Best five-door hatchbacks
A list of the best used five-door hatchbacks you should consider
By Ben Welham
Last updated: 30 May 2025
Five-door hatchbacks have become more popular than ever as families love their practicality, spaciousness and easy manoeuvrability around town.
With so many flooding the market, it’s tricky to know where to start, which is why we’ve put together a list of the best five-door hatchbacks you should consider buying in the UK.
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What are the best five-door hatchbacks in the UK?
Volkswagen Golf
BMW 1 Series
Vauxhall Astra Electric
Škoda Octavia
Audi A3 Sportback
Peugeot e-208
Honda Civic
Mercedes A-Class
Renault Clio
MG4
The best five-door hatches 2025
Volkswagen Golf
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The go-to family hatchback is, and has always been, the Volkswagen Golf.
It used to be available as both a three-door and five-door, but the former died with the Mk7 generation in favour of a five-door-only lineup.
We’d always suggest the latter anyway because it’s more spacious and not a lot longer on the road. With the slightly longer body, you benefit from a 381-litre boot, which has become the industry standard size.
Engines vary quite a lot, with petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid and electric variants being available across the used car market.
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BMW 1 Series
 "BMW 1 Series (120) rear three quarters")
The 1 Series is the smallest car BMW makes, but with five doors, it’s plenty big enough for most people.
Boot space sits at 300 litres (380 litres in the M135 without mild hybrid tech), which is less than its Golf rival, but the interior quality is at a higher level.
From soft leathers to BMW’s intuitive iDrive infotainment system, it makes every journey that much easier because there’s less to think about.
With an automatic gearbox, you can have a diesel or petrol version (though diesel ones can no longer be bought new) – all of which are very smooth and punchy when they need to be.
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Vauxhall Astra Electric
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The Vauxhall Astra has been around for decades, but now there’s an electric model which brings together an old-school and trusted name with futuristic features and silent driving.
It's like the petrol car in every way other than the fact it’s silent, and the boot is quite a bit smaller at 352 litres vs. 422 litres due to the batteries.
You get all the same features, though, such as wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and two 10-inch screens.
As electric cars go, it’s pretty good too, with 257 miles of range, and it can charge to 80% in around 30 minutes.
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Škoda Octavia
 "Skoda Octavia rear three quarters")
Škoda is a byword for quality and reliability at a good price, and there’s not much better than the Octavia to fit this description.
While it may not look like a traditional hatchback shape, the Octavia is without doubt a proper one, with a hatch-style boot lid revealing 600 litres of space. It’s hard to wonder why you’d need the 640-litre estate model.
The rest of the interior is just as you’d expect. Picture VW-like quality but with a more rugged look. But it’s not basic, in fact it’s as well-equipped as any other modern car.
Plus, you can have one as a petrol, diesel or plug-in hybrid – the choice is yours.
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Audi A3 Sportback
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For a sportier vibe, you may want to look towards an Audi A3 Sportback.
As premium hatchbacks go, the A3 may not be as luxurious as, say, an A-Class, but what it does bring to the table is proper hot hatch fun.
With 150hp in the punchy 35 TFSI petrol model, it’s all you need to batter around our British B-roads.
And with a 380-litre boot, there’s enough space for all your bags for a weekend away.
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Peugeot e-208
 "Peugeot e-208 rear")
One of our favourite electric cars is the Peugeot e-208 and for one very good reason – it’s characterful.
From its small, flat-bottomed steering wheel to its zippy nature and surprising amount of interior space, it’s one of those small five-door electric cars that just make sense.
Boot space is decent at 309 litres, and there are plenty of nifty cubbies to store all of life’s daily necessities.
Being electric, it’s not only silent but plenty quick enough with 150hp from its front-mounted electric motor and a decent 268-mile range.
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Honda Civic
 "Honda Civic exterior")
Believe it or not, Honda’s been manufacturing the Civic since the early 1970s, making it one of the oldest existing hatchbacks today.
Now available exclusively as a five-door, the Civic has never been more practical, giving you a 410-litre boot and a roomy cabin.
There’s also just one engine option (on non-Type R variants) – a 2.0-litre petrol engine with hybrid assistance, offering 60mpg and a smooth driving experience, thanks to Honda’s eCVT gearbox.
The cabin is basic to look at but comes with all the mod cons you’ll need, and we really like the layout.
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Mercedes A-Class
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Sitting at the top of the luxury hatchback tree is the Mercedes A-Class – a fine example of what happens when you put expensive car innards into a hatchback.
From sporty leather seats to a large infotainment screen, the A-Class doesn’t mess about. And with a 370-litre boot, it sits well against its competition.
To drive, it’s superb. With the choice of both petrol and diesel engines, and plug-in hybrid powertrains, there’s a version for everyone.
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Renault Clio
 "Renault Clio driving")
Even with the newfound fame of the Renault 5, the humble Clio still gets the attention for being a fine five-door hatchback with so much to give.
Without breaking the bank, the Clio manages to be frugal (60+mpg), stylish and practical with a 391-litre boot, though the hybrid only gets 301 litres because of the batteries.
To drive, it’s a brilliant little hatchback, and reminds us of Clios of old, namely the 182, which is well-known for being the best Renault ever made.
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MG4
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Last but certainly not least is the MG4 – a small electric hatchback from the now Chinese-owned MG.
Other than sporting some rather dashing colours and with a great electric powertrain underneath, the MG4 is one of the most popular EVs on the market because of its price, though used ones are even more attractive.
It’s a pleasure to drive, and is nippy when you put your foot down, offering between 170hp and a whopping 435hp in the top-spec XPOWER model.
Boot space is decent too, at 363 litres, beating many of its larger rivals.
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Explore used five-door hatchbacks for sale
If you’re ready to purchase a used five-door hatchback, then you’ve come to the right place.
We have a selection of different cars to choose from, all with a 14-day money back guarantee and a 90-day warranty.
Search for your next car today entirely online or pop down to one of our cinch Stores to get a proper feel for your next motor. )