the A1 gets a glut of physical controls for all the car’s main functions and to compliment the touchscreen infotainment system - so even if you’re blatting down a back road at speed, you can still change the cabin temperature easily.
9. Abarth 500e
Abarth 500e review
Battery range up to 164 miles
Best for: city living
The 500e was Abarth’s first go at an electric hot hatchback and while it’s cheaper and arguably even more stylish than the 600e, it’s not exactly perfect. It’s based on the Fiat 500 so it has a tiny battery - expect around 140 miles to a full charge if you’re very careful, closer to 100 miles if you’re not.
You also get a cramped interior and comically small boot, but all of this is crammed into a really dinky body - perfect for driving and parking in tight city streets. In this environment, even the 500e’s fairly limited performance makes it great fun to drive.
Just make sure you turn off the noise generator. While it sounds quite cool in the newer 600e, in this 500e it’s more like a too-loud, annoying drone.
The 500e was Abarth’s first go at an electric hot hatchback and while it’s cheaper and arguably even more stylish than the 600e, it’s not exactly perfect. It’s based on the Fiat 500 so it has a tiny battery - expect around 140 miles to a full charge if you’re very careful, closer to 100 miles if you’re not.
You also get a cramped interior and comically small boot, but all of this is crammed into a really dinky body - perfect for driving and parking in tight city streets. In this environment, even the 500e’s fairly limited performance makes it great fun to drive.
Just make sure you turn off the noise generator. While it sounds quite cool in the newer 600e, in this 500e it’s more like a too-loud, annoying drone.
Battery range up to 248 miles
Best for: bragging rights
The MG4 is a fantastic electric car and offers outstanding value for money. In keeping with that ethos, the MG4 XPower offers just about the biggest bang:buck ratio you can buy today - it costs just under £37,000 but has a staggering 435hp on tap thanks to twin electric motors.
With all that power it can do 0-62mph in an astonishing 3.8 seconds, faster than many sports cars and the quickest on this list by a country mile. So why isn’t it higher up? Well, to put it simply, MG’s engineers seem to have fitted those beefy motors and then gone home for the day.
What you’re left with is a car that doesn’t feel like it can deal with its power - it squirms if you accelerate hard and still leans alarmingly in the corners. It’s amazing in a straight line, and you’ll be able to brag to all your mates at the pub about it - but it’s not very enjoyable to drive.
The MG4 is a fantastic electric car and offers outstanding value for money. In keeping with that ethos, the MG4 XPower offers just about the biggest bang:buck ratio you can buy today - it costs just under £37,000 but has a staggering 435hp on tap thanks to twin electric motors.
With all that power it can do 0-62mph in an astonishing 3.8 seconds, faster than many sports cars and the quickest on this list by a country mile. So why isn’t it higher up? Well, to put it simply, MG’s engineers seem to have fitted those beefy motors and then gone home for the day.
What you’re left with is a car that doesn’t feel like it can deal with its power - it squirms if you accelerate hard and still leans alarmingly in the corners. It’s amazing in a straight line, and you’ll be able to brag to all your mates at the pub about it - but it’s not very enjoyable to drive.
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Factors to consider when buying a cheap hot hatchback
How cheap is cheap?
None of the cars on this list are what we’d call properly ‘cheap’ - they start around the high £20,000s and go all the way up to nearly £40,000. If you’re really looking to save money, you should be checking out our list of the best cheap cars to see just how much you can get for your money elsewhere.
Is it better to buy used?
If you’ve got your heart set on a hot hatchback, then consider the used market. For the same price as most of the cars on this list you can get something much more potent and exciting. A 2021 Toyota GR Yaris, for example - a three-door, four-wheel drive rally-tuned monster that we reckon is one of the finest hot hatchbacks of all time, costs less than every car on this list.
Even going for a lightly used or delivery miles example could provide a useful cost saving, and don’t forget to see how much you can save with Á«»¨Ö±²¥â€™s best deals.
How practical does it need to be?
The current range of hot hatchbacks on sale are much more practical than they were a few years ago - nearly all of them have five doors and automatic gearboxes, for example. But with kerb-unfriendly alloy wheels, firm suspension and sometimes other practicality concessions in the name of performance, they’re still not always the most comfortable vehicles to use as daily drivers.
