A CAR expert has picked out five hot hatchbacks that mix good performance with practicality – all for less than £5,000.
YouTuber Jonny Brighton of Cars With JB recently uploaded a video highlighting his top picks for drivers looking for something compact and sporty.
Jonny claims that petrolheads don’t need to spend a fortune to own something rare and cool.
That much is plain with the Suzuki Ignis Sport, which he says comes with rally-style aesthetics, including Recaro grey seats with yellow mesh.
Under the bonnet, the Ignis Sport has a surprisingly large 1.5-litre inline 4 engine that’s capable of 107 bhp.
With that, it can go from 0-60 mph in 8.9 seconds.
While prices range from £2,000 to £5,000, Jonny added that fewer than 500 are left in the UK.
More common is the VW Lupo GTI, which is slightly beefier with a 1.6-litre motor that makes 123 bhp and hits 60 mph in eight seconds.
Priced from £4,000 to £5,000, the early 2000s model comes with a cult following, with wider wheel arches and aggressive looks.
With the Golf models getting larger and larger with every generation, for many, the Lupo GTI is considered the spiritual successor to the Mk1 Golf GTI.
Much rarer is Jonny’s third pick, the Abarth Punto Evo.
Featuring a turbocharged 1.4-litre engine with 162 bhp, it does 0-60 mph in 7.6 seconds.
Finding one under £5,000 might be tricky, seeing as they’re considered collectibles, with Jonny stating a good price for one would be between £4,500 and £5,000.
Designed by the legendary Giorgetto Giugiaro, the brains behind the likes of the original VW Golf through to the Maserati Ghibli and the DMC DeLorean, the small tourer is worth snapping up – if you know where to find one.
Another great Italian hot hatch is the Alfa Romeo MiTo Quadrifoglio, which boasts the classic Alfa design on the outside with carbon-backed bucket seats and DNA driving modes inside.
Powered by a 1.4-litre turbocharged inline 4 engine, it can hit 60 mph in around 7.3 seconds – all for a price between £3,000 and £5,000.
His final pick is the Mazda 3 MPS, with a much heavier 2.3-litre turbocharged engine capable of a frightening 256 bhp.
Known as the Mazdaspeed 3 in the US and Mazdaspeed Axela in Japan, the Mazda 3 MPS can be yours for around £3,000, through to £5,000.
