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We look at the best hot hatchbacks available to buy for under £5,000.
Hatchbacks are one of the most popular body types of cars. This is because a hatchback perfectly blends practicality with performance. This means that many kinds of hatchbacks are available on the second-hand market at various price points.
Hatchbacks are usually more prevalent in built-up areas like large towns and cities due to their smaller size and manoeuvrability. Still, their increased boot size also makes them a great option if you’re more rural and need good cargo space.
Here’s a look at some of the best hot hatchbacks that can be bought online for under £5,000.
This article lists hot hatchbacks, a sub-section of the hatchback body type, so it’s essential to understand the difference and what makes a hot hatchback before comparing the various options.
In the simplest terms, a hot hatchback is a hatchback that is high-performance and has good specs in terms of its driveability and power. This makes hot matches very popular among drivers, as they’re fun to drive and can be used in various situations.
Hot hatches, as they’re more casually known, usually have larger, more powerful engines and spirited handling to provide this boost in performance.
The Renault Sport Clio is a good, reliable, average-performing hot hatchback that sets a good benchmark for the quality you should look for when getting a hot hatchback.
The car uses a turbo engine to give it a bit more oomph, making it a pretty snappy, fun drive while also having multiple practical features. The car is pretty lively to drive, and while some might consider that a bit erratic, others will find it thrilling.
The Renault Clio has gone through multiple iterations in the past, with each new variant having a slight tweak and change that has helped it evolve into a reliable hot hatchback. Its modern cars can get to 62mph in a fairly snappy 12.8 seconds; however, this is a bit slower than some other hot hatchbacks on the market.
It’s a comfortable car to drive and has a smooth suspension when on good roads. However, it can struggle if you’re taking bumpy roads and doesn’t do as good a job smoothing out the experience as other options.
With everything considered, this is why the Renault Sport Clio is a solid benchmark, as it’s a reliable, good car with not too many faults, but it also doesn’t offer anything spectacular. It’s a good price, with it being relatively easy to find one well under £5,000.
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The Honda Civic is a slightly bigger hot hatchback designed for family life. Over the years, the Honda Civic has always prioritised fuel efficiency, with it being a core value of the car since its first iteration in 1973.
The Honda Civic isn’t just a hatchback, however, with there being multiple versions in a saloon style too. However, we at Car Adviser think the hot hatchback variety is the best, as it seamlessly blends practicality with style and driving prowess.
It’s much faster than the Renault Clio Sport, boasting an acceleration time of 6.8 seconds to get to 60mph, making it almost twice as quick as the Clio sport.
It’s a fairly quiet car, too, with a comfortable enough ride, although some other hatchback options are noticeably smoother at high speeds.
The biggest plus of the Honda Civic is its practicality, as there’s plenty of storage space and room within the cockpit. Plus, when you get it as a hatchback, you also get increased boot space, which is a nice benefit. The only slight issue is that the Honda Civic has a roof that slants towards the rear, making it slightly uncomfortable for larger passengers.
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Nothing is more iconic in the UK than the Mini Copper when talking about small yet powerful cars. The Mini Copper S exemplifies this, as it’s a small car that can fit into tight gaps and also manoeuvres with neat control and a bit of enthusiasm.
For many people, The Mini Copper S is one of the most fun hatchbacks to drive. However, you do sacrifice practicality for that pleasure. Many older models, which are the ones you’re going to find online for under £5,000, will be pretty compact and struggle to fit a family of four comfortably. However, if you’re willing to increase your budget, it is possible to get a more modern one with an increase in size.
Still, you’ll struggle with adequate boot space, making this hatchback better suited for nipping around congested areas to get to work and other appointments. The Mini Copper S can be rough when driving, as it tends to jolt you about if you’re on uneven roads at speed. Still, the car has a small turning circle, giving it excellent manoeuvrability that will delight many drivers.
The Mini Cooper is a classic for a reason, and the Mini Copper S is an excellent option if you have a smaller budget and want it to stretch.
