Best cheap hot hatchbacks 2023 | Auto Express - EU-Vietnam Business Network (EVBN)

There comes a point in every motorist’s life where the need for a practical car becomes inescapable. For some it happens the moment they pass their test, while others manage to hold off for a while longer until growing families and stretched finances take their toll.

But while the inevitable will catch up with almost everyone, that shouldn’t mean that you have to do without a car that’s fun and engaging to drive. Fortunately manufacturers understand this conundrum, which is why the hot hatchback exists to bring us driving thrills combined with real-world usefulness.

And if you can fulfil these criteria while keeping your expenditure down, then you really are onto a winner. The used car market is awash with cheap hot hatchbacks, meaning that there should be something out there for everyone across a wide variety of budgets.

What model you go for really does depend on what your priorities are. For example, something like a Volkswagen Golf GTI from 2005 will give you 197bhp to play with on your local B-road, and will still accommodate five passengers in a way that a Mazda MX-5 simply can’t. Stretch your budget to £7,000 and a Renaultsport Megane 250 will give you even more power and an excellent chassis to reign it all in.

This list features a range of new and used cars to help you find the perfect car whatever your budget. As with any used car, a thorough inspection and test drive is advised before you part with any cash. Remember that if a deal is too good to be true, it probably is, and that paying a little extra for something that has a full service history, and evidence to prove a lifetime of careful maintenance and sensible road use, is probably worthwhile.

But with the right approach and realistic aims, you’ll be whizzing around in your own cheap hot hatch before you know it.

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Best cheap hot hatches

To continue your hunt for a hot hatch, check out our lists of the best used hot hatches, which contains newer models than the cheaper options below and our main new hot hatches round-up. To check the value of any car quickly and easily, just use our free valuation tool…

Toyota Corolla T-Sport

Year/miles: 2003/138k
Price: £1,700
Years produced: 2001-2005
Engine: 1.8-litre 4cyl petrol, 189bhp
Top speed: 140mph
0-62mph: 8.4 seconds

Think of a Japanese hot hatch with a high-revving, naturally aspirated motor, and no doubt a Honda Civic Type R springs to mind. Yet Toyota also served up something similar, based on the big-selling Corolla.

While the T-Sport blends into the background, thanks to variable valve timing its 1.8-litre engine delivers 189bhp. Chassis upgrades make it agile and engaging, and it’s reliable and easy to live with. Better still, its relative anonymity means you’ll pay thousands less than for the Honda.

Citroen Saxo VTR

Year/miles: 2002/194k
Price: £2,150
Years produced: 1996-2004
Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl petrol, 100bhp
Top speed: 120mph
0-62mph: 9.4 seconds

A smile-a-minute driving experience and sure-fire future classic status make the Saxo VTR hard to resist. With its lightweight build, fizzy 1.6-litre motor and scalpel-sharp driving dynamics, the nimble Citroen turns every blast on back roads into a high-octane adventure.

Despite lacking the power of the rarer and more expensive 16-valve VTS, the 100bhp VTR is no slouch, while its engaging handling is every bit as exciting. It lacks the creature comforts of more modern models, while its safety equipment is extremely limited, but for high days and holidays, no other junior hot hatch delivers as many laughs for so little cash.

Prices are starting to creep up, but the simple Saxo costs peanuts to run and is easy to maintain. What’s more, decent reliability means this French fancy is always ready for some fun.

Alfa Romeo MiTo 1.4 TB Veloce

Year/miles: 2010/115k
Price: £1,000
Years produced: 2008-2018
Engine: 1.4-litre 4cyl petrol turbo, 120bhp
Top speed: 123mph
0-62mph: 8.8 seconds

Looking for some Latin brio at a bargain price? The mighty MiTo should be at the top of your list. The entry-level Alfa trailed rivals when new, but as a used buy it’s a charming and characterful alternative to the mainstream.

For starters, it looks the part, with its traditional triangular grille, bulging arches and circular tail-lights. Yes, the handling lacks the precision of the best, but the MiTo is nimble and its 1.4-litre turbo mixes hot-hatch pace with great efficiency. And unlike classic Alfas, corrosion shouldn’t spoil your fun.

