Hot hatches are in great demand these days.
Australians have always given priority to performance sporty hatchback Manage to strike a balance between affordability and speed, making them incredibly popular.
But what is the fastest hot hatch in Australia? Well, we’ve checked the spec sheets and found the fastest small cars on sale today.
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You’ll find some of the usual suspects, but the list also includes some surprising contenders and there are a few notable names missing from our list of the fastest hatchbacks.
For example, critically acclaimed honda civic type r (5.4 sec 0-100 km/h) Not fast enough to make the cut – but you’d hardly call it a slow hatchback – and popular Hyundai i30 N Also missed the cut (5.4 seconds).
And remember, we’re not saying these are the best small hatchbacks in Australia, but they are the fastest 0-100km/h.
10. Toyota GR Corolla – 5.2 seconds
Price: From $64,190
Toyota is late to the hot hatch party but is making up for lost time. it launched gr yaris More introduced in 2020 gr corolla In 2023. It gets the same powertrain as its smaller brother, but has been tweaked to compensate for the slightly heavier weight of the larger model.
1.6-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol The engine makes 221kW/370Nm and is the same six-speed manual gearbox And all-wheel drive system, Resulting in similar 0-100km/h times Yaris.
The GR Corolla is the more ‘adult’ choice of the two, due to its more compliant ride, with a more spacious cabin and better on-road manners.
However, at the time of publishing, it is still only available with a manual gearbox, marking it out as an enthusiast’s hot hatch.
Read our GR Corolla review to learn more.
9. Toyota GR Yaris – 5.2 seconds
Price: From $51,390
gr yaris It is known as a ‘homologation special’ meaning it was designed to help the company’s World Rally Championship programme.
This is why the GR Yaris is not a five-door but a three-door, it has the ‘GR-Four’. all wheel drive Also equipped with wide and lightweight panels.
Thanks to these changes and its 1.6-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, Making 200kW/370Nm, this all-wheel drive pocket rocket takes just 5.2 seconds to go from 0-100km/h.
This isn’t a hot hatch for everyone. Although. The GR Yaris is a compact car with cramped rear seats. It is also available only with a manual gearbox, presenting it as a car for purist driving.
Check out our GR Yaris Rally review for more details.
8. BMW M135i xDrive – 4.8 seconds
Price: From $76,600
BMW Fans may miss the old rear-wheel drive 1 series but this latest All-wheel drive version There is a better BMW hatchback – Or at least faster.
The combination of all-wheel drive traction with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine making 225kW/450Nm means it can launch as intended – the 0-100km/h run taking just 4.8 seconds.
The switch to all-wheel drive (or front-wheel drive on lower grade models) means this latest 1-Series is a more user-friendly hatchback.
It has a roomier back seat and a more practical boot, enhancing the M135i’s appeal to everyone from mere rev-heads to anyone looking for a premium hatch with some sporty intent.
Read our review of the M135i xDrive here to find out more.
7. Audi S3 Sportback – 4.8 seconds
Price: From $71,800
The next few entries on the list could fall under the sub-heading of ‘luxury hatchback’ as they highlight the transformation of premium brands over the past decade.
audi, BMW And mercedes benz All moved into hatchback territory to offer more affordable cars, and when they did so they also saw the opportunity to create a hot hatch.
S3 Sportback It’s not the pinnacle of the Audi Sport range (that’s still to come) but it still makes the cut with its very quick acceleration.
This comes courtesy of its powerful 228kW/400Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, Seven-speed dual-clutch transmission And Audi’s iconic ‘Quattro’ All-wheel drive system.
You can learn more about the stylish S3 Sportback here.
5. Volkswagen Golf R – 4.8 seconds
Price: From $68,990
While not exactly in the same premium segment audi And mercedes-amg, The people’s car maker has gradually developed its range-topping golf r In a seriously quick and polished hot hatch.
This latest version shares a lot of mechanical DNA with the Audi S3, making 235kW/400Nm from the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder. turbocharged engine.
it also gets similar Seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox And all wheel drive, Which helps transfer that power to the ground faster, resulting in the same 0-100km/h time as its slightly more expensive four-ringed brother.
This is the ideal hot hatch for someone who wants a more premium everyday hot hatch and is willing to pay for it, but isn’t concerned about the badges on the front.
