Best warm hatches 2023

Arguably the perfect antidote to overly-powerful hot hatches like the Volkswagen Golf R, the Renault Twingo GT is a fizzy little hatchback that’s fun to drive and won’t cost a fortune to run. Its rear-mounted 0.9-litre three-cylinder engine produces 110PS and 170Nm of torque, while a bespoke exhaust system provides a characterful exhaust note.

Covering 0-62mph in 9.6 seconds, the Twingo GT will be out of its depth at Santa Pod. But the specially-designed Yokohama tyres and reworked steering means it'll will put a smile on your face.

The Renault Twingo GT sold in relatively small numbers. Its rarity adds to its appeal, but does make hunting one down a bit tricky.

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The Suzuki Swift Sport would be one of the best warm hatches on the market if it wasn’t for one thing… the price. A new one retails from around £21,500 which is pretty much the same price as the excellent Ford Fiesta ST, a car which has more power and is largely praised as one of the best hot hatches on the market.

So why is it featured here? Well, you can buy an as-new pre-registered model for around £18,000, or a two-year-old example with hardly any miles on the clock for just £12,000. Suddenly, it starts to make a lot more sense.

It’ll be cheap to run, too, thanks to a 1.4-litre turbocharged engine which returns an impressive 50.1mpg in official tests. Not that you buy a warm hatch for its fuel economy - it’s also great to drive, with the Swift’s compact dimensions making it feel like a true hot hatch of yesteryear.

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The Volkswagen Up GTI is proof that you don’t need a load of power to have a lot of fun. Its minuscule weight and diddy dimensions mean its 1.0-litre 115PS turbocharged engine is more than enough to put a grin on your face, while its direct steering and amusing (amplified) exhaust note add to the whole package. Like the standard Volkswagen Up, it's also practical for a city car.

It’s also really good value for money, with two-year-old examples starting in the same region as a similarly-aged Suzuki Swift Sport. That means a budget of £12,000 will get you a good one, and it shouldn’t cost a lot to run either.

Officially, the Volkswagen Up GTI returns around 50mpg while servicing costs shouldn’t break the bank, either.

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While car enthusiasts love a Ford Fiesta ST, not everyone needs the full-fat 200PS model. That’s why the brand offers a sporty(ish) ST-Line model. It has dynamic looks and a relatively powerful engine, but with lower running costs.

Most will be powered by the punchy 1.0-litre Ecoboost engine with 100PS or 125PS. No matter which engine you go for, the Fiesta’s great fun to drive with darty handling and a slick gearchange.

And, being a Fiesta, it won’t cost a great deal to buy or run. A budget of £12,000 will get you a year-old example, while as-new pre-registered models are available for £18,000. We’ll let you decide between this or a Suzuki Swift Sport.

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The Vauxhall Corsa GSi arrived late in 2018, towards the end of production of the last-generation model. It used the same chassis as the hot VXR, with power for a 1.4-litre turbo petrol engine. With 150PS and 220Nm of torque, it can accelerate to 62mph in 8.9 seconds, helped by a short-ratio six-speed manual gearbox.

As well as being fun to drive, the Corsa GSi also looks the part. It features a roof spoiler, sporty front grille and dark tinted rear windows. Inside, it gets front sports seats, a leather-covered flat-bottomed steering wheel and navigation (with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity).

Look for one with the GSi Plus Pack (£1900 when new). This added 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, Recaro leather seats and bi-xenon headlights.

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Who’d have thought the chic Fiat 500 could be turned into a characterful warm hatch? The Abarth 595 has been around since 2008 (although it was originally badged the Abarth 500), powered by a 1.4-litre turbo petrol engine. It’s a properly fun little car, capable of covering 0-62mph in less than seven seconds.

That arguably makes it a hot hatch rather than a warm hatch, but it’s similar in size to the Volkswagen Up GTI and Suzuki Swift Sport. Don’t expect a great deal of practicality - it’s got a pretty small boot and no one will thank you for giving them a lift in the rearseats.

But that’s not what the Abarth 595 is about. It’s a proper little go-kart of a car, especially if you hunt out a Competizione model with its tuneful exhaust, beefed-up brakes and sports suspension.

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If you thought a Fiat 500 was an unusual basis for a warm hatch, how does a hybrid Toyota Yaris sound? The Japanese car brand hasn’t done anything to tune up the hybrid engine in the Yaris, instead concentrating on suspension upgrades and cosmetic touches.

Indeed, the Yaris GR-Sport rides on some pretty serious suspension, using technology lifted from the hot (and expensive) Yaris GRMN. These include premium dampers, a more rigid anti-roll bar and a 15mm drop in ride height.

Perhaps more importantly for a lot of buyers, the Yaris GR-Sport really looks the part. It comes with 17-inch gloss black alloy wheels as standard, as well as black body highlights (including the rear spoiler) and a honeycomb grille. Inside, you’ll find GR-branded sports seats upholstered in Ultrasuede.

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No, we’re not kidding. Honda briefly offered a Sport version of its humble Jazz and it’s one of the most entertaining cars our road testers have ever driven.

The Honda Jazz Sport uses a high-revving 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine. In plain English, that means it needs working harder than something like a Ford Fiesta EcoBoost, but that adds to the appeal.

It also looks pretty cool (for a Jazz). Highlights include a sporty red exterior accent lines (like on a Civic Type R), a boot spoiler and black 16-inch alloy wheels. The inside gets orange stitching. What more could you ask for? A used one will cost you around £12,000.

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The SEAT Ibiza FR is the firm’s answer to the Ford Fiesta ST-Line. It takes a standard Ibiza (which already looks pretty sharp) and adds 17-inch alloy wheels, tinted windows and a twin exhaust system. Inside, there’s sport seats and a flat-bottomed steering wheel.

It’s also good to drive, with sports suspension, rear disc brakes and selectable drive modes. You can get the FR with a variety of 1.0-litre petrol engines, but the 115PS 1.0 TSI is the one to go for if you want a bit of oomph from your hatchback.

A new one will cost around £20,000 but you can pick up a year-old example for around £13,000.

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With retro styling, an incredibly well-finished cabin and grin-inducing handling, the MINI Hatch is one of the most appealing hatchbacks on sale today. The Cooper model is powered by an eager 1.5-litre petrol engine which produces 136PS - enough to accelerate it to 62mph in eight seconds. 

While it’s easy to add a load of extras and spend a fortune on a MINI Cooper, it needn’t cost the earth. Indeed, an as-new pre-registered model can be bought for around £15,000 - a saving of £2000 compared to new.

Desirable option packs to look for include the Navigation Pack (which includes a 6.5-inch navigation system and Apple CarPlay) as well as the Comfort Pack (which features parking sensors, a front armrest and heated seats).

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