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Who doesn’t love a hot hatch? They bring a bit of excitement to your average hatchback and more often than not, make you look good out on the road, too. Some people have even suggested that the hot hatch killed off the popular mass-market sports car. A real game-changer.

But not all hot hatches were created equal. For every Mk2 Volkswagen Golf GTI there is, well, a Mk3 Volkswagen Golf GTI.

It just goes to show how difficult it is to get the hot hatch right. You can’t just add in a turbo and think that’ll be enough, you’ve got to ensure that the all-round performance is up to scratch and that it looks the part.

Just for a bit of fun, we’ll look at some of the worst hot hatches to grace UK roads a little later in the article. But first, we want to spend a bit of time admiring some of the best cars in the genre.

Another great thing about the hot hatch is that those built in the 1970s, 80s and 90s can now be covered with classic car insurance which is often cheaper than standard insurance due to the mileage being lower than that of a standard car and because the car is more likely to be well looked after by its owners.

So, if you did manage to get your hands on a hot hatch, you can do so knowing you’ll be able to get some competitively priced classic car insurance. Right, let’s get stuck in.

Here are eight of the best hot hatches (in our humble opinion) from over the years - many of which we’re proud to cover here at Lancaster.

 

1) Peugeot 205 GTI

As far as we’re concerned, the Peugeot 205 GTI is the natural place to start in any list of hot hatches. Life for the Peugeot 205 started in 1983, but the French manufacturer quickly recognised the model’s sporting potential and 12 months later the Peugeot 205 GTI hit the market.

Powered by a 105bhp 1.6-litre engine and weighing in at less than 900kg, it was capable of 0-62mph in 8.7 seconds and boasted a top speed of 116mph.

But there was even more to come in 1986 when the faster, 130bhp GTI 1.9 was launched. Its 0-62mph speed was shortened to 7.8 seconds and its top speed upped 127mph.

In the same year, the 1.6-litre version also got an upgrade, with peak power boosted to 115bhp.

To this day, enthusiasts are still arguing which variant provides the better GTI experience, but in either form, you’re guaranteed a top-notch driving experience.

2) Ford Escort RS Turbo

When the Escort RS Turbo first emerged, it was hard to imagine that it shared the same factory, let alone the same body shell as the Escort 1.3. With that huge rear spoiler, gleaming white paint and seven-spoke alloys, it immediately captured the hearts of armies of fans.

The RS was built with motorsport in mind, becoming the first ever front-wheel drive to get a limited-slip differential, while its 1.6-litre engine was souped up to give 132bhp.

Step inside and you’ll find a pair of Recaro seats with distinguishing blue piping. If you’re lucky enough to get the RS on the road, you’ll be treated to blistering overtaking pace and bags of grip in the corners.

Walking the walk and talking the torque, the gruff exhaust note is met by a satisfying whistle from the turbo under hard acceleration. The violent torque steer means the RS isn’t the perfect car – but we still love it anyway.

 

3) Vauxhall Astra GTE 16v

After Ford decided to tip their toe into the hot hatch world, it was only a matter of time before Vauxhall did the same. It’s first swing at the Astra GTE was a fine effort, but it wasn’t until the Mk2 came out did things get properly interesting.

Vauxhall partnered with Cosworth to develop a new, twin-cam, 16-valve cylinder head for the existing 2.0 four-cylinder engine. The results were glorious, producing some 150bhp with 144lb ft of torque, all packaged in a 1,000kg shell.

From the comfort of the Recaro bucket seats, you can reach 60mph in less than eight seconds, putting many modern cars to shame. While the brakes and handling can sometimes leave a little to be desired, it still makes for a very sweet drive.

For some reason, we’re seeing fewer and fewer Astra GTEs on the road and at classic car shows. However, while this is a shame in many ways, it helps to keep their price reasonable.

 

4) VW Golf GTI Mk1

Again, much like the Peugeot 205 GTI, this list wouldn’t be complete without the inclusion of the VW Golf GTI Mk1. Not everyone is a fan, but ultimately it was the car that birthed the hot hatch generation.

But it was through more luck than judgement on Volkswagen’s part that the Golf was able to fulfil its potential.

Allegedly, VW bosses were vehemently against turning the Golf into a hot hatch – however, engineers were adamant it had more to give and turned it into a bona fide performance car.

A 1.6-litre fuel-injected petrol engine was given the job of providing the power and with 108bhp it did so splendidly by the standards of the time. To put it in context, an entry-level Ford Fiesta at the time packed just 45bhp.

5) Nissan Sunny GTI-R

The Nissan Sunny GTI-R takes things up another gear. Built so that Nissan could go rallying in Group A, it was about as far removed from the standard Sunny as you could get.

Packing a serious punch, the turbo-charged boasted a 2.0-litre engine good for 227bhp which, coupled with four-wheel drive, meant it could reach 60mph in a staggering six seconds.

Despite a somewhat average performance in the World Rally Championship, the Nissan Sunny GTI-R’s reputation has grown over the years, with classic car enthusiasts desperate to get their hands on one.

