Starting from hatch

German solidity, Gallic flair and Eastern ingenuity meet in this small-hatch match…

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PEUGEOT 208 1,2T ALLURE MT vs. RENAULT CLIO 1,0 TURBO INTENS vs. VOLKSWAGEN POLO 1,0 TSI LIFE & HONDA FIT 1,5 i-VTEC ELEGANCE CVT

It's been some time since we last ventured into the realm of group-testing a batch of small hatchbacks. Despite selling in vast volumes and accounting for much of the entry-level motoring market, the local small hatchback segment has seen few major developments in recent years. Maybe it's an upshot of the pandemic and all of the chaos that's come riding on its coattails. But the offshoot of those unsettled times - rising living costs and the tightening of financial belts in many households - means wallet-friendly motoring remains as important as ever. Thankfully, the past few months have revealed interesting movement in this segment. The fifth generation of the stalwart Volkswagen Polo has undergone a mid-cycle refresh. It's also been joined by all-new versions of stylish alternatives from France in the Renault Clio V and Peugeot 208.

So, we've pitted these comparable small hatches (all three-cylinder turbo-petrol manuals in a similar price bracket) against one another, while throwing another relative newcomer in the Honda Fit into the pack as a family-friendly alternative. So let's see what transpires in this small-hatch match...

The fashionable feline

PEUGEOT 208 1,2T ALLURE MT

Looks fantastic and performs strongly, but that driving position is a major drawback Gareth Dean

The best-looking car of the quartet, but ergonomics suggest Peugeot has tried a little too hard to be different Braam Peens