A high-performance variant of a compact hatchback. The category began with the 1976 Volkswagen Golf GTI.
Hot hatch is a category of high-performance compact hatchbacks. The body style is practical (small overall size, large cargo capacity through the rear hatch, four to five seats), and the powertrain is tuned for performance (typically turbocharged four-cylinder, manual or dual-clutch transmission, sport-tuned suspension and brakes).
The 1976 Volkswagen Golf GTI is widely credited as the original modern hot hatch. The Mk1 GTI took an economy car (the regular Golf) and added a fuel-injected 1.6 liter four, plaid sport seats, a manual transmission, and tighter suspension. The result was a practical, affordable, fast small car that influenced an entire category.
Modern hot hatch benchmarks include the Volkswagen Golf GTI (still the segment standard after eight generations), Honda Civic Type R, Hyundai i30 N (Elantra N in North America), Renault Megane RS, Ford Focus RS, BMW M2 (sometimes considered hot hatch adjacent), and Mini John Cooper Works. The Volkswagen Golf R and Audi RS3 represent the all-wheel drive sub-category.