Hatchbacks have always been that oddity of the automotive world. Not a full sports car but also better than a typical sedan or coupe, hatchbacks have been an excellent mix for many drivers who love some fun speeds but still a sedate drive. That they’re made with families in mind helps them but also makes it trickier, so they’re not too fast yet not minivan levels of speed. Car companies have pushed the limits with some hatchbacks almost like full-on sports cars with their specs.
There have been a lot of bad ones over the years, either in horrible engines or terrible interior space. Also, it doesn’t matter how fast a car goes if it doesn’t handle well and poor reliability. Over the years, a lot of fun hatchbacks have fallen to the wayside and ignored but are bargain finds on lots and online sales. Several still hold up wonderfully and even better than some modern automobiles. Here are twenty sporty hatchbacks that you may have forgotten to show it’s not just the current models that can fill a car owner’s needs.
20 Dodge Caliber SRT-4
The most modern car on the list, the Dodge Caliber SRT-4 appears to have been forgotten despite only coming out in 2008. Listen to these stats: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder producing 285 hp with 265-lb of torque and 6-speed manual transmission with zero to 60 in 6.4 seconds.
How did this not become a hit? Well, there were some issues with brakes and suspension and harder-handling torque. It was overwhelmed by other models of the time but is now a steal on the used markets for a fun hatchback.
19 Saab 92-X
One would think a car with a nifty name of the “Saabaru” would be more famous. The 92-X has been slammed for its boring look, and the idea of a Saab as a sporty vehicle seems nonsense. The fact it was a rebadged Subaru Impreza adds to that.
But when driven, an owner can enjoy a 2.5-liter EJ253 engine, which, with a little tuning, can get 230 hp and 217 lb of torque. Only made for two years, this should be better remembered.
18 Daihatsu Charade GTti
The Daihatsu Charade GTi checked a lot of the usual boxes for the 1990s hatchbacks but did shift it up a bit. It had a 1.6-liter, three-cylinder engine with a turbocharger and 99bhp output.
A few versions could be charged up for 101 hp with terrific power steering. It beat a Peugeot 205 XS and Citroen AX GT in its group test and, while rare today, are worth checking out for their fine-tuning abilities.
17 Honda Civic VTi 1990s
The Civic is a generally good hatchback already, yet the '90s VTi seems to slip through the cracks in terms of popularity. The 1.6-liter, VTEC-assisted engine developed 157bhp and could rev up to 8000 rpm.
That was joined by exceptional handling and good reliability. Sure, most look for the Type R, but the VTi proves how great a Civic can be.
16 Alfa Romeo 145 Cloverleaf
Alfa Romeo is known for some fantastic sporty cars, but the 145 Cloverleaf is ignored. It was criticized at the time for its design but now seen for its terrific strengths. Its 1,970cc, four-cylinder engine could get a spiffy 155 hp and 6200 rpm with some gentle handling.
It may seem slower than other hatchbacks of the time, but its performance could leave some in the dust. Few exist today and should be looked at as arguably the best Alfa no one has driven.
15 Nissan Almera GTi
The entire Almera line of Nissan isn’t talked of as much as other models in the company. Which makes it surprising that perhaps the best of the bunch came from 1995. The GTi took the normally staid Almera and gave it a great push.
The 2.0l twin-cam rotor engine made 145bhp and zero to 60 in 7.9 seconds. For a three-door hatchback, this looked pretty good with a spiffy interior. It’s fallen by the wayside but can put some of today’s Ameras to shame.
14 Volvo 480 Turbo
Yes, yes, Volvo’s reputation is...spotty, to say the least. But the 480 Turbo is a car that shouldn’t be ignored. It gets attention due to how it was never imported to the U.S. (although the 25-year ban is about to expire), which makes it stand out.
Part of the famous “Project Galaxy” design group, the 480 could get 115 hp off its turbocharged engine with 129 lb of torque and Lotus-style suspension. Throw in the pop-up headlights, and this makes one of the more unique cars to never get into the States.
13 BMW 318ti
Yes, believe it or not, BMW once went compact. It didn’t go very well. The problem with the 318ti was that it looked like any other hatchback without the style BMW is known for. The 1.8-liter 4-cylinder could generate 138 hp, which did make for a smooth ride.
It was still a BMW with that exceptional handling and a terrific interior. Yet sales were terrible, so it ended fast. Still, it deserves attention just for BMW trying something different.
12 Citroen Visa GTi
The 1970s were not good for Citroen, to say the least as financial issues forced them to be bought out by Peugeot. Thus, the Visa GTi stands as one of the last good cars from the original company.
The weaker engine was swapped out for a 1.6l that could get 115 hp, and that unique design helped it stand out. Sadly, it wasn't enough to save it as it was discontinued in 1987 after just three years. They’re quite rare today to add to their odd value.
11 Ford Escort RS1600i
The Ford Escort RS 1600i is a bizarre beast. It was pushed by their German branch rather than British and the first Escort with a fuel-injected engine and five-speed gearbox.
