5 CHEAP Hot Hatchbacks Which Are UNDERRATED!

5 cheap and fast hot hatchbacks with insane performance, that I think are pretty underrated! Not your average hot hatches, something a little different.
I hope you enjoy!
Bruddas (Patrons):
- Will D.
- Ethan W.
- TheGeordieTiger
- Callum W.
- Byron W.
- Dhruv A.
- Albert L.
- Johannes I.
Links:
Instagram - / carswithjb
Patreon - / carswithjb
Twitter - / carswithjb
Discord - / discord
Merch - carswithjb.com/
Music:
Background: My (musically gifted) sister
Attributions/Creative Commons Content:

[@jd1272]

Most underrated oldschool hatch: Citroen AX Gt, for rapid spurt and burst acceleration, the nimble crazy direction switching capabilities and straight thrashability, it was a raw little shopping cart, not that attractive or desirable but raw and a lot of FUN 👌❤️🙏

[@corleth2868]

I bought a brand new H reg (1990) XR2i and my work colleague bought an AX GT, another had a used 205 GTI (the 1.6 not the 1.9) and another had the Astra GTE 16v. I'd have rated them Astra, Peugeot, Ford, Citroen so I wasn't that impressed with the AX GT (but it was a fair bit cheaper than my XR2i) and this was an era when 0-60 in 8-9s made it a hot hatch... (although the RS Turbo did exist, the 1.9 GTI and the 16v Golf GTI, Renault 5 Turbo...). I replaced the XR2i with a Renault 19 16v (saloon not the hatchback), now that was a car and performance figures had moved on ;o) (although it was still slower than the Punto above, the 1980's-90's hot hatches on reflection weren't that 'hot')

[@jd1272]

You're right friend the others you mentioned were more capable and attractive, I think even though it wasn't probably quite as fast it was just the way it accelerated seemed frantic a little bit different, same with the nimble direction change, I even thought it possible that the car my friend used to have may have been driven like crazy every mile since new and just developed a frantic or nothing Attitude 😂 I owned a 1.9 gti for a year a while ago, quality oldschool buzz, 👌🙏

[@jeremywentworth1833]

@@corleth2868 I had a G reg Astra GTE 16V around 91 to 93ish all my mates had 205 GTis 1.9s and everyone who drove my car said it was better. My brother also had several definitely at the time in the late 80s and 90s 16V GTE by far the best hot hatch.

[@Strongjd770]

The most fun car I’ve ever owned. ❤

[@peterborrowman2041]

My first car was an AX GT. Absolutely loved it. Can still get a really nice for decent money compared to Nova's etc

[@jmcooney2000]

Another great video! Thank you and have a very merry Christmas 👍👍👍

[@Gee_Jay]

I TOTALLY DiG the last VW Scirocco for its Shooting Break Looks And Great Interior Space -- And it's No Slouch Either. Fantastic Value / money -- If Only they'd made a 3-Seat Front Bench option, to Use all that Width in the car - Like in the Old Matra Bagheera Matra Murena !

[@Lewis0709]

Great little video that. Totally agree about the Scooby. It’s a great car and I actually like the look of the hatchback. That’s coming from someone who drives a saloon WRX STI.

[@burntcrumpets5616]

Bought meself a FiST3 7.5, 66 plate last January. Found her with a mere 21,000 miles on the clock in pristine condition. She's a real gem. 40mpg, £300 insurance & the most fun I've had behind the wheel. If you go for the top spec ST3 you get many toys including satnav, auto fold heated mirrors, heated seats, quick clear windscreen, auto lights, auto wipers, auto dim rearview, climate control & cruise control. I payed £13,360 for her. No regrets.

[@marcusbingham1625]

Another great vid, you & your wife have a great christmas too

[@corsaandy94]

Merry Christmas 🎄 JB

[@garethfossey9590]

I have 2 VW Scirocco R's, one of the most fun cars ever built!

