Best hatchbacks 2025
Reviewed: the best hatchbacks you should buy this year
By: Ben Welham
Last updated: 20 January 2025
A life without hatchbacks in the UK would be like America without pickup trucks – it wouldn’t feel right, and no one would know what to drive.
These small cars are still the most popular mode of transport for Brits (despite the rise of SUVs), and with so many choices on offer, it can be hard to know which to choose.
Don’t worry, we’ve taken the legwork out of it for you and reviewed 12 of the best hatchbacks on the market. Here’s what you need to know.
What are the best hatchbacks?
Ford Fiesta
Vauxhall Corsa
Peugeot 208
MG4
MINI Hatch
Fiat 500
VW Golf
Honda Civic
Audi A3
Mercedes A-Class
BMW 1 Series
Dacia Sandero
12 of the best hatchbacks you should consider
Ford Fiesta
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Our pick: Ford Fiesta Vignale
If it’s value for money you’re after, it’s hard to ignore a Ford Fiesta.
With sporty looks and eco-focused petrol, diesel and mild-hybrid petrol engines, this fun-to-drive hatchback is a great choice.
The interior is a great mix of sportiness and functionality, with its large physical dials and buttons as well as its great-feeling gearbox.
We like the Vignale trim because it gets all the bells and whistles and helps turn this little hatchback up to 11.
Read our Ford Fiesta review
Vauxhall Corsa
 "Vauxhall Corsa front three quarters")
Our pick: Vauxhall Corsa GS
Rivalling the Fiesta as a great first car choice is a Vauxhall Corsa. It too gets eco-focused engines with petrol, diesel and electric offerings.
Inside, it has everything you would ever need from a quality runaround – a big infotainment screen, comfortable seats, a rear-view camera and plenty more.
It’s also practical thanks to ample rear passenger space and a 309-litre boot, beating the Fiesta’s (still very usable) 292 litres.
Our pick is the GS trim because it sits near the top of the range, offering LED headlights, a seven-inch infotainment screen and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.
Read our Vauxhall Corsa review
Peugeot 208
 "Peugeot e-208 driving")
Our pick: Peugeot 208 GT
If you want an easy-to-drive French hatchback with loads of onboard features and good looks, it’s hard to ignore the 208.
The one quirk about the Peugeot’s interior is its almost F1-like steering wheel, which may take some getting used to but feels great and suits this smart little city car perfectly.
It gets an impressive 311 litres of boot space too. Plus, there’s the all-electric e-208 makes an especially good used buy if you fancy green power.
The GT trim gets 17-inch alloy wheels, a 10-inch screen, TomTom sat-nav and LED headlights, among other things.
Read our Peugeot 208 review
MG4
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Our pick: MG4 Trophy
Small electric cars are some of the best types of cars you can buy, not only for city dwellers but for anyone after a nippy hatchback with clever features.
Enter the MG4 – a compact and fun EV that can do it all. Whether you need to use all its 323-mile range, or are quickly hopping across London (traffic permitting...), it can do it all.
While it may be small, you do still get a 363-litre boot and a well-sized seven-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.
The MG4 Trophy gets a nifty 360-degree camera system, heated steering wheel, wireless phone charging and artificial leather to help save the environment.
Read our MG4 review
MINI Hatch
 "Mini Cooper front three quarters")
Our pick: Mini Cooper
If you’re after something fun and funky, a three-door MINI Hatch (also called MINI Hatchback) will be right up your street. What it lacks in space, it more than makes up for in pure (driving) fun.
You can get one as a petrol, diesel or all-electric MINI Electric. And if you’ve got a phobia of straight lines, this car’s perfect for you thanks to its circular infotainment screen, air vents and gauge cluster (they’re everywhere).
While it’s one of the most fun to drive on this list, it’s not the most practical, with a mere 211 litres of boot space. Having said that, it’s plenty for a couple of small suitcases or a few softer bags.
You’d be foolish not to choose the Cooper trim purely for its sportier looks and incredible history.
Read our MINI Hatch review
Fiat 500
 "Fiat 500 front three quarters")
Our pick: Fiat 500 Dolcevita
Life with a hatchback doesn’t have to be boring. To be fair, all these cars show that, but none more so than the retro-cool Fiat 500.
Apart from its cute face to its functional cabin, it’s small and easy to drive and park, which is why it’s so popular with new drivers.
