Autocar Hot hatch of the year 2007 - by Autocar.co.uk

[howsoonisnow1985]

With Type-R, S3, R26, etc it seems the MINI JCW should have been used?

Sad thing is we only have the MINI and the VW GTI/R32 in my country.

[MrBrasilMexico]

RENAULT THE BESTTTTTT

MEGANE THE BESTTT

[whateverrrrrr123]

my choice

1. Megane R26

2. Megane R26

3. Megane R26

4. Megane R26

5. Megane R26

[cumbas]

@whateverrrrrr123

oh you have the same rank that me ^^

[spentfromnz]

Best looking in this bunch is the Audi, but no surprises there, Audi make good looking cars. However where the fuck is the Subaru I ask.

At the end of the day, hatches suck. Coupes are where it's at.

[xxcanzxx]

My choice

1. Golf GTI

2. Meganne R26

3. Type R

4.Astra VXR

5.Focus RS

[rock3tcat]

My choice:

1. Golf GTi

2. Type R

3. Astra VXR

4. Focus RS

5. Megane R26

[llllllulucute]

guys last year i got me a brand new megane sport 225 but not the F1,and after 11 month of using it i can tell you am totally saftcfied with my choice! even thought it has a new look now,but this model was really something! looks and prformance combind!!

[gf1989]

but its an ugly car and has no friggin radio, i'm a ford focus st fan (mainly cuz i have a focus...) but i can understand why they didnt pick it, still i'd pick the clio or the golf over the megane anytime.

[pastymule]

@gf1989 the R26R has no radio. R26 is full of all the luxuries

[PierreReyesMusic]

@gf1989 Safe blud innit tingzzzzzz... BRAP BRAP 22222 SIK INNNIIT

....No.

[cardude1992]

wheres the wrx sti?

[carl206rc]

@cardude1992 sti is in another level

[PETSETAKIS]

megane just playing with the others ...welldone renault

[mancheste106]

how can the mini loose??

[doddsalfa]

Desirability?So were is the Alfa?

[corenida]

the best is the brillance bs3 coupe (chinese car)

[deekaysk]

@corenida: you must be kiddin me? I saw it in the showroom, sat in it and apart from its gorgeous looks, it apears to be made out of used PET bottles and tin cans. when you close the door, the metal shakes like a spring (inside, outside....) 2 seconds after the door is closed, the steering wheel is thin as it came from a 1950s chevy bel air, and the stitching in the seats is very..hm.... origina to say at leastl (every inch is different)

yeah, the best....

[csarcb]

Renault Megane is the best!!! #1

[RafaLisbon1986]

so true! Cheers!

[doesithurt09]

Shame they never got to test the 207 gti thp 175.

Dont think it was available then. Its shit anyway but would have been intresting to see. Fuck knows why they bothered with the panda. Clio R27 F1 is the shit, it would have made a slightly greater impresion. The Type r sounds so good when floored.

[RafaLisbon1986]

Renault is SO GREAT !!!

[JasonBourne28]

gti > r32 ?????????!!! WTF

[bobel2007]

@JasonBourne28 That is entirely correct. You're going to understand when you drive them both.

[TheVtieg6]

Most fun- Clio Sport

Best value for money - Focus ST

Only other hatch i would consider buying is the MK5 Golf GTI and this is coming from a Honda person.

[Lateral1s]

The r32 sounds awesome

[Zuglos]

Civic Type R FTW

[m1bjr]

FTW?

BUT IT DIDNT LOL!

[alienlivingform]

megane is a nice car!

[tg72211]

I'd buy the clio.

[chester6670]

sure the megane r26 is the best one !!!

[benrush17]

great choise, the new megane is even more hot than the old version, it is in the new need for speed shift btw

[GrahamCrackers94]

i like the renult clio. :D

[ghm89]

Seat leon cupra...defo the best, volkscommoncarwagon golf r32/gti and ford focus st, also too common and not that gr8 looking now compared to some others.

[sophiegromit]

The Megane looks like HAIRY ASS!!!! Ugly car.

[LOGIKLAG]

the new civic has to be the ugliest car ever put on the road

[130ipower]

wheres the bmw 130i?????

[corkoniann]

still in the dealership, nobody'd be stupid enough to buy something that overpriced and ugly when the golf r32 and focus rs are both cheaper, and they're superior cars.

[130ipower]

wot do u mean the r32 and focus is a more superior car. the 130i has more power and is a faster car period. the 130i is pretty sexy looking car. plus is real wheel drive so you can drift.

[corkoniann]

who gives a fuck about drifting other than teenagers.

also where i learned maths 301 is more than 261. the focus rs has 50bhp more than the bmw.

the 1 series is an ugly car and there's no escaping it. granted it's not a bad car, but it's not in the same league as the golf or focus.

[130ipower]

everybody is into drifting who likes cars. and the focus is a front wheel drive car, y would nebody want to be on the spot with the wheels spinning with no take off, theres no fun in that.

[DarthBroKeN]

Not everyone who likes car likes drifting.

[corkoniann]

if you know how to drive you can eliminate the wheelspin. big if in your case i guess.

