best hatchback 2023 Page 8

Asking for the best hatchback of 2023 is like asking which coffee is strongest—depends how jittery you like your mornings. Here are the standouts and their trade-offs:

• Toyota Corolla: Pros—excellent economy, safety tech, rock-solid resale. Cons—tight rear space and boot; performance is sensible rather than spicy.
• Mazda 3: Pros—plush cabin and sweet handling. Cons—poor rear visibility and a snug back seat; pricing can creep up.
• Hyundai i30: Pros—great value and long warranty, locally tuned ride. Cons—thirstier than rivals and an ageing interior in some trims.
• Volkswagen Golf: Pros—polished ride/handling and refined cabin. Cons—pricey options/servicing and those fiddly touch controls.

Test-drive the lot on familiar roads, poke at the infotainment, and pick the one that annoys you least on the commute.