Is Audi Bringing Out a New A3 Hatchback to America Free Updated

The conventional family hatchback segment might not exist the market's fastest-growing, but it remains one of the most crucial and hotly contested. Inside it, class stalwarts are reinventing themselves all the time, while brand-new entrants come along with regularity, each intended to pause through and take the market by the scruff of the neck. And at present, slowly, we're seeing more viably-priced all-electric options forcefulness their way in amongst the combustion-engined cars and hybrids.

The traditional family hatchback as we once knew it no longer really exists. In one case apprehensive day-to-24-hour interval hauler of people and their luggage, these cars have been transformed into oftentimes quite striking five-door aspiration machines that offer something for everyone, whether you're looking for a frugal diesel, a peppy small turbocharged petrol engine, bargain transport or something with an upmarket flavour or a sporty lilt.

Here are our top 10 family hatchbacks currently on sale.

1. Volkswagen Golf

With the launch of the Mk8 Golf, Volkswagen has reclaimed what many would consider its rightful spot at the top of the family hatchback class. Mechanically speaking, the updates introduced on the latest Golf are relatively calorie-free: information technology still sits on the same MQB platform as its predecessor and, save for the introduction of 48V mild-hybrid technology, uses largely the same engine line-up.

But the sum of all these pocket-size tweaks is a seriously impressive auto. Equally far as ride refinement, handling residue and performance are all concerned, the Golf maintains its identity as the standout all-rounder in the grade – and does and so despite a slightly stiffer suspension ready-up that would now dissuade the states from opting for cheaper, torsion-beam-equipped models. Interior infinite has been improved, also, and an even more high-tech infotainment offering will entreatment to many, although information technology isn't the nearly intuitive touchscreen system to use.

Not everyone volition be convinced past the Golf'south new exterior look, and its cabin doesn't quite promote the levels of material plushness we were used to in previous Golfs. The latest GTI version has proved to be an effective hot hatch, just with a sharper, more focused set-up than ever before, it has lost some of the effortless everyday usability that so successfully marked out its predecessors, and it isn't the nearly engaging car in its form either.

The plug-in hybrid GTE version, though, now feels more similar a bona fide plug-in hot hatch than ever before; and the range-topping Golf R has both the pace and technical specification to really get your attending – although it comes at a loftier price. The Golf continues to have almost all hatchback tastes and requirements well covered.

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ii. Ford Focus

Ford'due south latest Focus might have lost its spot at the acme of the Autocar family unit hatchback pile to the newer Mk8 Golf, simply its outstanding treatment and pliant, well-resolved ride means it's still one of the best – and likewise all the same clearly the outstanding driver's car in its class. Having arguably been in a slight decline since the expiry of the Focus Mk1, the best-handling family hatchback in history is undoubtedly back to its all-time.

There'south plenty of infinite within, while a completely new platform and exterior have given the Ford a new charter of life. Its cabin still doesn't quite offer the same levels of fit and stop quality or material richness as rivals in this list, though.

This 4th-generation model is available with both petrol and diesel engines, with modern hybridised Ecoboost petrols now being the default choice. Base models make use of a torsion beam rear suspension configuration and passive dampers instead of the multi-link organization, partnered optionally with adaptive dampers, of more powerful models. Fifty-fifty the lower-end and less sporty configurations of the car stand clear of their rivals for handling dynamism, though.

The excellent 2.three-litre Focus ST represents the sportiest offering in the line-up. Somewhat unfortunately, Ford has ruled out a full-bore RS for this model generation, simply the warbling ST volition be more than than plenty fun for a great many people.

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3. VW ID 3

No other ordinary family hatchback has come along and presented a more convincing argument to ditch fossil fuel than the VW ID 3. Based on a dedicated electrical-automobile platform, powered by a rear-mounted bulldoze motor, and reaping all of the rewards that electric ability offers in terms of cabin packaging and handling manoeuvrability, this car delivers existent advantages to its owners. It'due south available with a range of battery options, only the smallest still gives the auto a well-nigh-200-mile range (enough to beat an equivalent Nissan Leaf), and it'south available for less than £29,000 after the government's 'PiCG' EV purchase incentive, making it a feasible alternative on price to owning and running a petrol-powered equivalent.

