Rise of the mega hatch

Who needs a supercar in the UK today when you can get breathtaking performance and everyday practicality for a fraction of the price? Adrian Hearn looks at the rise of the mega hatch.

Supercars are great aren’t they? Fast and handsome-looking motors which announce to the world you’ve made a success of your life.

But for every little boy who gives a passing glance of admiration at your mid-engined 190mph-plus Italian stallion there’s a woman who thinks you’re ostentatious and a man who wants to punch you. Or steal your car.

You don’t really get this sense of hatred with hot hatches. Today’s GTis, STs and Type-Rs have around 200bhp, four seats and a big boot and offer performance and practicality at a fifth of the price of the supercar.

However, progress is progress and as businessmen will say: “let’s look at what we do well and what we can improve on”. In performance car speak, that means power, braking and handling. And this ladies and gentlemen means turning a hot hatch into a mega hatch.

Gallery: click below to view images of 'mega' hatches

Fast Ford

As with most forms of budget performance, the mega hatch takes its heritage from Ford which built the legendary Escort RS Cosworth back in 1993.

With 227bhp, the four-wheel drive Escort – with its huge spoiler and hooligan design – could accelerate from 0-60mph in 5.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 140mph.

It may have been priced more towards the working man but insurance premiums such as the £25,000 Jeremy Clarkson was once quoted were not unusual. Petrolheads loved the Cossie, joy-riders loved it more…

Then you get Volkswagen. The Germans know a thing or two about building pocket rockets with the Golf GTi a car which most, if not all, hot hatch lovers are fans of. But the GTi is not a mega hatch.

The mark four Golf R32, however, is. Launched in 2003 following the V5 Golf and 2.8-litre 4Motion, the R32 was powered by a 3.2-litre V6 engine with 241bhp and four-wheel drive. All this power enabled 0-62mph in 6.6 seconds and a top speed of 153mph.

VW produced the R32 until 2004 when the mark five was launched. Using the same engine but with 250bhp, the new R32 could hit 62mph in 6.2 seconds and hit 154mph. The performance bar was rising, and Alfa had joined the party too.

Just like the R32, the Alfa 147 GTA had a 3.2-litre V6 engine and developed 250bhp. Acceleration figures were also on a par, with the Italian mega-hatch hitting 62mph in 6.3 seconds and maxing out at 153mph. Production ended in 2005.

It all went a bit quiet on the mega hatch for a couple of years with the R32 battling it out with the more expensive but similar-performing Audi S3. BMW’s 135i M, while having the performance credentials, doesn’t have the look of a mega hatch. We want cars to shout aggression, the 1 Series hatchback shouts Hyundai i30.

Subaru still builds the stupendously fast Impreza WRX STi which accelerates from 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds. It’s faster than most things on the road in a straight line and through corners but since it became a hatchback it lost its charm. For outright oomph, it’s definitely one to consider though.

Want a mega hatch? We've got loads on our site - including the Ford Escort Cosworth, Volkswagen Golf R32, Audi S3, BMW 135i and Subaru Impreza.

Shifting the focus

Then everything changed last year.

After months of rumours and spy shots, Ford revealed it would be bringing back the RS badge on its latest Focus. But this time, the Blue Oval giants would be raising the bar with some very bold claims.

It would be fitting a highly modified version of ST’s 2.5-litre engine which would now develop 300bhp – channelled through the front wheels. In an unprecedented first, the RS could accelerate fiercely and through corners without torque steering into the nearest hedge.

The RS is frighteningly fast. The 62mph mark is met in 5.9 seconds and there’s no boring 155mph limiter, topping out at 163mph. Groundbreaking and in-yer-face in equal proportions, the new Focus RS has re-written the rule books of what a front-wheel drive car can do.

With the Focus RS now on sale, it was down to the rivals to strike back. And they have, big time. Renault is launching its Megane Renaultsport 250 at the end of the year. While we haven’t driven it yet, it’s likely the 250bhp Renault will be a storming car to drive on roads and track with 0-62mph taking around 6 seconds.

Search for a used Ford Focus RS and Renault Megane RenaultSport

Gallery: click below to view images of 'mega' hatches

RS-kicking performance

VW chose last week’s Frankfurt Motor Show to debut its R32 replacement, the R. Shunning a big V6 for weight and running cost issues, the Golf R gets a 2-litre turbocharged engine with 265bhp and all-wheel drive. While 35bhp less powerful than the Focus RS, the Golf R will accelerate from 0-62mph in just 5.5 seconds with Volkswagen’s semi-automatic gearbox.

Seat, which is part of the VW Group, has fitted the same engine in its Leon. While looking quite bland, the Leon Cupra R certainly isn’t boring in a straight line, accelerating from 0-62mph in 6.1 seconds before hitting the 155mph electronic barrier. It’s not as quick off the mark as the Golf R but it will be considerably cheaper than the VW.

Let’s not forget Mazda with the Japanese car maker building the 3 MPS. With 255bhp, the £21,500 hatchback will hit 62mph in 6.1 seconds and go all the way to 155mph. It’s well equipped, brutish looking and safe – but doesn’t have the charm of the Golf.

In the rumour-mill is a new Audi RS3 which will pack 340bhp and four-wheel drive. Mad? Yes. Likely? Audi hasn’t heard anything about it apparently which is a shame. However, the German car maker is churning out a new car every other day at the moment so we live in hope.

So it’s left to the tuners. UK companies Graham Goode Racing has given the RS a 40bhp boost and Revo has upped the oomph in the Seat Leon Cupra K1 to 360bhp. Both cars are brilliant to drive and the upgrade packages are excellent value.

With mega hatches you do get the full package. The equipment, running costs, rear seats and performance is more than enough for most. You get this with hot hatches too, but it’s always nice to go to the next level.

Search for a used Mazda 3 MPS and Seat Leon Cupra R

Video: we drove the bonkers Seat Leon Cupra K1 tuned by Revo - to 360bhp