[@wardvanbeneden7229]

Scirocco is an extremely fun car, had it previously and still think about it every day. One day I will buy one again because I really miss it. Also those 2L engines are the same as in the golfs and can be tuned for 500hp, which is just extreme for a little front wheel drive car

[@jimmyjohnson82]

You aren’t alone bud 😢 I ordered mine the day they were released. That feeling driving off the forecourt WOW!!

[@jimmyyomam5301]

Love the video! Looking for some suggestions from the community on my next car, I have recently bought a 2019 PP Gti, however a week before picking the car up I caught some points on my license… making insurance for next year quite unfeasable, I’m a 22 year old driver with holding my license for 4 years with 4 years no claim, any ideas on what could be fun and somewhat cheap on insurance around 12-18k, any input appreciated and happy motoring

[@asphalthedgehog6580]

In my opinion power and 0..60 has nothing to do with driving fun. The last time I measured 0..62 was in 1999 with my 106GTI. Weight, handling and the best tires you can buy is it. Who needs a car that does 140MPH, unless you live in germany?

[@kevingarethmcbride1216]

Thanks to your video, think I will be swapping to the 308 GTi in the new year. Driving an M140i but insurance companies are proving everyone out of them now so this looks a sensible change 👍👍

[@dobbyboy3116]

Just sold mine insurance was insane. Fancy going back to a civic type r

[@ApothecaryTerry]

Most underrated, well I can already see another 308 GTi owner in the comments so there are 2 votes for that now! The 207 GTi is probably a contender too, since it's so poorly rated but compared to most modern stuff I reckon it's probably not *that* bad - the main criticism appears to have been the electric steering, but everything has that now, so it's essentially underrated by default 😄. I've got to throw in a wildcard too - the Daihatsu Charade GTti.

[@bercolek]

All Peugeots with 1.6 turbo engine are crap. Destined to blow up. Just read about Prince engine.....

[@LS-hl1yi]

​@@bercolekowned both the 208 and 308 gti now and never had any issues with the engine The prince engine was shit 15 years ago in the 207 gti and the mini JCW, but has improved alot since then. In fact the engine in the 308 GTi is forged from factory

[@ApothecaryTerry]

@@bercolek This was never true. The engine being unreliable was true years ago, but any post-2014 or so Pug with that engine is roughly average for reliability, still not great, but don't buy a diesel Audi and expect it to be any better. More importantly though, who cares - I could have a boring car, or I could have a fun car with a warranty. If it blows up, whatever, I work from home next to a supermarket, I'll have it back in a week. So, your statement: "all Peugeots with a 1.6 turbo engine are crap" isn't a true statement in any way, the car is excellent (otherwise, I'd have bought something else...I traded in a Porsche for a lot more money) and the engine isn't super reliable but it's statistically not especially unreliable now. Will it break? Probably, yes. Often? Unlikely. Does that make any part of it crap? Well, the stereo is *awful*, but otherwise no.

[@danivasquez2441]

Here in North America we don't have any options for manual hot hatch. It's vw golf, maybe Mazda 3. Can't find any civic hatch, or fiat 500 in my part of the country.

[@JuicyJLee]

Anyone Heard of the Opel Kadett TS it was a 2.0 16v turbo produced in 1995 with 160kw or 216bhp

[@lavine0823]

I currently drive a Scirrocco R and its a just a super fun car to drive....I had a BMW E82 but was always curious about the Golf GTIs/Rs and Audi S3s flying around....I personally felt E82 much more comfortable....I find the Scirocco R looks great from front on or on the angle but I hate the rear end(bullfrog)...I may need a 4 door car in the furure and I was considering an Alfa Giulietta QV/Veloce....I just like its rarity and the fact its not another Golf....Anyone have any experience with them? Would like to stretch the budget to a Guilia...

[@mattg768]

I had one, sold it for a golf R. To me they look like a loaf of bread from the back.

[@MrMedzilla]

I have a Seat Leon Cupra 290 and I'm with you on the Golf Rs and Audi S3s all about, nice to be different

[@allanmcintyre989]

I’m in the market for a little family car for around 3/3.5k. Any recommendations?