Read our Volkswagen Golf R review to find out more.
5. Mercedes-AMG A35 – 4.7 seconds
Price: From $87,900
Coming back to premium brands again, it is a direct competitor to both the Audi S3 Sportback and BMW M135i xDrive, Another hot hatch that blurs luxury and speed.
But, again, like the Audi, the A35 isn’t as fast as these baby Benzes – more to come on our list.
However, the A35 with the 2.0-litre four-cylinder is significantly faster single-turbo Engine that makes 225kW/400Nm and sends its performance to the road Seven-speed dual-clutch auto And All-wheel drive system.
This is why it is able to launch with so much gusto, making it one of the quickest hot hatches in the country.
like audi And BMWThe A35 is an ideal choice for those willing to pay a premium for a more refined hot hatch experience.
Learn more about it in our review of the Mercedes-AMG A35 here.
4. Mercedes-AMG A45 S – 3.9 seconds
Price: From $106,900
So if the A35 isn’t fast enough for you, mercedes amg There’s the A45 S, which is almost a full second faster than its stablemate.
How does it achieve this? Simple, AMG has developed the most powerful four-cylinder engine ever to grace a hot hatch.
The 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged unit pumps out a remarkable 310kW/500Nm. These are the kind of numbers we expected sports car Just a few years ago.
It’s no surprise that AMG has paired it with an all-wheel drive system to help control so much road noise.
The result is one of the angriest, fiercest hot hatches you can buy today, which will either feel like a dream or a nightmare depending on the weekday/weekend bias you put on your hot hatch.
Read our Mercedes-AMG A45 S to learn more about this powerful little beast.
3. Audi RS3 Sportback – 3.8 seconds
Price: From $89,869
Only 0.1 second faster than the A45, but Audi wasn’t shy to declare RS3 Sportback “Top in class” when launched in 2021.
To achieve that feat, Audi Sport pulled out all the stops and created the most powerful version of its 2.5-litre five-cylinder yet. turbocharged engine yet as well as developing a brand new all wheel drive The system features a ‘torque splitter’ which helps with acceleration and drift.
Audi’s famous five-cylinder now makes 298kW/500Nm, so despite the reduced power it still manages to edge out its arch rival.
However, now, as the rest of the list will demonstrate, there is a new key to fast acceleration – electrification.
But for those who still want internal combustion performance in their hot hatch, the RS3 Sportback is the fastest you can buy today.
Learn more in our in-depth Audi RS3 Sportback review.
2. MG4 XPower – 3.8 seconds
Price: From $59,990
up until now turbo hatchback have ruled this list, now as we reach the end, it’s the electric examples that take over. And an unlikely contender at that MG.
The former British brand is now part of a Chinese automotive group but wants to hold on to its sporty heritage MG4 XPower. The hero color is inspired by Sir Stirling Moss’s MG Land Speed Record racer of the 1950s.
But underneath it’s all about the future, with a pair of electric motors (one on each axle) providing a 320kW/600Nm kick that helps the XPower rocket ahead of all but one of its market rivals on this list. Does it.
Despite this impressive performance, the MG4 XPower is the second cheapest car on our list – so it offers an amazing bang for your buck.
Read all the details about MG’s new hot hatch before it hits our roads.
1. Hyundai Ioniq 5 N – 3.4 seconds
Price: From $111,000
Is it really a ‘hot hatch’ or more of a ‘hot SUV’ – we’ll let you decide. But whatever you call it, ionic 5n Is quick. This all-electric performance car takes just 3.4 seconds to accelerate to 100 km/h from rest, making it the top of our list.
What’s more, this means the Ioniq 5 N is faster than some supercars from the not-so-distant past, including ferrari enzo (3.8 seconds) and Lamborghini Murcielago (3.8 seconds), showing how far technology has come in recent years.
It achieves this remarkable feat thanks to a dual-motor electric powertrain, with a motor at each axle for all-wheel drive performance and 448kW/740Nm. Additionally, there is a mode that allows up to 478kW/770Nm for short bursts.
The Ioniq 5 N is a very different proposition from the hot hatches we know and love, but if it’s a harbinger for the future, expect the next-generation electric hot hatch to lower the bar even further when it arrives. For acceleration.