Sales of hot hatchbacks took a nosedive after the global financial crisis, but high-performance family cars are now making a comeback, and their popularity is most definitely on the up.
After a five-year wait, Honda is back in the ring with its new Civic Type R, and it’s spoiling for a fight against the best in the sector.
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There are some big changes underneath that mean this hot Honda now has the firepower to potentially beat the best, including a new, more powerful 2.0-litre turbo.
However, it faces a tough challenge in the form of our reigning hot hatch champion – the SEAT Leon Cupra – and the old-school favourite, the Renaultsport Mégane seen here in 275 Trophy guise.
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Usable thrills are what the current crop delivers, and on the face of things the Civic Type R has the practicality to match its blistering real-world performance and agile handling.
However, at £29,995 for the standard model, it’s more expensive than both rivals we’ve lined up. So, can the Honda’s extra on-paper pace and versatile cabin edge it ahead of the competition?
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We put the hot hatch trio to the test on road and track to find out...
• Renaultsport Megane 275 Trophy review
Click the links above to read individual reviews, and scroll down to see which hot hatch comes out on top...
Head-to-head
Track focus
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Performance modes are the current trend. SEAT’s switchable Drive Profiles (above) let you tailor the different settings, but with no data readouts. Honda’s +R mode is less customisable yet provides extra info, including a 0-62mph timer. And Renault’s RS Monitor gives performance readouts such as cornering g-force.
’Ring record
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SEAT started the hot hatch war with its Nürburgring lap record of 7:58.12, which Renault’s 275 then knocked four seconds off. Honda has now shattered this with a blistering 7:50.63 time, making it the fastest front-wheel- drive hatch to lap the track.
Styling
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Looks are subjective, but the Honda’s eye-popping design may be a bit much for some. The Renault and SEAT are more reserved – although in the case of the Trophy, only just. Swap white for black contrast details on the Leon, and it looks even better.
Verdict
1st place: SEAT Leon Cupra
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SEAT’s hold over the hot hatch class continues, thanks to the Leon Cupra’s huge spread of ability. In some areas the others may be more focused, but the figures don’t lie: the Cupra is still sensationally fast. It feels alive to drive, too, and responds to your inputs faithfully to inspire huge confidence. Settle down to a leisurely pace and it’s the easiest to live with. Plus, its price advantage seals the deal.
2nd place: Honda Civic Type R
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Outright power isn’t enough to knock the SEAT off the top spot. However, the new Civic Type R is a resounding success and has been worth the wait. It mixes devilish speed with surprising practicality, but falls short in a few areas. Its styling will divide opinion, it isn’t as well equipped and it can’t match the SEAT’s comfort – but on a twisty road it’s devastatingly effective.
3rd place: Renaultsport Megane 275 Trophy
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The Mégane RS has aged nicely. Its chassis is as sweet as ever and delivers a brawny hot hatch experience laden with feel. However, costly options are needed to keep up with rivals, so combined with lower economy, steeper depreciation, poorer practicality and a more dated interior, the Renault finishes third. The margin isn’t massive, but rivals are starting to edge further ahead.
Coming soon…
Ford Focus RS
Due: 2016 Price: £30,000 (est.) Engine: 2.3-litre 4cyl, 345bhp
With similar pricing, plus more power and four-wheel drive, Ford’s new range-topping Focus RS could upstage the Civic Type R when it hits dealers next year. It’ll also offer the practicality of a five-door layout.