It may not have the biggest boot at 185 litres, but its peppy 1.0-litre, three-cylinder engine has some real get up and go about it – as does the fully electric 500e with 117hp.
The Dolcevita adds a panoramic sunroof, retro badges, 16-inch alloy wheels and chrome-effect door handles.
Read our Fiat 500 review
VW Golf
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Our pick: VW Golf Match
One of the most popular hatchbacks worldwide – of all time – is the Volkswagen Golf, and it isn’t hard to see why. It’s well-built and has all the kit you need, why would you want anything else?
It comes with a selection of petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid and even electric power options in the form of the e-Golf.
Its interior is functional, well laid out and easy to use, with all the same tech you’d expect to find in other VW products, and with a 380-litre boot, it matches its BMW rival (more on that below).
The Match trim sits in the middle of the Golf range and offers everything you need without spending a lot more on an R-Line or GTI.
Read our VW Golf review
Honda Civic
 "Honda Civic driving")
Our pick: Honda Civic Sport
The standard Honda Civic is often overshadowed by the celebrated Type-R, but the truth is, you may be better off with the less-spicy version.
Not only is it cheaper to buy and run, but it’s also more family-friendly and less antisocial – even if that exhaust does sound great.
It’s a practical car too, with 410 litres of boot space and seating up to five people.
Without going for the Type-R, simply go for the Civic Sport and get sporty looks without the added running costs.
Read our Honda Civic review
Audi A3
 "Audi A3 driving")
Our pick: Audi A3 TFSI e
Out of the quarter of German hatchbacks we’ve picked, the Audi A3 is arguably the sharpest, with its angular front design and rear lights.
It’s available with a petrol, diesel or plug-in hybrid engine, so you’ve got plenty of choice there.
The A3 manages to balance functionality, tech and coolness all in one package, and if there’s one thing Audi’s good at, it’s adding loads of genuinely useful features to its cars.
Our pick is the plug-in hybrid TFSI e because you get up to 40 miles of pure electric driving.
Read our Audi A3 review
Mercedes A-Class
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Our pick: Mercedes A-Class AMG Line
If there’s one car to take on the 1 Series and the A3 in a head-to-head battle, it’s a Mercedes-Benz A-Class, with its stylish looks and effortless class.
The versatile A-Class is available with the choice of petrol and diesel engines and, unlike its rival, gets a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) option with up to 53 miles of electric range.
Its main draw is the level of quality materials and tech found inside. From Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to a clever touchpad-style control for the infotainment screen, you’ll feel right at home.
It also has a well-sized 350-litre boot, with a nice deep floor allowing plenty of space for suitcases and larger objects.
To balance sportiness and luxury, go for the AMG Line which gets ambient lighting, part-leather seats and two seven-inch displays.
Read our Mercedes A-Class review
BMW 1 Series
 "BMW 1 Series (120) front three quarters")
Our pick: BMW 1 Series M Sport
You can get a BMW 1 Series with either a petrol or diesel engine and looks especially good when plastered in BMW ‘M’ trim bits.
When you get behind the wheel, you can tell this is a proper driver’s car, from the way the steering feels to the driver-focused cabin and controls.
And, a nice bonus for a sporty hatchback, there’s plenty of space for rear-seat passengers. Add that to an impressive 380-litre boot, which is plenty for your weekly shop or a few soft bags and/or suitcases, and it’s a properly practical family car.
BMWs are meant to be sporty so the M Sport is our pick of the bunch because it looks like the 128ti without the added expenses.
Read our BMW 1 Series review
Dacia Sandero
 "Dacia Sandero front")
Our pick: Dacia Sandero Comfort
Budget motoring has never been so good, and none do it better than the Dacia Sandero. Cars from the Romanian brand just keep getting better and better.
Yes, the materials may feel cheap and yes, they may not have as much tech as an Audi. But if you flip that around, you get a hard-wearing daily hatchback perfect for family life, and it’s backed by Renault engineering.
Boot space is a useful 328 litres, and you get a manual gearbox (automatic available on the Stepway) – a rarity in today’s cars.
The Sandero is all about stripping things back to basics, so you don’t need anything more than the Comfort trim in our view.
Read our Dacia Sandero review
Find used hatchbacks
If you’ve come away from this wanting to switch up what’s on your driveway for a used hatchback, you’re in luck.
Simply check out our available stock on our website or app, or if you want to see one in person, head over to one of our Stores to take one for a test drive.