However, with only a handful believed to be left in existence, most wannabe owners are going to be left disappointed, unless they’re willing to pay through the nose. If you do, make sure you’ve got the right classic car insurance in place to protect your investment.

 

6) Lancia Delta Integrale

Another rally competitor – much more successfully so than the Nissan Sunny GTI-R, it must be noted – the Lancia Delta Integrale is perhaps the cream of the crop when it comes to hot hatches. We’ll still be talking about it in 20 years, it was that good.

The original Integrale 8v pumped out 188hp from its 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, which was then superseded by the Evoluzione models which produced up to 215hp.

Integrales in decent condition now fetch in excess of £50,000 – a price that will probably only increase over the years. So, they’d make a fair investment if you can find one.

7) Toyota Corolla GTI-16

Most car enthusiasts know about the Corolla GT – also known as the Sprinter Trueno, Corolla Levin or simply the AE86 – but the Corolla GTI-16 has largely been lost to history. Fitted with Toyota’s rev-happy 4AGE 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, it was a joy to drive.

Reviews at the time for the GTI-16 were largely positive with enthusiasts taken by its rugged good looks, boasting bigger alloy wheels, bodykit and, of course, a spoiler. The Corolla was reliable, too, but time has not been kind to it, with many of them suffering from rust.

However, if you manage to find one that is in relatively good shape and can dedicate some serious time to it, you will be rewarded handsomely with a little pocket-rocket of fun. Lancaster can provide classic car insurance for restorations, too.

 

8) Peugeot 309 GTI

We’ll end where we started things – with a modest Peugeot. But it just underlines how far the French manufacturer was ahead of the competition at the time when it came to producing everyday cars with a better-than-everyday performance.

Under the bonnet, the 309 shared a similar DNA to smaller 205, but the longer wheelbase and wider rear track gave it a more balanced feel.

That’s not us saying that the 309 was superior to the 205 – the latter can’t be beaten when it comes to a fun driving experience, in our opinion – but it gave it a run for its money.

 

Five of the worst hot hatches

Now, we’re not usually ones to make a show of any car, but we did promise to pick a handful of hot hatches which are looked back on less fondly than the classics we’ve just highlighted.

 

Proton Satria GTI

On paper, the Satria GTI had the potential to take the hot hatch market by storm. Lotus were tasked with getting the Satria GTI into fighting shape and it did a decent job on the engine and the chassis setup, but buyers just couldn’t see past the Proton bodywork.

It wasn’t exactly a looker and coupled with the unsexy Proton name, it generated only poor sales figures and will be largely forgotten in the years to come.

 

Mk3 Volkswagen Golf GTI

A bit controversial, but the Mk3 Volkswagen Golf GTI felt like a let down after the Mk1 and Mk2 GTI. Compared with its predecessors, the Mk3 just seemed to lack a bit of punch and it felt all a bit ordinary, with the car’s boisterous and fun character seemingly changed to appeal to families.

Fiat Uno Turbo i.e.

Having seen the success of the Peugeot 205 GTI, Fiat brought out the Uno Turbo i.e. to claim its own piece of the hot hatch pie but it came up short despite having a 1.4-litre turbocharged engine.

 

MG ZR

Again, somewhat controversial as the MG ZR sold in good numbers. Around the time they were released, you couldn’t go for a drive without passing one on the roads.

But, based on the lacklustre Rover 25, the ZR didn’t feel like an upgrade despite its enhanced looks and you’d do well to overtake anything with any ease.

So, why did they sell so well? Well, at the time, the MG offered free insurance to all buyers, so young drivers, in particular, were all over them.

You’ll still see plenty of them out on the road today, usually kitted out with a few questionable extras!

 

Ford Fiesta XR2i

Ford was another manufacturer who went after the Peugeot 205 GTI, firstly in 1989 with the Fiesta XR2i. But with a weak engine and naff chassis setup, the car, and its RS Turbo offshoot, were both largely unforgettable and missed their opportunity.

 

Protect your investment with classic car insurance

If you’re lucky enough to get behind the wheel of a hot hatch – or any classic for that matter – you’re going to need specialist classic car insurance to protect your classic for the future.

Whatever model you end up buying, we can offer cover to match. Lancaster Insurance is the classic car insurance broker of choice for owners of 96,000 vehicles.

Like you, the team at Lancaster is passionate about classic cars. So, no matter whether you’ve bought a new toy at auction or you’re restoring a model from your childhood, we can help you find the right cover, at the right price.

Choosing classic car insurance from Lancaster means you get a range of benefits and discounts including:

• Up to 25% Classic Car Club member discounts
• Static show cover
• Historic rally cover
• Salvage retention
• 90 days free EU cover
• Limited mileage discounts

You’ll also have 24-hour access to our claims line and UK call centre, so your case will be dealt with as quickly as possible.

Get a quote for classic car insurance today.

Policy benefits, features and discounts offered may very between insurance schemes or cover selected and are subject to underwriting criteria. Information contained within this article is accurate at the time of publishing but may be subject to change.