Hot hatches are among the few performance vehicles with the perfect blend of performance and practicality. Most hot hatches boast compact sizes and sporty designs, making them fun to drive for most enthusiasts. Our list delves deep into the fastest hatchbacks in the world, ranking them based on their quarter-mile times.
We used ZeroTo60Times to get accurate quarter-mile data for all hatchbacks and focused more on models with a quarter-mile time of under 14.0 seconds. While this lineup mostly contains contenders with turbocharged 4-cylinder engines, there are a few diamonds in the rough, like the RS 3 Sportback and Volkswagen Golf R32.
13. 2023 Honda Civic Type R: Quarter Mile In 13.7 Seconds
| Engine | Turbocharged 2.0 L I4 |
| Transmission | 6-Speed Manual |
| 0-60 MPH | 5.1 Seconds |
| Top Speed | 169 MPH |
The 2023 Honda Civic Type R promises to deliver the same entertainment as its predecessor but with more power and a new design. Honda increases the front and rear tracks, helping offer improved cooling for the brakes.
Under the Civic Type R’s hood sits a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 315 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. The engine pairs with a 6-speed manual transmission, sending power to the front wheels. Despite using the same engine as its predecessor, the CTR gets a redesigned turbocharger and a more efficient exhaust system.
12. 2024 Acura Integra Type S: Quarter Mile In 13.7 Seconds
| Engine | Turbocharged 2.0 L I4 |
| Transmission | 6-Speed Manual |
| 0-60 MPH | 5.1 Seconds |
| Top Speed | 167 MPH |
Acura’s Integra Type S is all new for the 2024 model year, and it boasts more performance, a cooler-looking design, and fun driving dynamics than the base Integra. Since Acura is Honda’s luxury division, the Integra Type S shares many components with the Civic Type R hot hatch.
The 2024 Integra Type S uses a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, like the Honda CTR, but boasts more power, 320 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. Like the Honda CTR, the Acura Integra Type S uses a 6-speed manual, sending power to the front wheels.
11. 2021 Honda Civic Type R Limited Edition: Quarter Mile In 13.5 Seconds
| Engine | Turbocharged 2.0 L I4 |
| Transmission | 6-Speed Manual |
| 0-60 MPH | 5.0 Seconds |
| Top Speed | 180 MPH |
For the 2021 model year, Honda offered a limited-edition model of the Civic Type R. Honda only made 1,000 copies of the CTR Limited Edition, 600 of which were for the U.S. market. While the model was only available with Phoenix Yellow Pearl paint, it also had a gloss black hood scoop, exterior mirrors, and roof panel.
Like the base Civic Type R, the Limited Edition used a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 306 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The Civic Type R Limited Edition also used a 6-speed manual transmission, sending power to the front wheels. However, it was faster than the base CTR due to shedding 38 pounds and stickier Michelin Sport Cup 2 tires.
10. 2010 Subaru Impreza WRX STi SE: Quarter Mile In 13.5 Seconds
| Engine | Turbocharged 2.5 L H4 |
| Transmission | 6-Speed Manual |
| 0-60 MPH | 4.8 Seconds |
| Top Speed | 155 MPH |
Subaru introduced the new 2010 WRX STi Special Edition at the L.A. Auto Show. While its exterior design looked less special than the WRX STi due to its lack of fog lights and use of halogen headlamps, the Special Edition borrowed components from the Japanese WRX STi Spec C.
Subaru added 29% firmer shocks, a 1 mm thicker rear anti-roll bar, revised springs, and stiffer subframe bushings. Under its hood sat the same turbocharged 2.5 liter flat-4 engine in the U.S. market STi. The engine produced 305 hp and 290 lb-ft of torque, sending it to all wheels through a 6-speed manual transmission.
9. 2021 Hyundai Veloster N: Quarter Mile In 13.4 Seconds
| Engine | Turbocharged 2.0 L I4 |
| Transmission | 6-Speed Manual; 8-Speed DCT |
| 0-60 MPH | 4.8 Seconds |
| Top Speed | 155 MPH |
Hyundai’s Veloster N was a raucous hot hatch with impressive performance and plenty of driving fun for the money. For the 2021 model year, Hyundai added an 8-speed DCT, which promised quicker shifts and had steering-mounted paddle shifters.
Like most hot hatches, the Hyundai Veloster N used a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 275 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. It channeled the power to the front wheels through a standard 6-speed manual or the optional DCT.
8. 2023 Toyota GR Corolla: Quarter Mile In 13.3 Seconds
| Engine | Turbocharged 1.6 L I3 |
| Transmission | 6-Speed Manual |
| 0-60 MPH | 4.9 Seconds |
| Top Speed | 143 MPH |
In recent years, Toyota has been on a crusade to add excitement to its lineup. Toyota introduced the all-new GR Corolla in 2023, giving enthusiasts a highly capable hot hatch to compete with the Honda Civic Type R and Volkswagen Golf R.
Unlike its rivals, the 2023 Toyota GR Corolla uses a turbocharged 1.6-liter 3-cylinder engine borrowed from the GR Yaris. The little triple engine produces an impressive 300 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Toyota also outfitted the GR Corolla with a 6-speed manual transmission, sending power to Toyota’s GR-FOUR all-wheel drive system.