The ID3 is pretty diminutive-looking, and it doesn't have the biggest boot, but cabin space is on a par with many of the other cars in this list thanks to the way the automobile is designed. With no motor in the front end to get in the way in well-nigh versions, the machine'due south turning circle is also improved, allowing it an impressively tight turning circle and good low-speed manoeuvrability.

The cabin is laid out pretty sparsely, and without VW'southward traditional attending-to-item on fabric quality in some respects – and the touchscreen infotainment arrangement isn't everyone's cup of tea. Even so, at that place are few meliorate hatchback-sized routes into EV ownership than this 1 right now.

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iv. Seat Leon

Seat's fourth-generation Leon remains as closely related to the class-leading Golf as ever, beingness based on the same MQB platform and finer making utilise of the same engine line-upwards.

This latest Leon isn't quite every bit visually alluring as its immediate predecessor was and that perchance erodes role of its identity in comparison with its Golf and Skoda Octavia relations. Be that as information technology may, though, it undoubtedly remains the sharpest and almost entertaining family unit hatch in the VW Group portfolio – even if information technology doesn't quite match the Focus for handling zest. Its interior is closely related to that of the Golf game, looks smart and offers a level of space and practicality that is amid the best in course.

The Leon's lower price point is another advantage it has over the Golf, although it's worth pointing out that 148bhp models don't come up with the more sophisticated rear break you get in the Golf game. All the same, the latest Leon remains a perfectly recommendable hatch.

With the inflow of a plug-in hybrid model, taxation-conscious business organization users can now get into a Leon that slots into the viii% benefit-in-kind bracket, also. Meanwhile, the sportier Cupra model is also available in plug-in guise and will be joined past traditional petrol models in due form.

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5. Toyota Corolla

Toyota has sold a staggering fifty million Corollas since the 1960s. This is ane of the very best-selling cars that the planet has e'er known. While it'due south been a permanent fixture of Toyota's model range in other markets, it replaced Europe'south unlovely Auris hatchback with the introduction of the current twelfth-generation version in 2022, and caused a stir in the procedure by showing that Toyota could produce a family hatchback with stiff interior quality and practicality, and really creditable driving dynamics too.

The Corolla was introduced with the choice of a conventional i.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine, or 1 of two petrol-electric 'cocky-charging' hybrids – although the car's entry-level petrol option has since been discontinued. That means this machine is a piffling pricier to buy than some of its rivals, and information technology also ways that there's no way to avoid Toyota'due south modern hybrid-car driving feel with it; not that you need be worried about information technology.

The regular one.eight-litre option is still a niggling dull in outright terms, but it'south certainly efficient, and more responsive and refined than it used to be. Simply the upper-level two.0-litre hybrid powertrain gives the Corolla plenty of performance and skilful attainable torque, and as well puts most-50mpg efficiency within easy reach.

This car now has a chassis adept plenty to demand the respect of whatever European car-maker, and at least 1 powertrain strong plenty to give it some useful exercise – and Toyota still hasn't ruled out a total-fatty GR functioning version.

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6. Audi A3 Sportback

The fourth-generation version the Audi A3 builds on the traits that has historically made information technology such a success in the family unit hatchback marketplace: it's posh, refined, comfy, expert to await at and hugely secure and stable in its handling. It represents a calculated, sensible evolution of the existing formula rather than dramatic revolution – and in that location's goose egg inherently wrong with that.

Like its Seat, Volkswagen and Skoda siblings, the latest A3 is based on an evolved version of the VW Group's MQB compages, with these changes being introduced to make style for a more various powertrain line-up that includes both mild-hybrid and plug-in variants. There are all-bike-drive performance versions of the auto in the shape of the 306bhp Audi S3 and the 394bhp Audi RS3, the latter taking the fight to the Mercedes A45 Due south super hatch.

