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Best fast superminis of 2024
Although SUVs are gradually taking over the world, there's still a massive place in the hearts of car buyers for the humble supermini. These are, after all, the cars that can pretty much do everything, offering affordable transport for five with low running costs, reasonable practicality and often a fair degree of handling panache.
But some superminis are less humble than others, with a number of car makers recognising that small, agile cars naturally make good performance machines, their diminutive sizes making them far more manageable and exploitable on some of the UK's smaller roads than, say, a Lamborghini Aventador, which is many things, but not small.
1. Toyota GR Yaris (0-62mph: 5.2 secs)
Toyota GR Yaris review
First things first: the GR Yaris shares almost nothing with the sensible Yaris hybrid save for its name. So while the standard Yaris is an efficient, easy-to-drive supermini, the GR Yaris is a rally-bred, four-wheel-drive 261-hp machine that harks back to models like the Subaru Impreza and Toyota Celica GT4. Sure, you can't buy a new one any more, but we've selected some great used examples below for you to look at. Go on...
2. Abarth 695 Biposto (0-62mph: 5.9 seconds)
Abarth 695 review
The Abarth 695 Biposto isn't a car you buy with your head - it rides rather firmly, it's a little unrefined on the motorway and its stripped-out interior is somewhat outdated. The 'Biposto' means two seats, by the way, but you can order a 'normal' 695 instead, which does have a pair of (tight) rear chairs. The 695 is utterly unlike any other car in its class, having more character and charm than you might consider it possible to squeeze into so small a package. It's also fantastically fun and engaging to drive, sounds amazing and is mighty quick, too. A hard car not to warm to.
3. MINI Cooper JCW (0-62mph: 6.1 seconds)
MINI 3-Door Hatch review
MINI is, it almost goes without saying, a brand that has built its reputation on designing fun-handling cars, and if you want to turn the performance dial up there are a couple of options. First is the Cooper S model, but for those really wanting maximum excitement, the John Cooper Works (JCW) version is the one to go for, thanks to its 231hp 2.0-litre engine and performance tuned suspension.
4. Ford Fiesta ST (0-62mph: 6.5 secs)
Ford Fiesta ST review
The Fiesta remains one of the most popular cars in the UK, and it's long developed and earned a reputation for being far more enjoyable to drive than it arguably needs to be. So if you chuck a 200hp 1.5-litre petrol engine under the bonnet, sharpen up the suspension and fit a sport bodykit, what are you left with? Well, one of the most fun, endearing cars on sale today.
5. Volkswagen Polo GTI (0-62mph: 6.5 secs)
Volkswagen Polo GTI review
While the Fiesta ST and GR Yaris are both hugely exciting cars, they may be a little raw for everyday use if you do a lot of driving. Step forward, then the VW Polo GTI, which offers strong performance thanks to its 2.0-litre 210hp engine, but also makes for a far more relaxed and comfortable companion on long journeys.
6. Hyundai i20N (0-62mph: 6.7 secs)
Hyundai i20 N review
Hyundai has been on something of a roll recently, growing the maturity and quality of big-selling models like the Tucson, while nailing the brief with electric cars like the Ioniq 5. Turns out the firm can also make a pretty darn good hot hatch, with the i20N supermini following in the hallowed footsteps of its big i30N brother, offering about the same amount of excitement, but in a smaller package and at a lower price. Yep, we like the i20N - it's really, really good.
7. Vauxhall Corsa-e (0-62mph: 7.6 seconds)
Vauxhall Corsa Electric review
Battery range up to 222 miles
Vauxhall doesn't offer a performance VXR version of the current Corsa, but it does sell an all-electric model, the Corsa-e. This is clearly an electric car rather than a hot hatch, but the way EVs deploy their power (IE all at once) means 0-62mph is dealt with in a more-than-respectable 7.6 seconds, while the official range of up to 220 miles is decent for a car of this size. The Corsa-e is agile and fun to drive, too.
8. Audi A1 Sportback 35 TFSI (0-62mph: 7.7 seconds)
Audi A1 Sportback review9. Volkswagen Up GTI (0-62mph: 8.5 seconds)
Volkswagen Up GTI review
Okay, so the Up is more a city car than a bona fide supermini, but given it's about the same size (and more powerful) than the original Golf GTI, we're going to stretch our definitions slightly and include it in this rundown. But the Up GTI is offers more than just punchy performance with a small footprint: it's also astonishingly fun to drive, while the 115hp 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine has bags of character, and relishes being revved out.
10. Suzuki Swift Sport (0-62mph: 9.1 seconds)
Suzuki Swift Sport review
Despite its name the Swift Sport isn't the fastest car in this list (full disclosure: it's the slowest), though it's also proof that having fun doesn't have to correlate with going quickly. A 9.1-second 0-62mph time is by no means unacceptable, while the Swift Sport's light, feelsome controls and excellent handling make it a good brisk supermini to have on your list nonetheless.
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