German Hatch back Galore
The world of Hatchbacks. To be totally honest we here at Zero260blog are not the biggest of fans of hatchback cars, however we do admit that there are some absolute beasts on the road! Here are some of the best hatchback's that we could think of and please leave us a comment of what you think.
The new Mercedes-Benz A 45 AMG is an ultra-high performance hot hatchback based on the regular A-Class.
It combines hatchback family car practicality with breath-taking performance, incredible levels of grip and running costs which are fairly low consider the speeds this car is capable of. It isn't cheap, though.
The A 45's chassis is shared with the Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG, but where the former is a proper hot hatch with a rock-hard ride and a sportier-sounding exhaust, the significantly more expensive CLA is slightly quieter, slightly more comfortable and boasts a much bigger boot.
With a maximum output of 355bhp and up to 450Nm of pulling power, the A 45 AMG’s 2.0-litre turbocharged engine is the most powerful series production four-cylinder powerplant in the world. Merc says the result is a 0 to 62mph acceleration time of 4.6 seconds while its top speed stands at 155 mph (electronically limited).
On the road it doesn’t feel quite that fast unless you use the launch control system, but it’s certainly an event. The noise is aggressive and the handling – thanks to four-wheel drive – is balanced and stable with a huge amount of grip.
Although this is a serious performance car, the A 45 AMG leads its segment in terms of fuel consumption, returning an official claimed average of 40.9mpg with CO2 emissions of 161g/km.
BMW has taken heed to critics of the 1-Series, who grumbled that the looks were challenging and the engine range spiralling. Solution? Its biggest facelift ever, introducing a far sharper nose, a much nicer rear end and some stonking new engines that further its performance and eco credentials over rivals. The 1 has never been better.
It still comes in three-door and five-door guise, with badges aligned to the 2-Series (so they bear little relation to engine capacity…) and BMW’s simplified the trim line-up. The old one was a top 10 best-seller regular. BMW’s aiming for more of the same with this.
The upshot is greater levels of comfort and refinement rather than a more-focused driver’s car. The 1-Series will still wag its tail under provocation, but, for better or worse, this is not what this car is about these days. Saying that, BMW has now launched an M135i variant which, with 320bhp from a turbocharged 3.0-litre straightsix, does bring a welcome dose of classic BMW enthusiasm.
Audi’s S1 hot hatchback is the relative baby of its S model line-up and delivers stunning and accessible performance thanks to quattro four-wheel drive and a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, as well as all of the class and quality you’d expect from Audi – even in this souped-up supermini.
This attractive blend of speed, stability and upmarket appeal does come at a price, though – prices start at £25,420 for the three-door S1, rising to £26,155 for the five-door S1 Sportback.
It’s a considerable chunk more than even rivals like the MINI John Cooper Works, but the Audi is the only all-wheel drive car in its class, so offers something extra compared to the group of front-wheel drive rivals.
However, be careful, because even a few light options can send the price rocketing towards £30,000, pushing the S1 towards a different league of hot hatch that outguns it for performance and practicality, including the Volkswagen Golf GTI, SEAT Leon Cupra and BMW M135i.
The Audi is still fast and will accelerate from 0-62mph in a blistering 5.8 seconds, which is one full second quicker than rivals like the Ford Fiesta ST and Renaultsport Clio. However, this pairing cost £17,395 and £19,145 respectively and make the Audi look quite pricey. In the Ford’s case, it’s even more fun to drive, too.
On paper, what is essentially a Golf GTI with more power and four-wheel drive doesn’t sound all that exciting yet, in the R, VW has made a genuinely rapid car with that rare knack of feeling totally secure and, at the same time, fantastically biddable, as if it were always working out the best way to extract the most pace from any given input on any given road.
Think of it as a Golf GTI with a reprogrammed ability map that comes into its own beyond 8/10ths, where the less powerful front-drive car would be starting to get distinctly ragged, and you’ll have a fair idea of the Golf R’s exceptional skill set.
If it lacks the nth degree of hardcore conviction and precision that make the RS Megane such a sublime driving tool, it arguably more than compensates with a fully-rounded repertoire of practical everyday abilities as well as the sophistication, myriad refinements and build excellence synonymous with the Golf. A potent package in every sense.
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