[lupo10]

I have to agree with the rest, who in their right mind would spend that sort of money on a cheap and flimsy 'BMW'?

May as well haggle a little harder and buy a 330.

[steflotti105]

roll on focus rs.. wanna see how it does against the sti n evo x

[wolfhorsky]

where's subaru impreza wrx hatch???

[steflotti105]

i was about to say that.. or just put the sti in there n the rest may as well go home :P

[HassanEido]

hate that car, i used to love the impreza, this new design is a shame a real shame

[kiwi4life4fun]

I think the design is still ok, but every single test out there condems its unfocusedness and round it up as being step back from all older STIs...The Evo-Impreza rivalty is no more...at least not with the actual models

[LOGIKLAG]

no hassan is right the new sti hatchbacks are quite ugly

[minismithy90]

they should have taken them on B-roads because a fiesta st would have kept up with the higher BHP hot hatches and would be more fun

[nimayegan]

in my opinion the GTI is the best of all

[steflotti105]

bland m8.. r26 is the best hot hatch besides an sti

[whnm3mps]

Mazda 3 MPS.............. say no more,these guys can not drive,all over the track!In the real world it is a completely different story.I have taken all of these hatches on rolling and from standing start straight roads, winding roads and track--no BS nothing comes close to the MPS in it's class!!

[f4r20]

what about the mazdaspeed 3... in good hands it should be the second or firrst fastest... just maybe after the s3

[SammyJ21]

True that... Had a go round Silverstone in one and it is deceptively fast and very good handling! Shame...

[lalof1msfan]

in my opinion the three best are:

1. FOCUS ST

2. CLIO SPORT

3. MEGANE RS

[SammyJ21]

Have you driven them all though, or are these opinions looks based?

[arnofourie]

based on shit

i agree somewhat, def about the R26 but would def say the MPS is better then the Focus, Seat and the GTi

[musliminshallah]

nice testing lads

[Iseliano]

In my opinion the three best are:

1º - Honda Civic (model 2005)

2º - VW Golf V Gti

3º - Renault Megane RS

The Worst:

1º- Ford Fiesta RS

2º - Audi A3 S3

3º - Fiat Panda Sport

[freshjive818]

i still prefer hot hatches from the 90's they were more raw and funner to drive, u also felt like u was in control but computers hav taken the feel away that u used to get from old hot hatches, but the new ones r still great looking and fast!!!!!!

[rachaelsiddall]

my partner has the r26 F1 and it is amazingly quick when you want to have fun but is also a good family car. The car is a head turner everywhere you go with many people commenting that they wasnt to keen on the megane until the seen it up close

[topografer]

offcourse renault always makes the best sports car!@

[fabryca]

At the end what is the classification?

[30stone]

What happened to the focus rs 280 bhp

and id defienately have the astra vxr in the top 6

i like the audi being near top though.

renaults arent very nice in my eyes ugly and not the greatest speed, wouldnt be nt he top 3 for me.

[Perknovak]

2 Renaults in top three hot hatches! Wow, Renault is pushing hard these times. Laguna GT beating Porsche in slalom and now this. I cant wait for the new Megane (especially its hot version) that is yet to come. Its gonna be dynamite! :-)

[intelsilver]

I still think the older Honda Civic Type R is the best hot hatch... and I'm talking about the 2005 model

[eeon1984]

also the best looking :D.

[intelsilver]

no doubt!

[ilikeroastbeef]

I really like that Renault megane sport, it looks like such a great car, and its spec well thats also great. I want one in black lol.

[milzy83]

lol, megane only a second slower than the 4wd s3. Surley that makes the s3 the winner!!! in the end you get what you pay for.

[Airox180]

But now there`s a new Megane R26R which is way faster than the S3 on the track. It lapped the ring in 8:17. No other standard hot hatch comes even close to this time.

[milzy83]

Yeah on track, but who wants a 2 seat car in the real world!!! if the s3 took out all the weight it would smack a r26r.

[adinsxNL]

Sorry??

The R26.R is 4 seated, only optional with a rollbar. The S3 will only see the back of the Mégane

[milzy83]

try a rs3 vs r26r if they ever make one!!

that would be the real test as then you can see a 1 step up from each's base model.

[citroends2003]

I love renault!! And it is the best of all!!!...

[izioN1]

megane..the queen of the hot hatch

[lesmcluffalot]

Kewlios

[BI2016]

Id take the S3 all day, that barge ass Megane is tail dragger, god knows why youd take one over an awd.

[markaj123]

Cost!

[Marine475]

It's as quatro as skoda octavia 4 motion. It uses cheap crap haldex center diferential that is there only to annoy you.

[bmwservisi]

renault farkı

[Kj16V]

Aww, bless the VAG and Honda boys hurt egos! So, these particular people didn't rate them. Big deal. It's just an opinion. Stop whining - PATHETIC.

I'd expect this level of whinging from the VAG hedz, most (not all) of whom buy cars based on colour and badge - But Honda peeps, FFS if you like your cars best, fine. Drive 'em and be happy.