[@ios8720]

Cancelling scirocco production and not making a new R edition with 4 wheel drive and perhaps the 2.5 liter 5 cylinder engjne is the biggest mistake Vw ever made

[@bign3ck]

Corrado VR6 ❤️

[@zaink7037]

Nice list. I have to disagree at 4:00 saying the rear leg room on the S1 is as bad as a Up. I have a up and they have better rear leg room than the S1 and i sat in both 😂. Talking about ups i wish the up gti was on the list. Fun little cars though feel for over 10k its still a little steep

[@claudiucornea5326]

I have a Scirocco but it wasn't cheap at all in fact quite expensive for a small hatchback. It's got 1,4 TSI turbo petrol engine

[@jeremywentworth1833]

Under £15 grand has to be 14 plate onwards Leon Cupra 260-280-300, I've a 16 plate.280 and so far in the 4 or 5 months I've had it's sublime. I know this isn't a warm hatch video and a hated my 10plate R56 cooper S but with the same Engine but slightly less power and a 63 plate our DS3 Dsport + THP is tremendous fun and hopefully it's of an age were Peugeot Citroen & BMW had finally sorted the engine out.

[@craigorme4418]

See just as many, if not more, cupras as I do R's and S3s

[@Insetta]

I agree. Had my cupra 300 for over a year now. I rarely see them. Compared to golf Rs and Audi S3s. Also cupras will walk them both on a roll

[@jeremywentworth1833]

@@Insetta Must admit area live in just outside Leeds I definitely see more Golf R's and Audi S3, infact a woman on my street has a 17 plate R . Each to their own but so far I'd have another.

[@SD747_]

I got a cheap 7.5 GTD the other week and the only thing wrong with it was a misaligned wing mirror that took 30 seconds to fix lol

[@connorleonfr8396]

Gtds are slow though

[@SD747_]

@@connorleonfr8396 i had a 1.0 ibiza

[@bigped845]

The impreza of this jen was a bucket a well known bucket but for sume reasons you love them?

[@devilbecks]

I don't see much said about the seat ibiza 1.4 cupra. Twin charged 179 bhp, dsg, and fun to drive.

[@BySixa]

I was going to say the astra H vxr but on second thought it's probably best people don't buy them. My car had 60k miles and was on it's 3rd engine and 2nd turbo. One of the engine's was from a poor remap causing knock but regardless they're incredible vehicles that are made out of chocolate

[@Epicvillev90]

No mention for the 208 GTi by Peugeot Sport? 0-60 in 6.5s; with a LSD, Polished Crank, Bigger Injectors, and lowered suspension from STOCK. Criminally underated as far as I'm concerned

[@Ta-oo7zn]

I love my Scirocco so sporty and quick .

[@trucknibbler6927]

Volvo c30 t5

[@Jk-oz5qn]

The punto is like a streched out 500

[@scotthunter1056]

Then you've got the octavia vrs, sexy beast

[@danfrost_]

106 GTi

[@russellcopp6968]

Not sure I'd say the Subaru 330s is underrated, remember wanting one but could never justify the running costs with a 30 mile (each way) commute. Currently have a Peugeot 308 GTI, which I would say is underrated though. Quick enough, handles well and doesn't cost the earth 👍

[@marshmellow377]

It's all about smiles per gallon ;-) I am driving an M135i on my 65 mile (each way commute) and averaging 45-50mpg on a good day and 20mpg on a bad day. But I drive to work with a smile on my face :)

[@jkd4568]

The v40 should have been on this list. Can get them with 190hp and i5 engines. easily most comfortable, safest and reliable car on the list also. + for £12k you can get a fully spec'd out one around the 2015 year with all the technology you need. or much much cheaper if you don't need any of that. Definitely more "underrated" then any car on this list.

[@fasthracing]

I still have a liking for a decent Punto

[@SoGoodRacing]

dam no mention of an MG ZR 160

[@sayanpal9491]

An automatic cheap hot hatchback video would be very useful, as most of the budget hot hatches in all your videos are manual.

