Hatchbacks aren’t traditionally the cars you buy to satisfy a need for speed, but some of these small, ultra-efficient cars have a big secret—they’re seriously powerful. The ‘hot hatch’ subclass is popular in the U.K., where most cars are relatively compact.
Shiny little sports cars are great, until you try to fit more than one passenger or any type of cargo in them. Hot hatches offer the best of both worlds, as you have enough room for a comfortable ride, without having to sacrifice a unit of horsepower.
All hatchbacks are definitely not created equal, so pay close attention to horsepower and torque when shopping. AxleGeeks compiled a list of the 17 most powerful gas-powered, four-door hatchbacks of 2015.
2015 MINI Cooper
The 2015 MINI Cooper has 134 horsepower and 162 ft-lbs torque. It is 7.7 percent lighter than all 2015 hatchbacks.
2015 Hyundai Accent
The 2015 Hyundai Accent is 0.7 percent less powerful than its competitors, with 137 horsepower. Its torque is mediocre at 123 ft-lbs, as 150 ft-lbs is the class average.
2015 Chevrolet Sonic
The 2015 Chevrolet Sonic has 138 horsepower and 125 ft-lbs torque, which are both typical for its class. At a starting price of $14,845, the car is 28 percent cheaper than its competitors.
2015 Kia Rio
The 2015 Kia Rio has 138 horsepower, which is typical for its class. Its torque is a mediocre 123 ft-lbs, as the norm is an average of 150 ft-lbs.
2015 Subaru Impreza
The 2015 Subaru Impreza has 148 horsepower, which is 15 percent less than its class average of 173 HP. The car has 145 ft-lbs torque, which is comparatively unexceptional as 195 ft-lbs is the standard.
2015 Mazda 3
The 2015 Mazda 3 has 155 horsepower and 150 ft-lbs torque. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recognized the car as a top safety pick.
2015 Ford Focus
The 2015 Ford Focus has 160 horsepower, making it 7.5 percent less powerful than the class average of 173 HP. Its torque is a mediocre 146 ft-lbs, compared to the standard 195 ft-lbs.
2015 Volkswagen Golf
The 2015 Volkswagen Golf is 1.7 percent less powerful with 170 horsepower (class average is 173 HP). Its 200 ft-lbs torque meets expectations, but the car is 16 percent cheaper than its competitors, starting at $20,995.
2015 Kia Forte
The 2015 Kia Forte has a standard 173 horsepower, but is 21 percent cheaper than class average, starting at $19,690. The car’s torque is 154 ft-lbs, which is comparatively mediocre, as the standard is 195 ft-lbs.
2015 Hyundai Elantra GT
The 2015 Hyundai Elantra GT meets the class average of 173 horsepower, but it is 3.3 percent less fuel efficient with 29 mpg combined. Its 154 ft-lbs torque is mediocre, compared with the 195 ft-lbs standard.
2015 Nissan Juke
The 2015 Nissan Juke has 188 horsepower, which makes the car 8.7 percent more powerful than its 173 HP class average. Torque is an unexceptional 177 ft-lbs, compared with the 195 ft-lbs standard.
2015 Honda Crosstour
The 2015 Honda Crosstour has 192 horsepower, making it 31 percent less powerful than the 278 HP class average. Its torque is a mediocre 162 ft-lbs, compared to the standard 252 ft-lbs.
2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI
The 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI is 21 percent more powerful than the rest of its class, with 210 horsepower (others average 173 HP). Torque is impressive at 258 ft-lbs, as most competitors have a mere 195 ft-lbs.
2015 BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo
The 2015 BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo has 240 horsepower, ranking it 20 percent less powerful than the class average of 300 HP. The car has mediocre torque at 255 ft-lbs, in a class where 300 ft-lbs is the standard.
2015 Ford Focus ST
The 2015 Ford Focus ST has a horsepower of 252, making it 46 percent more powerful than the rest of its class (the average is 173 HP). It also has an impressive 270 ft-lbs torque, in a class averaging 195 ft-lbs.
2015 Volkswagen Golf R
The 2015 Volkswagen Golf R is 69 percent more powerful than the rest of its class, with 292 horsepower (the average 2015 compact hatchback has 173 HP). Its torque is also above the 195 ft-lbs class standard, at 280 ft-lbs.
2015 BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo
The 2015 BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo has an adequate 300 horsepower and a standard 300 ft-lbs torque for its class. The car runs on premium unleaded (required) fuel.
Comparison of Most Powerful Hatchbacks
Here’s a recap of the 17 most-powerful hatchbacks of 2015 for an easy side-by-side comparison.