BTW: yawnsome video

[kov001]

Anyone watch top gear when clarkson put old civic against new, OLD WAS BEST!! Megane is great car, uses same diff as focus rs and therfore gets the power down, 4wheel drive is not always king!!

[roffel89]

This is crap, who gives a renault first place while the (much prettier) faster, better driving Audi S3 is in second place..

I think Renault Bribed these guys because a renault clio RS would never beat a (non-turbo) Civic Type-R with a beautifull sound (taste of the car isnt really mine but...)

it is just BS!

and renault has some influence in this test..

[Perknovak]

Dude, S3 is not driver´s car. It is totally uncommunicative and boring to drive (deadly fast though) and even if its cost was the same as Megane´s I wouldnt buy one. S3 has also very ugly interier (as well as all A3s do) - it looks good in pictures, but when you sit in it, its rubbish. My favourite in these hot hatches is MeganeRS or Focus ST - but now, when the Megane got LSD (limited slip dif), it seems to be the be(a)st :-)

[topografer]

megane is a beast indeed. The thing about s3 is that you do anything with one hand and its also very good all around. But it could be sportier

[Airox180]

Renault is the bench mark when it comes to hot hatches. Just look at the new Megane R26R. It`s the fastest hot hatch on the ring by far. It absolutely destroys the S3 on the track.

[petaV]

@Airox180 actualy, R26.R is fastest front wheel production cars on Nurburgring. On this laps, weight is the key to win. S3 is just fat and heavy and wont be ever lighter then Megane due to 4x4 drive. Shame only 400 r26.rs was done :(

[gweflj]

Good point. The Golf is the best all-rounder.

I think I'd buy an older Cup Clio and save the cash.

[9981A]

If you were spending your own money would you really buy anything other than a Golf GTI?

[mozaks80]

i own a mkv gti, and i did think of getting an r26 but the extra cost isnt justified to me, the golf is an awesome little car, especially on uphill climbs :P

[Shultzgti]

Pure BS!

[Blueysea]

jebus that was boring, and the decisions were bad to boot!

[tannoy2004]

euro civic type r is shite,if you want the best buy the jdm one

[elastoplastscavenger]

*yawn*

[scottymar82]

Also i really hate that blokes voice! EEERRRR!!!!!!

[scottymar82]

Maganes are shit! Are they on something?!

[scottymar82]

The civic type r is the best hot hatch, japenese reliablity, 0-60 in 6.5sec and a top speed of 147mph! Superb! :-)

[MyLifeMyPhone]

The MEgane R26 is the best hot hatch out at the moment, top gear loves it, EVo, these blokes it's a serious drivers car. If you had to get a type R it would have to be the JDM one.

[scottymar82]

Fair comment and i agree.

[steventreacher]

Focus ST is also 0-60 in 6.5 seconds...top speed of 150mph, better engine, 6 speed gearbox and its cheaper than a Golf GTI.

Plus its a Ford, it will keep going and going and going.

[fenderboy19]

yeah but vw golfs are amazing and it looks better then the st!

[malcstag]

i didnt know old grannies watched this show to choose there next car?

[marcodude25121985]

Haha its funny listening to the civic owners crying becasue everybody is saying there car is shit haha and they just bought one..sick or what!

[breakingcover]

Dynamically the Megane is the winner, but if those boys had to put their hands in their pockets it would be the S3 every time.

I've owned an S2000 and loved it, easily the best car you could ever want. I tried the new Type R, and it's a great car on smooth roads, it's very track focused which is why it made it through to the second round but fell out once the going got rough. Honda really should have launched the Civic Type RR they were going to do.

[ATing21]

What a disappointing review - they all seemed so unenthusiastic - if I was faced with 2 days of driving that lot I'd be foaming at the mouth!!!

[ranger8507]

Civic is shit, (top gear) buy german

[Mikew995]

stfu, the civic is the best "hot hatch". No questions or doubts. These guys obviously know nothing, ive never seen any video out there saying any of those top 5 cars are close to the type r. But w/e they are ignorant to quality.

[ukpm]

50 mpg on the Clio?! I don't think so my friend. More like 34-36 on a good day.

[cptmorgans]

mmmm, interesting selection of vehicles. Audi S3 should not have been there, completely different price point! The smaller cars, i.e. Fiesta, Panda, Clio and Mini are more likely to compete against each other in a seperate shootout. Having recently driven a GTI, R32, Focus ST and a R26 (looked at the Cupra) I there aint much between them. The R26 is an excellant drive but would yo want something looking like that in your drive! For me it came down to the GTI, ST & Cupra.

[Gingeftw]

Did anyone notice the test times, a Fiesta ST slower then a Panda 100hp round a track, you must be kidding me. Can these people actually drive?

[khan64]

mate i dnt understand wat u gt against the r26 i think its a good peice of french engineering ?

[Gingeftw]

I never said anything about the Renault lol......

[esurfer26]

I think the The Clio 197 should be car of the year with 197hp and surprising 50mpg.

[kiparey]

Bullshit the MPS didnt make it. A bit of European bias i think...