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The Renault Sport Megane is a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to hot hatchbacks. For starters, it’s a mix of an estate car and a hatchback, as it has an extended roof that elongates the vehicle and gives it a more slender look than most hatchbacks. This means that it is larger and has more room from increased practicality, but it isn’t as nippy or fun as other hatchbacks.
The Sport Megane feels like a car stuck between two forms and can make it feel unsure of what it wants to be. That said, it’s still an excellent option for those looking for a budget hot hatchback, as it performs well and has a good mixture of speed and size.
The car has an urgent acceleration, especially at lower speeds, giving you a nice jolt of excitement when driving it. It also suppresses wind and other road noises very well, making it a very comfortable and quiet drive. It also has outstanding emissions, and modern versions of the car come with a hybrid option that’s excellent for ULEZ areas.
The biggest issue with this vehicle is that the steering isn’t as responsive or tight as some other hatchbacks. In fact, as hot hatchbacks are classified by their excellent and fun steering, the Sport Megane and its weak steering is a big issue and makes it one of the weaker hot hatchbacks available.
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The Volkswagen Golf GTI is the gold standard of hot hatchbacks and is the one car that defines this type of vehicle.
One of the most significant selling points for the Golf GTI is that it suits everyone, which is hard for a car to achieve. It has the right level of practical features to please a family, it is compact and handles tight enough to be great for those inner-city drivers, and it also boasts a good deal of power and fun for those who like hatchbacks for that reason.
The Golf GTI has great agility but achieves that without being demanding or hard to drive. It has a great suspension which can make all kinds of roads feel supple, giving you a comfortable drive. It also works great for long distances and has a decent fuel economy.
There’s nothing really to hate or dislike about the Golf GTI. It ticks all the boxes and performs well in every aspect, making it a reliable and safe vehicle with a tonne of flexibility.
Getting a quality Golf GTI on the second-hand market for under £5,000 can be tricky. However, there are great options available if you’re patient. That said, you can also get a VW Golf GTI through finance on websites like Cazoo, which gives you modern second-hand cars with alternative payment options.
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Ford is a manufacturer that has constantly made good hot hatchbacks over the years, and the Focus ST is no different. This solid car comes with a powerful petrol engine and responsive gearbox to help you reasonably obtain a fast, forceful speed.
Compared to the regular Ford Focus, the ST version typically comes equipped with larger brakes and bespoke suspension to give you greater agility and control of the car: essential features for those looking for a hot hatchback.
The Ford Focus ST flies straight like an arrow, and you should have no trouble keeping this model in the centre of a motorway lane, making it a convenient, easy car to drive and control when going long distances.
The Ford Focus line has always been a practical car for families and professionals, and the Focus ST is no different. There’s plenty of space for both the driver and the passengers, and the hot hatchback version of the Focus ST also boasts excellent headroom too.
The Ford Focus ST could be the perfect budget hot hatch for you and is a high-performing car that can be snatched up at a reasonable price. When buying second-hand, you’ll usually be able to find a suitable option for well under £5,000.
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If you think the Abarth 500 looks like a typical Fiat 500, that’s because these are essentially the same car, both in performance and cosmetics. The Abarth has that classic, compact look that many drivers want from a hot hatchback and also provides excellent thrills when driving, especially around cities and towns.
If you consider the Fiat 500 a cute, easy-to-ride car, the Abarth 500 is just the jacked-up version, offering more power in a more aggressive body kit with stiffer suspension.
When looking at the specifics of the engine, its 1.4-litre turbocharged engine may not seem that powerful. However, when fitted in the small frame of the Abarth 500, it gives the car an energetic pacey feel, making it super fast to drive.
When looking at the interior of the car, you’ll find that it’s practically the same as a Fiat 500, which isn’t bad. However, it can feel a bit cheap. There’s not as much space in this hot hatchback as in other models, with the rear seats being tiny and the roof also being pretty low. This makes the car rather unsuitable for long road trips and is instead better suited to quick trips from A to B.
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If you’re looking for an outstanding value hot hatch on the second-hand market, then the Vauxhall Astra is a perfect option, as it can be found for cheap while still being a very high-performing vehicle.