This produced 113 hp and zero to 60 in 8.3 seconds. It feels like a much faster car than it is and excellent for tuning on straight roads. It was soon overwhelmed by the Turbo, yet this Escort deserves attention for its unique mix of styles.
10 Proton Satria GTi
Now, if you’re looking for fun sporty cars, you generally don’t think of Malaysia, which was why the Proton Satria GTi stands out so well. The 1.8. Liter engine could get 138 hp with a five gearbox and excellent handling.
Proton was smart to farm out the building to Lotus UK for a spiffy ride that wasn’t too bad to maintain. It failed to make Proton take off but still worth tracking down for a fun ride from an unlikely place.
9 Peugeot 309 GTI
The reason the Peugeot 309 GTi is ignored is pretty apparent. In almost every way, it was in the shadow of the scores of other Peugeot offerings of the time like the 205 and 208. Yet the 309 might very well have outclassed them.
It boasted the same 128bhp 1.9-liter four-cylinder engine but a lighter frame with much roomier interiors. While the 205 could be too snappy, the 309 offered a smoother ride. This is the Peugeot that fans should be raving about as a classic.
8 Citroen AX GT
Cars love to boast about “lightweight” being just barely over a ton. The Citroen AX GT is genuinely lightweight, coming in at 1591 pounds. Obviously, this included a smaller 85bhp 1.4-liter engine that took nine seconds to hit 60 mph.
Yet given this was 1987, that wasn’t a bad time at all, and while the chassis badly deteriorated over time, the AX GT was one of the better hatchbacks of this period.
7 Fiat Tipo Sedicivalvole
If you can’t buy a top-line Lancia Delta Integrale, then the Fiat Tipo Sedicivalvole isn’t a bad substitute. After wasting time with a tubby 1.8 liter 8-valve, Fiat smartly changed to a 2.0 liter 16 valve, upping the power to 148 bhb and zero to 60 in 8 seconds.
They also improved the handling, which was aided by the slick Italian design. It was an enjoyable drive that should be remembered as one of Fiat’s better offerings of the 1990s.
6 MG Maestro Turbo
Some may do a double-take as the few who know of the MG Maestro Turbo remember it as a slightly rough car. The reality is that it had a lot more going for it than it seemed. Under what looked like some boxy British frame was a 2.0l SOHC that could produce 152 hp for almost 130 mph.
Helping was the relatively light 2400 pound weight, which made it spiffy on the road. Just over 500 were produced, which is why it’s rare but better than its reputation.
5 Toyota Corolla GTi-16v
Maybe the chassis of the Toyota Corolla GTi-16v wasn’t the best out there. But the engine...A 4A-GE, naturally aspirated 1587 cm3 engine producing 130 hp and 8000 rpm for a top speed of nearly 121 mph was impressive for the mid-1980s.
Reviews were kind, but the Corolla was overwhelmed by the push of European hatchbacks at the time. Today, it’s fallen by the wayside despite being an excellent ride.
4 Renault 11 Turbo
This is one of those ‘80 hatchbacks that gets a rough reputation today. Yet the Renault 11 Turbo does have a fanbase who remember how it wasn’t that bad for its time. The critical factor was its weight at just over two thousand pounds, which aided its performance.
The turbocharged 4-cylinder engine could get 104 bhp and a speed of 116 mph with up to 7000 rpm. It was a marvel on a straight line to prove you can’t judge a car solely by rep.
3 Suzuki Ignis Sport
This should have been a hit. The Suzuki Ignis Sport lived up to the company’s legacy of fine and fun rides with a 1.5 twin-cam variably-timed engine that could produce 107 hp for a top speed of 100 mph.
It helps that the frame is pretty light at just over 2000 pounds, which allows it to reach some good speeds and feel faster. The Ignis somehow fell into the shadow of the Swift when it was a beautiful hatchback on its own.
2 Rover 200vi RBM
The “bubble-head” frame may throw off people who expect a hatchback to look sleek and subtle. But the Rover 200vi RBM had a sound chassis and functional interior better than its frame indicated. It also boosted a 1.8l 4-cylinder that could produce 145 hp with 5- manual gearbox.
That frame could be tight yet sleek on the road, and the car was able to stand out from the pack with its shape. It’s a hatchback perfect for roving the countryside in.
1 Ford Fiesta 1.6 Zetec-S
Ford was on a seriously good roll in the late ‘90s, and early 2000’s and the Fiesta Zetec-S benefited from that. It had the terrific chassis design that made Fords fun then and some excellent touches.
The best was the engine, which was either a 1.6 TDCI diesel in 94bhp form, or the excellent 1.0-litre EcoBoost turbo petrol with 123bhp. The speed may not have been tremendous, but the handling was astounding to make this an overlooked gem of Ford at this time.
Sources: evo.co.uk, jalopnik.com, hothatch.com, carbuzz.com, drivetribe.com
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