The more sensible petrol and diesel versions of the A3 don't quite handle with the same sense of zest and vigour as the likes of BMW'south 1 Series, merely their superior refinement and performance all help make the A3 the slightly more appealing all-rounder. The cabin has lost some of the material wow cistron of its firsthand predecessor, merely the A3 is nevertheless our selection of the premium-branded hatchback agglomeration.

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7. BMW 1 Series

Bang-up into this listing at all, in a very crowded hatchback market, is something of a result for BMW, whose 1 Series hatchback – famously the only machine in the class to try to wield a rear-wheel-drive chassis in the modern era – has what we might call a dynamically troubled past.

Suffice to say that now it has adopted mechanical convention for engine layout and beam drive, the latest 1 Series has lost trivial and gained quite a lot. A front-wheel-drive layout (four-wheel-bulldoze options are offered in tandem with the more powerful engines) serves the machine well and handling is neat and secure, with body control and driver engagement skillful plenty to distinguish the car against most of its rivals. Interior packaging, meanwhile, is much better than in the rear-driven predecessor, with 2d-row occupant space and luggage capacity both markedly improved, merely notwithstanding simply broadly grade-competitive.

A practiced pick of impressive petrol and diesel engines, mated for the most part to slick and efficient transmissions, and as impressive on-board infotainment applied science all make the ane Serial an hands recommended pick in the hotly contested premium family hatch market. The new 128ti variant is shaping up to be a potent challenger to the Mk8 Golf GTI, and the all-wheel-drive M135i is a seriously effective all-atmospheric condition hot hatch.

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8. Mazda 3

The fourth-generation Mazda 3 could well be the all-time-looking family unit hatch currently on auction. And, joy of joys, information technology retains all the qualities that fabricated its predecessor such an appealing contender in this highly competitive grade: strong value for money, spry handling and a choice of atmospheric petrol engines.

Inside, it's more competitive with premium offerings in the hatchback class thanks to higher levels of perceived quality than before. It has Ford Focus-rivalling levels of driver appeal, as well, courtesy of its quick, directly steering, a precise and slick-feeling manual gearbox and fine body command.

The automobile'southward 2.0-litre SkyActiv-Thousand petrol motor doesn't quite provide enough punch to enable it to topple the all-time in form, but the new-generation SkyActiv-10 alternative is more torquey and more efficient at a prowl. A slight reluctance to rev and a certain roughness under load are its merely disappointments.

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9. Skoda Octavia

The latest Octavia remains true to its roots by sticking to its traditional strengths: practicality and affordability.

In estate guise, the Octavia simply outclasses all of its rivals for kicking space, while the liftback version isn't exactly curt on space, either. To drive, information technology might not offer the sort of engagement you get from a Leon or the aforementioned levels of sophisticated ride refinement as the Golf, only it certainly isn't far off.

As ever, information technology remains the pragmatist'due south choice among its VW Grouping siblings. Those simply looking for an affordable family runabout with acres of passenger and storage space volition be seriously impressed by what's on offer hither. At the same time, anyone stepping out of a Focus might be a bit put off by its comparatively sedate character. The new Octavia vRS models – which are bachelor in petrol, diesel and plug-in guise – all go a long way to rectifying such complaints, though.

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10. Kia Ceed

Information technology's third time lucky for the South Korean manufacturer, as this third-generation Ceed is the most convincing still.

The handling and steering have found a greater level of sophistication than always before and the cabin offers plenty of room for four adults, although it still lacks some of the classy material entreatment of more upmarket contenders. Its diesel engines are shine and refined and can deliver impressive economy; meanwhile, with the latest facelift in 2022, a new and more powerful one.5-litre turbo petrol engine replaced the old 1.4-.

The Ceed is still some way off the dynamic polish and all-round appeal of class leader, only is notwithstanding a worthy competitor in an incredibly competitive segment. Meanwhile, the Proceed compact shooting restriction has design appeal, and no small amount of commuter appeal, to broaden Kia'southward family unit hatchback range.

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