Ford Focus RS

Ford has a long and illustrious history with hot hatches…including the hardcore Escort RS Cosworth, which counts outspoken Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson as one of its biggest fans.

And Ford gave performance junkies a super-sized 212bhp hit in 2003 with this – the Focus RS.

This version of the RS was sold in limited numbers – just 4,501 were built – and cost £20,370 brand new.

We’ve found used examples – including a used 2003 Ford Focus RS with 38,000 miles on the clock – for under £12,000.

Find a used Ford Focus RS on Auto Trader

Ford Focus RS - Look at the Wheels on That

Vauxhall Astra VXR

“The only thing this car really needs…is a straight-jacket”.

Jeremy Clarkson has recently become a fan of Vauxhall – thanks to the mind-blowing Vauxhall VX220 and the loveable 6-litre Vauxhall Monaro.

And he loved the madness cooked up with Vauxhall’s hottest EVER hatch – the tyre-shredding 240bhp Vauxhall Astra VXR.

With outstanding looks, a good quality finish and a turbocharged 2-litre engine with a power output to put others to shame, the VXR is a smoking hot hatch.

Brand new the VXR costs more than £20,000 – but we’ve found used examples, including this used 2006 Vauxhall Astra VXR with less than 20,000 miles on the clock – for around £10,500.

Find a used Vauxhall Astra VXR on Auto Trader

Renault Megane R26

The Renault Megane R26 certainly knows how to ‘shake that ass’ – it’s unique styling and 18-inch Renaultsport alloy wheels hide a cracking ‘Cup Chassis’ and a whopping 230bhp.

This means the hardcore French hatch hits 62mph from rest in just 6.5 seconds and will accelerate on to a top speed of 147mph.

Brand new the Renault Megane R26 costs more than £20,000, but we’ve found used examples – like this used 2007 Renault Megane R26 with 12,000 miles on the clock – for around £10,500.

Find a used Renault Megane R26 on Auto Trader

BMW 130i M Sport

BMW threw its hat into the hot hatch arena with this offering – the 260bhp BMW 130i M Sport.

Fitting the baby Beemer with a powerful six-cylinder engine, revised suspension, bigger wheels and a subtle bodykit makes this one of the premium hot hatches on the market – but now you don’t have to pay a premium.

View our BMW 1 Series image gallery

Brand new the BMW costs more than £27,000, but we’ve found used examples of this storming hatch, which completes the 0-62mph dash in just six seconds, for around £12,000 – like this used 2005 BMW 130i M Sport with 21,000 miles on the clock.

Find a used BMW 130i M Sport on Auto Trader

Honda Civic Type-R

Honda’s high-revving Civic Type-R sets new benchmarks for quality, handling and outright fun – and the current generation is a storming good drive.

The new Civic Type-R features a 2-litre petrol engine with 198bhp and accelerates from 0-62mph in just 7.2 seconds, before hitting a top speed of 146mph.

Drive one off a Honda forecourt and you’ll pay upwards of £18,000 – and while not strictly half price, we’ve found used examples, like this used 2007 Honda Civic Type-R with just over 24,000 miles on the clock, for around £12,000, making a substantial saving.

Find a used Honda Civic Type-R on Auto Trader

Honda Civic Type-R car review

Seat Leon Cupra

Seat is owned by Volkswagen, and the Leon uses the same chassis as the evergreen Volkswagen Golf – but that’s where the similarities end.

The Leon Cupra features a bespoke 2-litre turbocharged petrol engine developing 240bhp – as much as the Astra VXR – and can accelerate from 0-62mph in just 6.5 seconds, eclipsing it’s Golf GTi stablemate.

The Cupra features stiff suspension and a ride setup specific for UK roads – making it a fantastic handling hot hatch.

Buy a Seat Leon Cupra new and you’ll pay upwards of £18,000 – we’ve found used examples on Auto Trader, including this used 2007 Seat Leon Cupra FR with 22,000 miles on the clock, for less than £14,000.

Find a used Seat Leon Cupra on Auto Trader

Seat Leon Cupra car review

Audi S3

Another ‘premium’ hot hatch, the Audi S3 also shares the Volkswagen Golf platform, and is fitted with a 260bhp 2-litre turbocharged engine, rivalling the BMW 130i M Sport.

And one of the S3’s unique features is that it comes standard with the famous ‘Quattro’ four-wheel-drive system.

Brand new the Audi S3 costs upwards of £27,000, but we’ve found used examples, like this used 2007 Audi S3 with 12,500 miles on the clock, for around £20,000.

Find a used Audi S3 on Auto Trader

Check out the Renault Megane R26.R: