Hot Hatches Today by Brenda Williams

Today’s automotive industry sees the growing trend of small cars out there on the road. It used to be huge sedans that hog the roads in the city, which we still can see from those cumbersome cars on our roads today. But the number of large cars are getting less and are slowly being replaced with smaller ‘hot hatches’ or simply known as sport hatchbacks. There has to be some reasons for these compact cars to gain popularity in the market, putting sales of larger sedans or SUVs to a slower pace. One of the main reason for having a small footprint, these tiny city runners are good to drive around the town, to find a parking, to navigate through the traffic jams, and they are definitely a whole lot more of fun than those clumsy ‘huge-mobiles’.

To term it correctly, a ‘hot’ hatch actually refers to high powered three (or five) door automobiles. Being the extra door as the rear ‘hatch’ thus a hatchback is also considered as one of them as long as they are rated high in performance. With examples like the Volkswagen Golf and Renault 5 Alpine being the first few to carry this term, it is known to offer those who need a powerful small family car with a cheap budget in mind with an alternative to the sedans.

Since it’s initial public appearance, the ever popular Volkswagen Golf has made it to the sixth generation with the introduction of Golf Mk VI in 2008. With the latest model being a successor of the previous popular Mark V, it has only a little change of looks on the outside. Basically it still looks like the Mark V but with a slight aerodynamic update to it’s bumpers, grilles and doors to make it quieter and more fuel efficient than it’s predecessor. Up for sale in Europe since January 2009, the new Golf will also receive an optional Volkswagen Adaptive Chassis Control system that allows soft or racy suspension settings to the car.

Originally being a British, the Mini is an icon of small compact cars for everyone. The budget people’s mover is a simple front wheel driven automobile with ample passenger space to spare, making it a popular idea platform for car makers over the years. MINI today is being built by BMW of Germany, after successfully taking over the MINI brand from the Rover group. Living up to its predecessor, the new MINI Cooper has been a good hatchback in the European countries, where the John Cooper Works MINI Cooper S is a top notch racing pedigree with a high performance turbocharged engine and also sports suspension.

There are many other hatchbacks out there; buyers have ample choices to hunt for a practical yet active car to drive. Other updated models such as the new Ford Focus RS, Fiat Punto and 500 Abarth versions, Renault Megane and Clio RS, and of course a handful of Japanese makes such as the Suzuki Swift Sport, the Honda Civic Type R, and of course the Toyota Yaris Sport. Having practicality and usability in mind, those looking to buy a super car will find it hard to load their rear boot with grocery bags – some might not even have a storage boot. Hot hatches are the perfect balance of everyday drive and also that occasional racy moment that petrol heads will enjoy.