6 Hatchbacks every car nut will love

Hatchbacks were initially designed to be practical and affordable family and cargo movers. They were more utilitarian than pretty much any other car on the roads, with several manufacturers producing hatchbacks which were fitted with beds off pickup trucks in the early years (think late 1930s)!

However, through the years, the hatchback has become less of a workhorse and more of a performance icon, with many manufacturers quickly realising the potential of the compact yet stiff shell. This eventually led to them dropping more powerful engines into the lightweight shells and turning them into epic hot hatches. So, what are the 6 hatchbacks every petrolhead will recognise and love?

A 2.0 litre turbocharged engine with 222 bhp, wrapped up in a 5 star EuroNcap shell and garnished with sprinkles of sportiness. In the hands of the professionals, it can and will keep up with a Porsche 911. It is fast, looks aggressive, and is sure to win the hearts of any true petrolhead out there.

Car manufacturers often stick to a tried-and-tested recipe when it comes to producing their latest models. However, once in a while, they do let their hair down, and give their designers free rein. This was probably a project born as a result of that. Based on the Clio Mk2, it had a mid-mounted V6 lifted from a Peugeot 406, and the initial batch was even built by professional racing outfit Tom Walkinshaw Racing. It harks back to Renault’s iconic 5 Turbo of the 1980s, and looks aggressive with the ludicrous widebody. What’s not to like?

You can’t go wrong with the granddaddy of the hot hatch. Launched in 1975, it was an immediate success, selling over 1000 units in a year in the UK. Its simplicity and affordability has made it a cult classic, so much so that in 2004, Sports Car International declared the Golf Mk1 GTI to be the 3rd best car of the 1980s.

Just like the Golf, the original Mini Cooper was meant to be a cheap form of personal transport. Penned by Greek-British designer Alec Issigonis, the Mini was designed to maximise the use of the limited interior space through clever engineering. What started out in life as an economy car eventually became an icon both on screen and on the track; the lightweight Coopers were piloted to stardom in the original Italian Job, and also enjoyed successes on the racing and rallying circuits.

It’s no secret that the Escort Cosworth shares little with its lesser Escort sibling. Powered by a turbocharged 2.0 litre, Cosworth-tuned inline 4, it was built with the primary aim to dominate the WRC scene. However, in order to get it homologated for competition, Ford had to offer several examples for sale to the general public as well, leading to the birth of the Ford Escort RS Cosworth. Its racing pedigree, and rarity (only 7,145 examples were made), means it is rapidly becoming a cult classic.

The EK9 is the default, go-to car for anyone aspiring for horsepower on the cheap. Powered by Honda’s B16B 4 cylinder engine, it rolled off the production line with 185 bhp. It was good for a century sprint time of 6.8 seconds. The combination of a bulletproof engine and a durable chassis makes it the perfect candidate to convert into a track weapon. EK9s have been converted into anything from a tuned and caged road car, to a full blown, RWD-swapped drift machine.

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