Everything wrong with modern Hot Hatches (in my opinion)

14 Aug 2016

Hot hatches these days are getting to their absolute peak, with innovative design, radical engineering and styling to stand out from the norm.
However, I think there’s some problems with these new trends, please allow me to explain-

Too much power?

It wasn’t that long ago when around 180-200bhp from a hatchback was classed as ‘incredible’ but these days it won’t take you very long to find a hot hatch that’s packing out over 300bhp!!! That’s crazy, and this Mercedes A45 AMG for example produces 360 bhp! That’s MORE than an E46 BMW M3, and more than Jaguars XE-S! Now I like Jeremy Clarkson’s attitude to power but I just think that this and other cars are producing way too much!! To such an extent that they can challenge supercars! Yes they’re quick, but in return they’re also expensive, the A45 costs up to £45,000, and 50 if you spec it with some options. Which brings me on to my next point.

Prices are too damn high!!!

Now of course, this isn’t for every modern hot hatch, but for those that wear a premium badge, well……prepare to be shocked. The Audi RS3 for example starts from £39,000, you could buy a second hand R8 for that sort of money! And so this I think ruins one of the points of being a hot hatch, it’s meant to be affordable performance for the masses, not rich gear heads. And some car makers aren’t seeing this, even the hyped up Ford Focus RS is £30,000, which could buy you a very nicely kitted out Audi A4, (I know you can’t compare them but it’s a lot more car for the money)

Styling gone mad?

This is obviously very subjective, but I think that some hot hatches these days are looking way too much on the aggressive side, almost as if they’re antagonising other road users. Take this Honda Civic Type-R, many love it’s mad bodykit, but me on the other hand…..rather think it just crashed into a Japfest meet. I really think hot hatches should be styled in such a way that it’s subtle, but noticeably something special, the car that’s pulled this off is my favourite hot hatch, the Golf GTI, it’s got no aero package, just a nod that it’s a performance car that doesn’t shout about itself. A fast car that normal people can enjoy rather than boy racers. The big alloys, the red lipstick grille, looks just right to me.
I pointed out a Civic Type-R to my dad the other week, and he said “Christ! What’s he done to it?” He’s owned the mk1 and mk2 Golf GTI and he’s not impressed by this new styling trend. I agree.

Are hot hatches getting too serious?

You guys may remember the Renault RS Clio for having a 6 speed flappy paddle gearbox, and I think that’s saying something. Has the fun of a hot hatch been lost these days!?

In the 80s, there was an element of fun within hot hatches, extremely lightweight cars with pokey little engines in them, as a result, some went like rocket ships!!!! Such as my dads old mk1 Golf GTI, I had to hang on for dear life on the B roads xD It was the kind of car you could imagine smiling 😊

However, I think these days hot hatches are being made to just set fast lap times and to be mathematically and technically brilliant at track days and racing. Everything’s very serious now, I had a ride in a friend’s Renaultsport Megane 225 cup. And had the sense that it could never smile, it would always focus on it’s exams, never to let it’s hair down once in a while. Which is what the mk1 GTI did. If you watch the Ford Focus RS review on ‘Carwow’ on YouTube, you’ll see that the turning circle is dreadful. Some hot hatches have become too much of serious sports cars. Very focused.

I’d also like to point out that the modern hot hatch that’s just right in my opinion are the Golf MK7 GTI 😊

To end my wie opinion blogpost, I’m ending on these two happy hot hatch icons! The MK1 Golf GTI and the Peugeot 205 GTI, when they were happy.

If you think I’ve missed out on anything, please comment below and thanks for reading :D

Comments

Gotta say I love everything about the 205 GTI

Certainly one of my favourite hot hatches of all time!!

If you want a hot hatch that isn’t any of the above, buy a Fiesta ST

Yeah, it’s great value for money as well!!

2050 Dacia Sandero rs… 600hp

I disagree. I think the Focus RS is the best looking one in production. The golf is too boring looking, and the Civic is too flashy. The RS is the happy medium

Correct on all points. Hot hatches were cheap, low power daily drivers. They looked simple, but slick.

Yep, you see my view on them ☺️

I entirely agree and understand.

I see your point, but:

Prices and power. My point is: we now have more choice. You can have the expensive A45 or RS3, or hardcore Focus RS and Civic Type R, or usable Golf R and M140i, or cheaper yet fun Golf GTI and Focus ST, or even cheaper and lighter Focus ST and Polo GTI. So you can choose your price and power.
Styling. Again, there is always choice! I agree with you that hot hatches are supposed to be faster and more fun versions of regular hatchbacks, but shouldn’t be very different. And I would never buy a Civic Type R because I think it’s design is a bit too ricey. And I also think that Golf GTI is the most “correct” hot hatch. But I don’t mind the choice! If someone likes the mad Civic Type R it’s their choice, but we still have the elegant Golf GTI, Golf R, M140i and so on.
Seriousness. I don’t want to repeat myself, but… There are Renault Cup cars with rock solid suspension setups and Focus RS is very stiff and track-oriented. Same with Golf GTI Clubsport and Civic Type R. For those who like this. But! We stil have the “softer” and more usable cars as well! Renault also makes Megane GT and Ford has the Focus ST.
So I personally don’t see any problems.I think hot hatches are a brilliant market now and I always say that if one loves driving but wants a car to use daily for all his needs (including family trips and carrying some luggage), he should first look into hothatches. They are brilliant, like it was once mentioned in a Carfection video: America has Muscle cars, which are everything for everyone and Europe has hothatches which are everything for everyone. They can be of all price ranges, starting from about £18,000 for a Fiesta ST up to £50,000 for a well-specked RS3. They can be soft and comfortable, or track-oriented, but always fun. They can be less or more practical, but always can be bought as the only car. I seriously love hot hatches and I think they are at their peak now, mainly due to the choice we have, and that more people should be considering this type of cars.

This comment should be an extra blog xD
But I will say that I’m not writing against hot hatches, they’re brilliant cars by all means, I’m in for some of them. But I think I’ve focused on writing about the super, hyper hatches which are mental in terms of performance, those I have a problem with. But low tone cars, such as the Focus ST and the Megane GT are all cool. I should’ve made the title a bit clearer 😊

I can very clearly see that most of this article was based on that top gear episode on older hot hatches. I disapprove.

The only hatchback I like is Mini Cooper (all generations. IDC if it’s oversized). I like Focus RS and Fiesta ST, but not as much as I like the Mini. But hey, they’re way fcking better than a deadly Nissan Versa, a mini-minivan Honda Fit, and. fcking Ford Festiva.

I do agree that they’re getting too serious. Once you start pursuing performance at the expense of practicality, you’ve defeated the purpose of the hot hatch. And yeah they’re getting too expensive. The price of the A45 AMG is absurd. Hot hatches are supposed to be affordable, practical and fun. Carmakers have forgotten about the first two criteria, Particularly Renault, Mercedes, Audi and Honda.