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car review

Cheap speed – this is the raison d'être for a segment of vehicles known as the sport-compact hatchback. While opinions vary as to which models should fall into this category, there are some hard and fast rules to consider.

Counting the hatch itself, the car should have come in either three or five doors. The "hot hatch" should be front-wheel drive (although exceptions have proven this rule) and it should offer the option of a manual transmission (although this rule may soon need reconsidering). The cappers: It should be a higher-performing variant of a run-of-the-mill economy car and it should be priced at less than $30,000.

In Canada, this segment is limited to a few long-standing models and some new entries that, if patterns prove accurate, will last a handful of years before being discontinued out of lack of interest. In our market, the hot hatch isn't so much a staple of a manufacturer's lineup or a driver of significant sales. Instead, it's a budget-minded halo car engineered to create excitement for what would otherwise be a mundane segment.

The hot hatch is a niche product that will likely never power its way into more prominence. But it's also a vehicle that, by definition, offers bang for the buck. These cars are important to the driving enthusiast, one who is perhaps not in the market for a Porsche (yet). Here are five to consider:

Fiat

Fiat 500 Abarth

Base price:$22,995

The Fiat 500 Abarth is not king of the hot hatch hill – but it may be the most stylish. The 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder (160 hp; 170 lb-ft) is relatively mild, but it’s enough to get the front wheels spinning during takeoff. A five-speed manual transmission is standard and it’s good – flicking from one gear to the next is old-school fun. Apart from its racy Italian design, the strength of the Abarth is its compact size; darting around city streets is a joy – provided you give potholes a wide berth.

Ford

Ford Focus ST

Base price:$29,999

New to Canada two years ago, the Ford Focus ST has been ripping up roads elsewhere for more than a decade now. In the interim, Ford has incorporated learning from its World Rally Championship efforts, honed the suspension system, sharpened the steering and extracted more performance from the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder (252 hp; 270 lb-ft). The Focus ST stands out for delivering a level of driving engagement that cars twice as expensive struggle to match.

Honda

Honda Civic Si

Base price:$26,750

One of the original hot hatches, the Honda Civic Si arrived in Canada almost 30 years ago. In that time, there have been some great versions and some less so – the current model falls somewhere in between. With its 2.4-litre four-cylinder (205 hp; 174 lb-ft), the Civic Si is quick, but perhaps too refined for traditionalists. Older versions needed to be revved wildly to extract maximum performance (annoying for some, exciting for enthusiasts), but the new car develops its power early on. The Civic Si has great steering feel and a fantastic six-speed manual transmission, but Honda may need a new approach – one powered by a turbocharged engine.

Kia

Kia Forte Koup SX

Base price:$24,195

A new entry, the Kia Forte Koup SX is, hopefully, setting the stage for bigger and better things to come. While this sport-compact has much going for it, including dynamite exterior design, the driving experience is too mild. The Forte Koup SX features a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder (201 hp; 195 lb-ft) and a six-speed manual transmission, but neither is particularly exciting; the acceleration is uninspired and the six-speed is not the most precise. While the Kia lags behind the competition in terms of driving dynamics, it offers a staggeringly long list of standard features.

Volkswagen

VW Golf GTI

Base price:$27,995 (three-door); $32,895 (five-door)

The seventh-generation VW Golf GTI is new to Canada this year and it continues a 40-year tradition for (relatively) cheap fun. The car features a new platform that is stronger, slightly larger and lighter by 40 kilograms. The engine, a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder (210 hp; 258 lb-ft), has been retuned to deliver more torque at lower revs. The six-speed manual transmission is good, but the optional six-speed dual-clutch automatic is better. The handling, ride quality and refinement of the VW set the pace in this segment. The GTI loses points only because the five-door version lands above the price barrier.

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