The car is excellent as a family car, as it has a good deal of space and practicality, but that doesn’t mean it’s no fun to drive.
You can get two petrol options with the Astra and a diesel variety. They all pack a punch, offering reasonable acceleration and good grunt at low speeds, making it easy when cruising around town. It also has a noticeably good suspension, cushioning you over nasty bumps in the road, yet it remains firm when travelling at high speeds.
Where the Astra may lose ground is with its handling. Although not awful, the steering is a bit light and slow to respond, which can take the fun out of turning for many. It’s a less intimate car to drive than a few other hatchbacks, with less feedback offered to the driver.
The Astra does contain noise pretty well, making it reasonably comfortable. It offers a good amount of space both in the rear and front seats, making it a sufficiently practical option.
The Vauxhall Astra is a great budget option, and you should be able to find it for a reasonable price online.
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If you’re looking for raw power when searching for a used hot hatchback, there’s nothing that can compare to the Mazda 3 MPS. It gets off the mark quickly and has a breakneck top speed, which may be intimidating for some but can also be thrilling for the right person.
However, to achieve this power, the Mazda 3 MPS does sacrifice a bit in terms of comfort. It has poor handling compared to other hatchbacks, making it better suited to long straights instead of tight corners that you would find around towns and cities.
Another issue with the Mazda 3 MPS is that it hasn’t got great fuel economy and releases a lot of emissions for this type of car, which could increase your road tax and force you to pay ULEZ charges.
The car looks smart and does have a nice interior, boasting things like half-leather seats in modern models, although some people may find that the dashboard and steering wheel can look a bit busy due to an overload of buttons.
The Mazda 3 MPS only has raw power going for it, which can be fun over long distances, but its handling and steering do mean it suffers at low speeds. It’s cheap, though, and used versions of the car can easily be found online for under £5,000.
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If you’re looking to play it safe when getting a used hot hatchback and want to get something that you know can be reliable and fun to drive, then there’s no better option than the Ford Fiesta. This model has been a favourite in the UK for many years because it can suit most tastes and purposes.
The car has an excellent interior, looking smart and clean through its minimalist approach. The seat gives you an ideal driving position, allowing you to fully see the road ahead, which makes it a more accessible car to drive.
It performs well when driving, although if you are getting a small engine variety, it can feel a bit weak when on faster roads. When getting the Ford Festa ST, one of the best options when looking to get a hot hatchback, you can expect faster speeds and a more thrilling ride.
It’s a very comfortable car with good suspension, effortlessly dealing with sharp bumps and potholes, making it well-suited to rural driving. It handles exceptionally well and may be one of the best hot hatchbacks at this price point. It’s precise and sharp when cornering, with the steering being well-weighted.
Here at Car Adviser, we think that the best hot hatchback for under £5,000 is the Ford Fiesta, and you can’t go wrong with whatever version of the car you find.
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There are many great reasons why buying a hot hatchback is one of the best options, especially when dipping into the second-hand market. To start, hot hatchbacks are typically cheaper to insure when compared to other body types, helping you to keep the costs down.
In addition, these vehicles are also cheaper to maintain, as replacement parts are abundant and cheap, and most models usually have a good amount of reliability. Fuel economy is also good with these cars, and they will usually be cheaper to run as you can get good mileage out of them.
Another aspect that makes these cars so popular is that they’re fun to drive, with them being nimble, agile, and quick, helping to make driving less of a chore a more of a fun experience. Most are also very practical, with them having enough space to fit a small family.
Deciding the best hot hatchback on the market is a subjective question, and the best hatchback will change and alter depending on what each driver prioritises.
For example, someone looking for practicality will be looking for a different kind of hatchback than someone looking for a high-performance vehicle, so it’s worth thinking about your requirements to help you find the best hatchback for you.
In terms of accolades, awards and reputations, many people consider the VW Golf as one of the best hot hatchbacks over the last decade, with brands like Ford and Honda also being well renowned for making good hatchbacks.