Hot Hatch Comparison Test
In the late 1970’s, Volkswagen decided to experiment with their popular hatchback, the Golf. What was conceived was the Golf GTI, the Golf’s performance variant. Powered by a 1.6 liter engine and weighing just under 1,800 lbs, the GTI was very quick for a small car. Its appealing combination of performance and practicality for a good price made it an instant hit. Thus, the performance hatchback, dubbed as the hot hatch, was born.
Today the hot hatch is still one of the most popular, and not to mention, most practical, choices for the automobile enthusiast on a budget. The Golf GTI is still the king of the hill, but the competition is catching up. There are several manufacturers who will happily sell you a hot hatch for similar money to the Golf.
We’ve taken the Golf GTI, as well as three competitors, to see who will rule in this week’s big test. From Renault, there is the Megane, sporting that awkward profile and big wheels. Ford gave us a Focus ST in electric orange, boasting one more performance point than the Megane. Then there was the C30 R-Design from Volvo, sporting the same inline five cylinder engine as the Focus. Will the Golf rein the king once again, or has the competition left it in the dust?
The Test : Deep Forest Raceway
Golf : 1.30.585 Megane : 1.30.445 C30 : 1.30.168 Focus : 1.28.160
4th Place : Megane Renaultsport
The Megane is like one big shower of disappointment. It all starts when you walk up to the car and you just gasp at how ugly it is. It’s a hot mess of unnatural shapes and angles and curves all over the place. The Megane is kind of like a geometry project done by a dog. Then, after you get over the Megane’s aesthetic flaws, you pull open the door and plop down into the seat. Your eyes are drawn to a gimmicky gauge in the center of the console. Once you get over that, you start it up, and you here a little wheeze of life from the dual exhaust pipes behind you.
Then you start driving it. As soon as you get over 5,000 RPM, you start to hear an annoying little whine. Inching further towards the redline, it gets louder and louder. It’s enough to make your ears bleed! But then, you go around a corner, and then another, and another, you notice that that pesky understeer doesn’t plague the Megane when going around a fast corner. And when pushed to the limits, you don’t see any oversteer, either. This car handles great!
Now, you start grinning like a madman, remarking at how smoothly the Megane handles the twisties. Perhaps, this car isn’t a disappointment. Actually, scratch that. This is a good car, a genuine hot hatch. This is a great Sunday car for short, spirited drives. But unfortunately, this car has short comings, lots of them. Those disappointments prevent the Megane from being as good as the rest of them.
3rd Place : Volvo C30 R-Design
The C30 is a handsome car, a bit boring, but handsome. The traditional Volvo face could use some spicing up, but it’s all good. The star of the show here is the C30’s glass lift gate, complemented by two tall, curvy tail lights. The interior of the C30 feels luxurious, probably because it is. All of the necessities are where you’d expect them, and there are no surprises. It’s a nice interior, but it could be better.
The C30 is a solid performer on the track, too. It feels a bit slow, and it’s a little noisy, too. It corners well, and it’s easy to control. There’s just a tad of understeer, but not enough to be an issue. It’s a good car to drive, but it’s not as fun as I would have hoped.
Maybe that’s the C30’s main problem that’s holding it back. It’s good, but it could be better. It’s nice looking, but there are prettier cars. The interior is nice, but it’s a bit boring. It handles well, but there are better. Acceleration isn’t the C30’s forte, either. It seems as though this car isn’t best in class at anything. It’s a bit expensive, too. But that said, I like the C30. Even though the C30 isn’t stellar, it’s at least competent, and it does everything well. Volvo deserves a pat on the back for a solid first effort, and I hope that this is the beginning of more hot hatchbacks from Volvo.
2nd Place : Volkswagen Golf GTI
The Volkswagen Golf GTI is a bit conservative when parked next to the radical Megane, or the pretty C30, or the handsome Focus. But hey, Volkswagen’s cars are always a bit conservative. I would like a bit more style in the future. Don’t get me wrong, the Golf is a nice looking car. Like the Focus, it looks mature. It sports a little body kit, and red lining around the grill, a couple of GTI badges, and neat wheels.
The Golf’s interior is a bit plain, but it’s still nice looking. Everything is traditional Volkswagen, so enthusiasts will feel right at home. The plaid accents on the seats are a nice touch. For what the Golf may lack in the aesthetic department, it makes up for it in the hoot to drive department. The Golf is a joy when driven around the track. It handles exceptionally, and it feels fast, really fast, despite its slowest of the bunch lap time.
The Golf’s weight advantage over its heavier competitors allows it to shine around the corners, but understeer is a disappointment. This is a great car. It’s much cheaper than the C30 and the Megane, and much lighter. It’s not as powerful, but it feels so much faster. Over three decades later, the Golf still excels at the original recipe.
1st Place : Ford Focus ST
If you can get past the Focus’ electric orange exterior color, you’ll see that the Focus is a real looker. It even looks mature in any color besides orange. The Focus sports a subtle body kit with tasteful touches. The interior of the Focus is also very nice. It’s kind of busy at first, but it’s a nice place to be. There are plenty of gentle contours here, and everything flows well. The interior looks high quality.
The Focus’ strengths aren’t just aesthetic. The Focus is absolutely wonderful to drive. It feels quick, and it is, netting the best lap time around Deep Forest Raceway by over a second. It also corners well, too. The Focus is a car that can be pushed to the limit. In fact, it even encourages you to. Even if you do make a mistake, the Focus is behind you every step of the way. I felt as if I were becoming a better driver with every lap I did in the Focus. This is a great car, and it’s quite the performance bargain.
The Golf and the Focus are both great, great cars, but the Focus is just a little bit better. The Focus handles even better than the Golf, and that’s a big thing. If it were my money, I’d run to the Ford dealer right now and by a Focus ST of my own, but they don’t sell them here in the United States. Figures.
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I can't seem to see your pictures though? I like your writing style, fun to read, doesn't make me bored! =D