[@user-xw6mk1yj6b]

because manual is the best way to go

[@jdd5886]

Mazda 3 is an amazing car, i have one 😊

[@LexTheGoat.]

Cheap modern cars with

[@ethanbowie3050]

where is the MEGANE 3 RS ?????? are you in bro????

[@davidsanderson2960]

That isn't underrated, it's rated!

[@oliverburton6927]

If VW made that Scirocco in AWD it would of outsold both the Golf R and GTI, the Golf is VWs pride and joy, they couldn't have it phased out so they phased out the Scirocco

[@Insetta]

They should have made it awd tbh. And made the golf 5 door only and no 3 door option

[@andrewf7822]

BMW M140i. 335 bhp 500nm of torque and 0-60 in 4.6 seconds in the auto. Reliable 3.0ltr. straight 6 engine. Starting at £14k.

[@theunambiguous]

Prefer my A45 but appreciate the M140

[@SD747_]

Robbed in 2 months or less

[@theunambiguous]

@@SD747_ nah, Ghost immobiliser, sleep well at night, can get connected to key fob or have the key in hand, if you don’t know the code to input then the car is going nowhere, recommend a Ghost immobiliser to everyone

[@SD747_]

@@theunambiguous hahah I was just having laugh but ur 100% right about the ghost alarm, customers would bring in GTI’s with ghosts and it would take me so long to figure it out ended up getting myself a 7.5 GTD cause I drive a longer way to work now, not as neck breaking as a GTI but still a big upgrade from a rattly 1.0 Ibiza

[@pedrogtr32]

Um Portugal the Subaru 300hp version cost more than 30k not ~12k 😭

[@chillachilla1970]

Type r how is that not on list

[@andybell9245]

Diesel type s

[@simonworkman6474]

What about real old school hatchbacks - like Renault 5 gordini turbo or a rust bucket like my old MG maestro turbo. Sorry, but as a Northampton Saints season ticket holder, your sarries shirt was a down point for this video 😅

[@haroldbeauchamp3770]

Toyota Supra would be my choice for hot hatch. These are all just homely estates in comparison.

[@GoalSquad666]

I have a rear-wheel-drive fetish, so hot-hatches were never something I looked much into. However, and a long prelude is coming: I learned to drive in an 1984 XJ6 and learned driving manual in an old Volvo 245DL - both rwd. My first car wasn't rwd however just 3 years after I made my license I bought myself an RX7 and also had access to an old classic Celica - both RWD. Then I went down the BMW route, owned pretty much everything from E30, E34, E39, E46 till E92 and after I had issues with the E9x models I went back to my roots - Japanese, and as I like a mixture between comfort and sportiness I drive atm a Lexus. So, recently I was looking into having something small, and fun - the Lexus is more a GT car and I like Rally, so something with Rally pedigree but also affordable. The two cars I narrowed it down, and one was mentioned on here: - Audi S1 (3-door only) - Mini Paceman JCW Both have rally pedigree, especially the Mini with the right exhaust sounds like 90s rally cars, the ones I grow up with. If it comes to hatch-back, it has to be 3-door. I don't like 5-door hatchbacks, that's just a short estate, and therefore I think they were invented for women, who can't park/drive estates, so they got a short one. The Golf R creeped into my list as well, however I still rather play golf then drive one... generally I am not really a fan from anything manufactured by the VAG group... I am still crying that they now own Lamborghini....

[@Jimbitzbobs]

Them puntos are good looking shame they didnt take off.

[@ashmedia1883]

Runx is underated

[@cl6715]

Hyundai i30 n performance

[@duncancampbell9490]

£675 a year for an Impreza - no way !!!!

[@TONYUK1966]

Sarrrrries

[@carfeverpov]

All these old and difficult to maintain. Just buy a Swift Sport or new Polo GTI😂

[@alancrisp1582]

😂👍 Nice idea, or just buy a new E. Bike 🚲 !!..

[@TheGoatClipz]

Peugeot 208 gti👍

[@bercolek]

Audi S1 quattro? No, quattro is with torsen system, not haldex. All Audis A1 and A3 have haldex, just like Golf and Seats.

