Hatchback

While we define a city car as something less than 3.7 metres long and an executive hatchback as measuring more than 4.5 metres, family hatchbacks tread the middle ground.

As the name suggests, they’re designed for daily versatility, so a blend of efficiency and interior space is paramount. The best also combine agile steering with a suspension setup that’s supple enough to ensure groceries – and passengers – aren't tossed around.

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Seat Leon front cornering

Seat Leon

from £20,000
The Seat Leon is great value. It’s stylish and a good all-rounder, but doesn’t quite match the class best in some areas
Tesla Model 3 driving

Tesla Model 3

from £37,990
The Tesla Model 3 is well equipped, good to drive and very competitively priced
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Renault Clio front right driving

Renault Clio

from £17,499
The Renault Clio is a stylish, reasonably practical and refined performer that isn’t far off the class leaders.
MG4 Urban front right driving

MG4 Urban

from £17,691
There’s a lot to like about the new MG4 Urban, even beyond its bargain price
Skoda Scala front left driving

Skoda Scala

from £18,521
The Scala is a spacious family car that represents fantastic value for money next to its rivals
Toyota Corolla front cornering

Toyota Corolla

from £28,200
The Corolla is a fine family car with hybrid engines that offer very low running costs
Mercedes-AMG A45 front cornering

Mercedes-AMG A45

from £30,555
The Mercedes A45 AMG is ferociously quick in a straight line and round corners. However, rivals such as the BMW M135i are cheaper and more engaging.
Lexus LBX front cornering

Lexus LBX

from £29,995
The LBX is a small, hybrid-powered SUV that's well equipped and has a great interior
Honda Civic driving

Honda Civic

from £31,575
The Honda Civic is good to drive, has a big boot and comes with lots of standard kit. Shame its infotainment system is so poor
Nissan Micra front cornering

Nissan Micra

from £20,545
The Nissan Micra has returned as an electric hatchback based on our 2025 Car of the Year
Hyundai Inster front right driving

Hyundai Inster

from £17,250
The Hyundai Inster is a tiny electric car with a competitive range and a decent amount of interior space
Renault 5 driving

Renault 5

from £21,995
The Renault 5 is a brilliant small car – and it's surprisingly affordable, too
Skoda Octavia left driving

Skoda Octavia

from £23,495
The Skoda Octavia may not be the most stylish family car, but it's classy, comfortable, incredibly spacious and keenly priced
Toyota GR Yaris front cornering

New Toyota GR Yaris

from £22,395
The GR Yaris is one of the most characterful and entertaining hot hatches of the decade
Toyota Aygo X driving

Toyota Aygo X

from £18,685
The Aygo X is an urban-focused, fuel-efficient hybrid and a smaller sibling to the Yaris
Hyundai i20N front cornering

Hyundai i20N

from £17,810
Hyundai's cheapest hot hatch blends perky performance with well-balanced handling
Honda Civic Type R front cornering

Honda Civic Type R

from £31,575
The Honda Civic Type R offers awesome performance and precise handling, and yet it's also a practical and comfortable everyday car.
Seat Ibiza driving

Seat Ibiza

from £16,580
The Seat Ibiza is the best small car on the market; it really has no major weakness
Mercedes A-Class front cornering

Mercedes A-Class

from £30,555
Classy, good to drive and packed with technology, the Mercedes A-Class is one of the best prestige hatchbacks you can buy
Audi A3 front cornering

Audi A3

from £29,509
The Audi A3 is an outstanding all-rounder, although some rivals are better value for money.
Volkswagen Polo Black Edition front dynamic

Volkswagen Polo

from £18,199
The Polo is one of the best small cars around, but rivals undercut it on price. So, should you buy one?
Mazda 3 exterior dynamic

Mazda 3

from £22,880
The Mazda 3 is an also-ran in the fiercely competitive family car class. Plenty of rivals are better to drive and more practical.
Hyundai i10 front cornering

Hyundai i10

from £15,975
The Hyundai i10 is the best city car around. It’s quiet, roomy, good value for money and has a long warranty.
Dacia Sandero front right driving

Dacia Sandero

from £15,995
The Dacia Sandero demands compromises, but it's likeable and offers more practicality than anything else in this price range
MG4 driving front right

MG4

from £21,980
The MG4 EV electric car isn't perfect but it does offer very good value and a competitive range
VW ID 3 front cornering

Volkswagen ID 3

from £24,491
The ID 3 electric family car is good to drive and the latest facelifted version is a step up from the original
Cupra Born front cornering

Cupra Born

from £24,690
The Born is a sportier take on the VW ID 3, with a better interior and sharper handling
Hyundai i30 N front cornering

Hyundai i30 N

from £24,770
The i30N is a well-equipped hot hatch gifted with sublime handling. There are more powerful and quicker alternatives, though
Honda Jazz front cornering

Honda Jazz

from £23,998
The well-built Honda Jazz offers class-leading space and practicality. However, its ride, handling and refinement are not so impressive
VW Golf R front cornering

Volkswagen Golf R

from £22,144
With superb performance and four-wheel drive, the VW Golf R is one of the quickest cars point to point, but a Honda Civic Type R is more fun
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More on Hatchbacks

Renault Clio front driving

Car of the Year Awards 2026: Best small car to drive

Small cars might be inexpensive, cheap to run and practical for many people's daily needs - but that doesn't mean they can't be fun to drive, too

Dacia Sandero front driving

Dacia Sandero, Sandero Stepway and Jogger refreshed

Subtle design changes hide more fundamental improvements beneath the skin, including upgraded tech and new engine options

Dacia Spring front static

Dacia Spring gets more power and an upgraded battery

Updates to the UK’s most affordable electric car also include tweaks to the underpinnings that are designed to make it better to drive

Ford Focus front right driving

Ford Focus axed after 27 years

Ford’s family car favourite bows out as firm looks to an electric future

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