best sporty hatchbacks australia

Chasing the best sporty hatchbacks in Australia? You’ve got a tasty buffet, from budget bruisers to track-day show-offs.

• Hyundai i30 N: playful chassis and strong brakes; decent value; cons are a firm ride and a thirst when pressed.
• Volkswagen Golf GTI: mature daily manners and swift real-world pace; cons are fiddly infotainment and options that inflate price.
• Honda Civic Type R: phenomenal steering, grip and track stamina; cons are a hefty price tag and attention-grabbing looks.

Also consider the Toyota GR Yaris or Volkswagen Golf R if you want AWD fireworks or more poke, and note some rivals like the Focus ST are now mostly used buys.

Test a few back-to-back and browse Tradingpost for new and used listings; your spine and the speed bumps will tell you everything worth knowing.