Key specs:
| SEAT Leon Cupra 280 | Honda Civic Type R | Renaultsport Megane 275 Trophy | |
| On-the-road price/total as tested | £28,210/£30,450 | £29,995/£29,995 | £28,930/£34,475 |
| Residual value (after 3yrs/30,000) | £12,080/42.8% | £13,126/43.8% | £12,249/42.3% |
| Depreciation | £16,130 | £16,869 | £16,681 |
| Annual tax liability std/higher rate | £1,455/£2,909 | £1,719/£3,439 | £1,658/£3,315 |
| Annual fuel cost (12k/20k miles) | £1,991/£3,318 | £2,276/£3,794 | £2,378/£3,964 |
| Ins. group/quote/road tax band/cost | 33/£526/G/£180 | 33/£558/H/£205 | 36/£598/H/£205 |
| Cost of 1st/2nd/3rd service | £179/£229/£179 | £215/£285/£365 | £399 (3yrs) |
| Length/wheelbase | 4,271/2,631mm | 4,390/2,605mm | 4,312/2,640mm |
| Height/width | 1,434/1,816mm | 1,466/1,878mm | 1,423/1,848mm |
| Engine | 4cyl in-line/1,984cc | 4cyl in-line/1,996cc | 4cyl in-line/1,998cc |
| Peak power | 276/5,600 bhp/rpm | 306/6,500 bhp/rpm | 271/5,500 bhp/rpm |
| Peak torque | 350/1,700 Nm/rpm | 400/2,500 Nm/rpm | 370/3,000 Nm/rpm |
| Transmission | 6-spd man/fwd | 6-spd man/fwd | 6-spd man/fwd |
| Fuel tank capacity/spare wheel | 50 litres/space-saver | 50 litres/repair kit | 60 litres/repair kit |
| Boot capacity (seats up/down) | 380/1,210 litres | 477/1,210 litres | 344/991 litres |
| Kerbweight/payload | 1,395/495kg | 1,382/318kg | 1,376/441kg |
| Turning circle/drag coefficient | 10.5 metres/N/A | 12.6 metres/N/A | 11.4 metres/0.75Cd |
| Basic warranty (miles)/recovery | 3yrs (60,000)/2yrs | 3yrs (90,000)/3yrs | 4yrs (100,000)/4yrs |
| Service intervals/UK dealers | 20,000 (2yrs)/128 | 12,500 (1yr)/196 | 18,000 (1yr)/153 |
| Driver Power manufacturer/dealer pos. | 15th/32nd* | 18th/2nd* | 7th/14th* |
| NCAP: Adult/child/ped./assist/stars | 94/92/70/71/5^ | 94/83/69/86/5^^ | 83/78/60/56/5^^^ |
| 0-60/30-70mph | 6.7/5.0 seconds | 6.1/4.7 seconds | 6.5/5.5 seconds |
| 30-50mph in 3rd/4th | 2.5/3.7 seconds | 2.4/4.0 seconds | 2.9/4.3 seconds |
| 50-70mph in 5th/6th | 4.8/6.2 seconds | 4.1/6.6 seconds | 5.5/7.5 seconds |
| Top speed/rpm at 70mph | 155mph/2,500rpm | 167mph/2,600rpm | 159mph/2,500rpm |
| Braking 70-0/60-0/30-0mph | 52.8/37.0/9.5m | 52.0/40.1/9.6m | 48.7/36.9/9.5m |
| Noise levels outside/idle/30/70mph | 70/56/64/70dB | 71/56/65/71dB | 73/56/68/73dB |
| Auto Express econ (mpg/mpl)/range | 31.9/7.0/351 miles | 27.9/6.1/307 miles | 26.7/5.9/352 miles |
| Govt urban/extra-urban/combined | 32.5/51.4/42.8mpg | 30.1/46.3/38.7mpg | 28.3/45.6/37.7mpg |
| Govt urban/extra-urban/combined | 7.2/11.3/9.4mpl | 6.6/10.2/8.5mpl | 6.2/10.0/8.3mpl |
| Actual/claimed CO2/tax bracket | 205/154g/km/26% | 234/170g/km/29% | 244/174g/km/29% |
| Airbags/Isofix/park. sensors/camera | Seven/yes/yes/£215 | Six/yes/£2,300+/yes | Six/yes/yes/£350 |
| Auto gearbox/stability/cruise control | £1,355/yes/yes | No/yes/yes | No/yes/yes |
| Climate control/leather/heated seats | Yes/£1,055/£360** | Yes/no/no | Yes/part/no |
| Metallic paint/xenons/keyless go | £575/LED/no | Yes/LED/yes | £1,300/no/yes |
| Sat-nav/USB/DAB radio/Bluetooth | Yes/yes/yes/yes | £2,300+/yes/yes/yes | Yes/yes/no/yes |
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