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

Great post! I agree with you, but I want the best of both worlds; Cheap, small hot hatches and the expensive, luxurious premium hatchbacks.

Thanks man!! And I can see your point, but you know, everyone has their say :)

No no no and no. The whole point of these cars is that they are super hot hatches ‘the best of the best’ which is why they have cars like Focus and Fiesta ST’s for the purists and keep the RS’s for hardcore fans and show offs. Great post nonetheless!

I see your point, I’ve sometimes referred to them as hyper hatches xD. Which is probably what we should be calling them, and thank you 😊

After the EVO X FQ440 MR (UK) it is only logical to have some hatches attempting be as fast.

True, the Focus RS is a serious rival to the Subaru Impreza STI, others however I think are losing the plot

The biggest problem is they don’t have V8s

Are you a hot rod guy? 😅

Still waiting for a new gti-r, just a mad car.

That would be cool, and a new Delta Intergrale!!

While the Golf may be the car for any situation, I still find it way too bland of a vehicle. These new hatches are what is “hot” today, the bland styling was what was “hot” when styling was different.

I see ya, but I see the Golf GTI as the best hot hatch because it’s the best all rounder, its everything you need in a car I think. Others are very focused, which I think is pointless because you may as well buy a purpose built sports car instead (I.e a Beemer M235i)

The 205 gti is a blast to drive

I haven’t been in one myself, have you? If so what’s it like? :)

They are too damn big! I was out the other day when a brand new Civic pulled next to an older generation Audi A6 and it was the same size! Today’s hatchbacks are as big as saloons from 10 years ago.

This is actually a bigger problem than it seems, because in the UK at least, car parks are small and roads are not getting any bigger. It’s like a child growing up into an adult, in the same little tikes car, it’s tight AF

I just think it’s pretty stupid the Clio RS came with flappy paddles. Flappy paddles aren’t exactly a new thing on hot hatches either. The Golf GTI/R, A45 AMG, even ford though of putting a DCT in the Focus RS but didn’t because of price. But a Clio? Hot hatches are really made to have the most fun with a small car, banging through gears, making the most of the motor. I just find it super odd.

Exactly, it’s just an example of Renault trying to say “yeeess, this Clio is like our formula one cars” which is by far the stupidest idea of recent times. Hot hatches are supposed to have the raw driving experience