Abarth 500

Year/miles: 2010/90k
Price: £4,450
Years produced: 2008-2016
Engine: 1.4-litre 4cyl petrol turbo, 135bhp
Top speed: 128mph
0-62mph: 7.9 seconds

If you’re looking for a guaranteed giggle every time you get behind the wheel, then the infectious charm of the Abarth 500 will be hard to resist.

With its cheeky retro-inspired looks, bombastic turbocharged performance and boisterous handling, the dinky Italian pocket rocket oozes old-school hot hatch charm. It’s also cheap to run, surprisingly well built and has the same classy cabin as the standard Fiat 500.

Among the downsides are the stiff ride and cramped rear-seat space, but when you’re dancing your way through a series of corners, you’ll be laughing too much to care about these shortcomings.

MINI Cooper

Year/miles: 2004/72k
Price: £990
Years produced: 2000-2006
Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl petrol, 114bhp
Top speed: 124mph
0-62mph: 9.1 seconds

Here’s proof that you don’t have to spend big to have huge fun behind the wheel. With eye-catching retro looks and engaging go-kart handling, the MINI is one of the most entertaining small cars you can buy at any price.

A wheel-at-each-corner stance and quick steering mean the brilliant Brit always feels agile and engaging. It doesn’t matter whether you’re tackling an inner-city roundabout or a twisting B-road, the MINI will never fail to raise a smile. And while the Cooper’s 1.6-litre engine lacks outright firepower, it’s responsive enough and linked to a precise five-speed manual ’box.

Take it gently and the MINI is also easy to live with. The ride is firm, but the solid build, classy cabin and decent refinement help lift it above mainstream rivals. More importantly, it’s a fairly trouble-free choice, plus it won’t break the bank to run and there are loads to choose from. You’ll get change from £1,000, too.

Renaultsport Megane

Year/miles: 2010/70k
Price: £5,000
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 247bhp
Economy: 34.0mpg
CO2: 195g/km
Euro NCAP: 5 stars (2008)

The Megane RS250 was one of the best hot hatches of its day. Its punchy engine loves being revved hard, and thanks to its 340Nm of torque, the car covers 0-62mph in 6.1 seconds. The standard chassis delivers great agility.

The track-focused RS250 Cup also falls within this price bracket but, due to its firmer suspension, limited-slip diff and Recaro bucket seats, it’s not so forgiving in daily use. For keen drivers, though, this is a small price to pay.

Peugeot 308 GTi

Year/miles: 2016/50k
Price: £9,000
Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 268bhp
Economy: 47.1mpg
CO2: 139g/km
Euro NCAP: 5 stars (2015)

Peugeot knows a thing or two about building a hot hatch, and the 308 GTi by Peugeot Sport gained big plaudits for its ability. It isn’t as extreme as, say, Honda’s Civic Type R, but it delivers a brief close to that of a VW Golf GTI – exciting, yet still easy to use every day.

The thrills come courtesy of a cracking 268bhp 1.6-litre petrol turbo – enough for a six-second 0-62mph time. While the ride can be a little firm at slow speeds, the tight body control really comes alive on a twisty road.

Just over £9,000 will secure a 16-plate model with around 50,000 miles; that’s a lot of performance for the money. It’s worth trying before you buy, though; some people find it hard to get along with the i-Cockpit, which places the dials above a small steering wheel.

Suzuki Swift Sport

Year/miles: 2012/80k
Price: £3,500
Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 123bhp
Economy: 39.2mpg
CO2: 175g/km
Euro NCAP: 4 stars (2005)

When it was launched in 2006, the Swift Sport felt like a pleasingly simple warm hatch, thanks to its revvy, naturally aspirated 1.6-litre engine, lightweight build, sporty interior and terrific handling.

That feeling is only enhanced now that we live in a time when fast Ford Fiestas have 200bhp turbo engines. In the Swift it’s all about enjoying the performance at sensible speeds (and a sensible price), backed by Suzuki’s fine reputation for reliability.

SEAT Leon Cupra R

Year/miles: 2006/110k
Price: £,3000
Engine: 1.8-litre 4cyl, 222bhp
Economy: 32mpg
CO2: 211/km
Euro NCAP: 4 stars (1998)

The original SEAT Leon Cupra R was based on the Mk4 Volkswagen Golf, but improved on its ancestor with sharper handling and a sportier feel overall. At the time it was considered somewhat of a bargain, thanks in no small part to a kit list that included a CD multichanger, climate control, sports seats and heated mirrors as standard.