SIBLING RIVALRY

As high-priced heroes steal the headlines, a real-world hot hatch battle rages between Volkswagen's refined Golf GTI Clubsport and Cupra's rebellious Leon 300. Which delivers the better blend of thrills and practicality?

- by YOUSUF ASHRAF

WHO MAKES THE BEST HOT HATCHBACK on sale? Spoiler: it isn’t Volkswagen or Cupra. Rather, the likes of the Honda Civic Type R, Audi RS3 and Toyota GR Yaris are at the apex of hot hatch engineering and driving thrills right now, redefining what can be extracted from humble underpinnings. But they also come with some major caveats. At £50k the Honda is out of reach for most traditional hot hatch buyers, and the RS3 creeps into a space occupied by full-blown sports cars with its £60k asking price. And the Yaris? Good luck ordering a new one. Even if you can, you'll be handing over £44,250 for a three-door supermini that’s somewhat limited for daily tasks.

So what about the best archetypal hot hatch? One that sticks to the classic formula and blends speed and usability for a more sensible price, without any major shortcomings? That’s where Volkswagen and Cupra elbow their way back into the conversation.

The Golf GTI set the blueprint for the class, of course, rarely being the most exciting but often being the hot hatch that you’d most want to live with day to day. That was never more true than with the ultra-slick and competent Mk7 generation, but the Mk8 that followed wasn’t as desirable, starting off on shaky ground with poor ergonomics and a reduced sense of quality. The latest Mk8.5 is a step forward, with its upgraded interior and a fine-tuned chassis, the Clubsport version topping the tree with 296bhp (35 more than standard) and a keener edge to its dynamics. But before it can reclaim its place as the de facto do-it-all hot hatch, it has rivals to deal with — including some friendly fire from elsewhere within the Volkswagen Group.