Among hot hatches, the 2020 Honda Civic Type R stands particularly high. It’s the sportiest and most powerful Civic and heir to the iconic ‘Type R’ nameplate. But while that makes for an exhilarating driving experience, it also requires dealing with the Civic Type R’s drawbacks. In the 2020 Honda Civic Type R, ‘Comfort Mode’ …

With the death of the Fusion, Ford only has one passenger car remaining that isn’t a crossover or supercar: the Mustang. And while the pony car offers impressive speed, the automaker used to offer a wider performance selection. Only a few short years ago, Ford offered several hot hatches, like the Fiesta ST and Focus …

Classic styles aren’t limited to the 60s and 70s anymore, both for cars and motorcycles. As the rise of Radwood and the continuation of Hot Import Nights shows, the 80s and 90s are in, man. JDM vehicles are especially popular, and not just performance stars like the Skyline GT-R. Obscure models like the Autozam AZ-1 …

To many enthusiasts, ‘R32’ refers to Nissan Skyline GTRs. But it’s also the name of a Volkswagen: the Golf R32. Previewed by the Beetle RSi, the Volkswagen Golf R32 was a step up in performance from the GTI hot hatch. But does that justify spending $62,000 on a used one? 2004 Volkswagen Golf R32: background, …

Even among the high-power hot hatches, the Volkswagen Golf GTI is still a segment benchmark. Which makes sense, given that it did establish it in the 80s. And it’s so popular in the US that although we’re not getting the next-gen Golf, the GTI and Golf R are coming here. But is the 2022 Volkswagen …

It’s not just the Genesis brand and the Telluride that are fueling Hyundai’s rise. The Korean automaker’s hot hatch, the Veloster N, can compete with segment leaders like the Volkswagen GTI. But to keep up with models like the Honda Civic Type R, it still needs a bit more performance. Luckily, for 2021, Hyundai is …

The Golf name has adorned quite a few high-performance Volkswagens. And before the R, the fastest Golf was the all-wheel-drive R32. But before the hot hatch received its powertrain, another VW product tested it out first. Which led to one of the rarest, fastest, and priciest Volkswagen Beetles ever: the Beetle RSI. Volkswagen Beetle RSI …

Since the Ford Focus ST’s and Fiesta ST’s cancellation, American OEMs haven’t really offered a genuine hot hatch. However, even before those cars came out, Chevrolet was offering its own spin on the ‘sporty version of a regular car’ formula. The late-2000s HHR SS panel van is one such example. But arguably the closest thing …

While the John Cooper Works Minis are genuinely fast and fun, there are a few hot hatches that are even faster. For example, the recently-updated Honda Civic Type R. But for the hardcore driving enthusiast, there’s a new Mini Cooper available: the Mini Cooper JCW GP. And it’s seriously gunning for the Civic Type R’s …

Today, turbochargers are a standard part of the hot hatch formula. And some of the hottest, like the Golf R, rely on all-wheel drive for greater speed and traction. Both helped start the legends of cars like the Audi Ur-Quattro, Subaru WRX, and Mitsubishi Lancer Evo. But all 3 were hard-pressed to keep up with …

Ownership by BMW has taken Mini quite a bit from its beginnings. Although it still makes the Mini Cooper, the brand has expanded its offerings to include larger cars like the Countryman. And even though it also offers hybrids and EVs, Mini maintains some connections to its past. Particularly in the form of the Mini …

Newly sharpened for 2020, the Honda Civic Type R has proven to be one of the best hot hatches on sale today. It’s a fitting successor to the moniker started in the US by the Acura Integra Type R. However, today’s CTR approaches performance from a different perspective than the originals, eschewing high-revving naturally-aspirated engines …

You may have heard the term ‘hot hatch‘ before, and even if you know what some examples of hot hatches are you may not fully understand what the term means. Hot hatches are pretty uncommon, especially in the United States, but they have a lot to offer and are all-around great cars if you’re looking …

When the original Volkswagen GTI helped start the front-wheel-drive hot hatch segment, very few production vehicles had turbos. Only high-performance cars, or rally homologation specials, could afford to house them. Today, though, turbocharging is basically a hot hatch requirement. The Fiat 500 Abarth, Hyundai Veloster N, Civic Type R, and VW GTI all have turbocharged …

Although the Beetle eventually led to the Porsche 911, it’s the Golf that’s arguably more important to Volkswagen. Initially sold as the Rabbit in the US, the Golf has been used for everything from basic transportation to dual-engine Pikes Peak racer. Then there’s the Volkswagen GTI, which kick-started the hot hatch segment, creating rivals like …

Toyota seems to be slowly regaining its performance mojo. While the Avalon TRD isn’t terribly sporty, the Camry TRD can have some racetrack fun. Unfortunately, US enthusiasts can’t get their hands on the GR Yaris. Like the Celica GT4 before it, the GR Yaris is a true AWD homologation-special hot hatch. But because it’s so …

With Ford discontinuing the Fiesta ST and Focus ST, and the Fiat 500 Abarth gone too, the pool of US-market hot hatches has shrunk significantly. It’s down to the Honda Civic Type R, the Hyundai Veloster N, and the latest version of the original hot hatch, the VW GTI. However, thanks to the 25-year import …

Racing homologation specials are often significantly different than the cars they’re based on. Mitsubishi’s Lancer Evolution got a larger engine and all-wheel drive. The Toyota Celica GT4 got that, plus a factory water-injection system. The Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution, meanwhile, got a revised suspension, reinforced frame, limited-slip differentials, and Recaro seats. The Isuzu Vehicross, though, looked …