Best and worst: Hot hatches

When you look back at the great cars of the last few decades, hot hatches will be writ large among them.

High performance was once reserved for the rich. But cars like the VW Golf GTi, Ford Fiesta XR2 and Peugeot 205 GTi brought driving thrills to the masses.

And the hot hatches of today still do.

Good hot hatches need to tick certain boxes. They’ve got to be fast enough. They’ve got to hold the road without riding like track cars. They’ve got to work as everyday transport. And most of all, they’ve got to put a grin on your face.

Here’s five of the best from the current crop, including the current hot hatch champion – and, at the other end of the scale, one to avoid...