Fiat Abarth Punto
Small turbo-petrol with big power? Check. Able chassis? Check. Hydraulic steering? Check. The Abarth Punto is the affordable hot hatch for you. Its 145hp, 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engine is an absolute firecracker, and what elevates the experience is the way the Punto lights up in the corners.
Ford Freestyle 1.5D
From behind the wheel you wouldn’t be able to tell that Ford’s new Figo-based Freestyle cross-hatch sits on a raised suspension. It’s keen to turn in and balanced, and the 190mm ground clearance and suspension’s ability to smoothen out bumps mean you can make the most of the handling package even when the roads are far from perfect. The peppy diesel engine completes the package.
Ford Figo 1.5D Sports Edition
The Ford Figo Sports Edition is about so much more than its rear spoiler and blacked-out detailing. This version’s larger wheels, chunkier tyres and tweaked suspension make it great fun to drive. Opt for the peppy 100hp/215Nm, 1.5-litre diesel and you’ll also experience a small diesel engine done right. This is a budget hatchback that carries the ‘Sport’ suffix with aplomb.
Maruti Suzuki Baleno RS
The souped-up Maruti Suzuki Baleno, if you please, may be lacking in outright numbers – its 1-litre turbo-petrol engine makes 102hp and 150Nm. But factor in its sub 1-tonne weight and you’ll know why the Baleno RS is as brisk as it is. Still, it isn’t quite an all-round entertainer. The numb steering, in particular, lets the package down. What the Baleno RS does do well is blend practicality and fun in one package.
Volkswagen Polo GT TSI
The only automatic in the list, the Volkswagen Polo GT TSI has a superb Jekyll-and-Hyde ability to go from comfortable city runabout one moment, to zippy little cracker the next. Thanks to that seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, the 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine’s performance is just so easy to access that even those who aren’t all-out petrolheads will find some enjoyment in it.