7. 2016 Ford Focus RS: Quarter Mile In 13.3 Seconds
| Engine | Turbocharged 2.3 L I4 |
| Transmission | 6-Speed Manual |
| 0-60 MPH | 4.5 Seconds |
| Top Speed | 165 MPH |
For years, U.S. enthusiasts sat by while other markets enjoyed the lunacy of the high-powered Focus RS. However, Ford finally obliged and gave enthusiasts a Focus RS in 2016 with more grunt than the Subaru WRX STi and Volkswagen Golf R.
Under its hood sat a turbocharged 2.3-liter EcoBoost 4-cylinder engine, similar to that in the Mustang EcoBoost. The powertrain produced an impressive 350 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque, sending it to all wheels through a 6-speed manual and making it one of the fastest hatchbacks in the world.
6. 2021 Mini JCW GP: Quarter Mile In 13.1 Seconds
| Engine | Turbocharged 2.0 L I4 |
| Transmission | 8-Speed Automatic |
| 0-60 MPH | 4.7 Seconds |
| Top Speed | 165 MPH |
The Mini John Cooper Works is a stylish, powerful, and well-equipped hot hatch with an impressive history. John Cooper Works was the descendant of the Cooper Car Factory, which BMW later purchased in 2008. Nowadays, the JCW logo helps identify Mini’s go-fast models.
For the 2021 model year, Mini added a JCW GP to the existing lineup, boasting a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with 75 more horsepower than the standard JCW models. The 2021 Mini JCW GP used a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine with 306 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque. The engine sent power to the front wheels through an 8-speed automatic transmission.
5. 2014 Mercedes AMG A45: Quarter Mile In 13.1 Seconds
| Engine | Turbocharged 2.0 L I4 |
| Transmission | 7-Speed DCT |
| 0-60 MPH | 4.3 Seconds |
| Top Speed | 155 MPH |
Mercedes-Benz’s AMG A45 hot hatch has been the perfect rival to Audi’s RS 3 Sportback. The 2014 AMG A45 hot hatch used a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 360 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque. The engine paired with a 7-speed DCT, sending power to a front-biased all-wheel drive system.
This helped the AMG A45 rocket from 0 to 62 mph in just 4.6 seconds and get to a limited top speed of 155 mph. To help the A-Class cope with the extra power, AMG modified the suspension, braking system, and power steering.
4. 2004 AEM Honda Civic Si: Quarter Mile In 12.7 Seconds
| Engine | Turbocharged 2.0 L I4 |
| Transmission | 6-Speed Manual |
| 0-60 MPH | 4.5 Seconds |
| Top Speed | N/A |
Advanced Engine Management (AEM) is a well-known Honda/Acura tuning firm. In the 2004 AEM Honda Civic Si model, the tuner replaced the stock 2.0-liter 4-cylinder and 5-speed manual with a high-revving Acura RSX Type S 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine and a 6-speed manual transmission.
AEM also added a Garret GT28RS turbocharger, helping the Civic Si to produce an impressive 327 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque. This resulted in an impressive 0 to 60 mph sprint of just 4.5 seconds and a quarter mile time of 12.7 seconds.
3. 2022 Volkswagen Golf R: Quarter Mile In 12.6 Seconds
| Engine | Turbocharged 2.0 L I4 |
| Transmission | 6-Speed Manual; 7-Speed DCT |
| 0-60 MPH | 4.0 – 5.1 Seconds |
| Top Speed | 155 MPH |
Volkswagen reintroduced the Golf R in 2022 after being in a hiatus since the 2019 model year. While this model wasn’t as showy as rivals like the Hyundai Veloster N and Honda Civic Type R, it had enough performance to become one of the fastest hatchbacks in the world.
Volkswagen fitted the 2022 Golf R with a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 315 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. The engine paired with either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed DCT, sending power to standard 4Motion all-wheel drive system.
2. 2008 HPA Motorsports Volkswagen Golf R32: Quarter Mile In 11.9 Seconds
| Engine | Twin-turbocharged 3.6 L VR6 |
| Transmission | 7-Speed DCT |
| 0-60 MPH | 3.5 Seconds |
| Top Speed | 180 MPH |
The HPA Motorsports Volkswagen Golf R32 was among the most tuned Volkswagens of its time. Volkswagen offered the R32 Golf with a 3.2-liter VR6 engine, all-wheel drive, and a manual transmission as standard.
However, HPA Motorsports transformed the R32 Golf with a fully built 3.6-liter VR6 engine, dual-clutch transmission, and a twin turbocharger kit. The result was an astounding 450 hp at the wheels and a blistering quick quarter-mile time of 11.9 seconds.
1. 2023 Audi RS 3 Sportback: Quarter Mile In 11.8 Seconds
| Engine | Turbocharged 2.5 L I5 |
| Transmission | 7-Speed DCT |
| 0-60 MPH | 3.6 Seconds |
| Top Speed | 159 MPH |
Audi’s RS 3 Sportback is among the few hot hatches with power that any driver can access. It boasts vast performance, thanks to a clever dynamic suspension, various driver assistance systems, and Audi’s Quattro all-wheel drive.
The RS 3 Sportback is also the only vehicle on this list with a 5-cylinder engine, which harks back to the brand’s Group B rally cars. The turbocharged 2.5-liter 5-cylinder engine produces 401 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, helping make it one of the fastest hatchbacks in the world.
Sources: ZeroTo60Times, Edmunds, KBB