[@Epicvillev90]

It's the Haldex Quattro 4WD system.

[@mattg768]

Thumbnail is a scirocco, which is not a hatchback its a coupe.

[@josiahdavis2717]

Kia ceed gt

[@dannyjayke8695]

Don’t think many want to pay £700 for road tax for a Subaru and the maintenance isn’t cheap in this day and age

[@danielsmith7247]

I need a fun car that is under 20k. Really thinking Abarth 595.

[@theunambiguous]

Either A45 or BMW 135, own a A45 nice but sensible, BMW 135/140 would be more ‘fun’ due to rear wheel drive

[@danielsmith7247]

@@theunambiguous a 135 or 140 is on my radar. Just thinking a 595 might be fun and cheap to run. I'd imagine the 135 and 140 drink the fuel??

[@ApothecaryTerry]

M140i is probably more economical than a 595 at motorway speeds, but definitely not around town, so depends how you use it. It'll cost twice as much in tyres though. For a good answer though, we'd need to know more of your criteria. Any of these would work for £20k - If you want outright fun with a fairly neutral chassis, it's the i20N. - If the i20N isn't quite mad enough for you, plus you like breaking down occasionally, it's either a 208 GTi or Fiesta ST. - If you want all of the above, but with less performance, less reliability and much more getting mocked by other road users (but much better sound), get a 595. - If you want more comfort/practicality and a farty exhaust then it's the i30N. - If you want to beat everyone off the lights, then quickly rush to the pub to brag about it while you drink enough to forget how dull your car is, buy a Golf R. - If you want a genuinely great all-rounder, but want everyone to think you're the most boring person alive, buy a Golf GTi. - If you're a complete lunatic who loves turbo lag and going sideways around *EVERY* corner, while also enjoy hearing "why did you buy that?" buy a 308 GTi (270 only). - If you want to go go sideways everywhere, but want everyone to think you sell vacuum cleaners or are a single mum, buy an M140i. - If you want an M140i that sounds better and breaks more often, get an M135i. You get the idea. Personally, I chose the 308 GTi - I was coming from a 981 Cayman S and wanted a hot hatch, I think I test drove nearly 20 cars including a Giulia QV, M4 Comp and 10+ hot hatches. The 308 was just the most fun for me - it's lighter than a Fiesta ST but with 270hp, so power/weight beats a Type R or Golf R, although it cuts power in 1st so can't drag race. Of the hatches, only that and the i30N really like going sideways and the 308 is far better at it - it's more tail-happy than any of my 4 RWD cars were. Final note on fuel economy - any car with a turbo is lying about the economy. You'll be averaging mid-30s with any of these and high-40s on a long run, the same or slightly worse than my 3.4L Porsche got. Anyway, long comment, sorry, I get nerdy about fun cars, so this is the really important bit: I mostly just gave you a reasonably thorough list of things to test drive, all that matters is which one you like most. All of these will need a warranty (except the Hyundais, but those have long ones anyway). Remember: If you park next to any other car you could have had and think "damn" - you chose wrong. If you chuckle and think the other person bought the car, you chose right. Edit: Didn't mention the S3, A45, Focus ST or Megane because honestly I just found them boring as hell whenever I've driven them, plus financing a £35k Cayman will cost you less in the long run, making those hatches a silly choice in my book (and I put my money where my mouth is on that one!).

[@Insetta]

Cupra 300. Its a fwd golf R. So it causes more drama from a standstill but good tyres eliminate alot of that. Also its faster than its Golf R/S3 cousins once rolling. Cheaper aswell with a louder sound

[@danielsmith7247]

@@ApothecaryTerry I was actually looking at a Cayman too. I don't require more than 2 seats for this car. I love s2000s but it's hard to find a low mileage example. I do like the 308 GTi. But I do really like the look of the 595 EsseEsse and having the extra seats would come in handy on occasion.

[@walkaz]

So 15k is now cheap😂🤡