Edmunds offers top picks for performance hatchbacks
For people looking to buy a car that's fun to drive, practical and relatively affordable, 2018 could be opportunity knocking. You might say that it's the year of the performance hatchback.
Exemplified by the long-running Volkswagen Golf GTI, a performance hatchback is a hopped-up version of a regular compact economy car that has a more powerful engine, a performance-tuned suspension and grippier tires. It can rival a sports car for driving enjoyment while also being better suited for everyday driving.
Automakers have introduced more such models recently, some with sophisticated features and race-ready engines. The greater competition could help you get a good deal this summer, too. Dealer pricing for many of these cars is well below MSRP, according to Edmunds' data on the average price paid. The sought-after Ford RS and the Honda Civic Type R are the exceptions. That said, here are five top models to check out.
2018 FORD FOCUS ST AND FOCUS RS
Ford has said it's going to stop selling most of its cars in favor of SUVs, so now might be the time to buy. The Focus ST comes with a 252-horsepower turbocharged engine, while the rally racing-inspired Focus RS cranks out 350 horsepower through a specialized all-wheel-drive system for greater traction. Both cars are lively handlers and bring excitement to any drive.
The standard manual transmission enhances the enthusiast credibility of these cars, but the lack of an automatic option could be a drawback. Also, the Focus' cabin design is getting dated compared to the other cars here. Starting MSRP with destination: $26,045 for the ST and $41,995 for the RS. 2018 is the last year for the RS, so it could very well be a future classic.
2018 HONDA CIVIC TYPE R
Compared to a workaday Civic, the Type R hatchback is a monster. It has a turbocharged engine that produces 306 horsepower, a sixspeed manual transmission, a sporttuned suspension with adaptive shock absorbers, stronger brakes and more supportive front seats. Honda's engineers have seemingly made magic happen with the Type R. It has impressive composure on both the street and on a racetrack. The main drawbacks are the lack of an automatic transmission and, for some shoppers, the Type R's flamboyant styling. Starting MSRP with destination: $35,595 for the Type R hatchback.
2019 HYUNDAI VELOSTER TURBO AND VELOSTER N
Hyundai's redesigned Veloster has one door on the driver side and two doors on the passenger side. This asymmetrical layout improves access for rear passengers while maintaining the look of a traditional coupe. The Veloster's Turbo variants come with a 201-horsepower engine and suspension and brake upgrades. You can also get a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Hyundai also has a new option for 2019: the Veloster N. The N gets a bigger turbocharged engine good for up to 275 horsepower plus additional hardware upgrades. Neither Veloster quite matches the performance potential of the other cars in this group, but their impressive features and low prices easily compensate for that. Starting MSRP with destination: $23,785 for the Veloster R-Spec.