- Best hot hatches, SUVs and performance estates to lease
- Enjoy some of them now while you still can
- Follows imminent retirement of Honda Civic Type R and Ford Focus ST
- Still plenty of other grin-inducers to savour
These are the best hot hatches, SUVs and performance estates to lease right now - and we suggest you enjoy some of them now while you still can.
You might be forgiven for thinking that traditionally-fuelled hot hatches are something of a dying breed.
In the last couple of weeks we’ve seen Ford preparing to close the order book for its Focus ST (below), with the manufacturer telling Autocar that production will cease in November.
Before we had chance to wipe away the tears, Honda also announced that production of the Civic Type R will ‘conclude’ at the beginning of 2026, with the legendary hot hatch seemingly curtailed by strict new ‘Euro 6e-bis’ EU emissions regulations that come into force for all new vehicles at the end of the year.
For many petrolheads, it’s the end of an era. But all is not lost.
You can still lease the Ford Focus ST (while those models already built are still available) and the Honda Civic Type R before they throttle off into the sunset.
And if you’re looking for alternatives - including emissions-beating EVs - read on:
Honda Civic Type R | £664 per month*
- Power/torque: 329 PS/ 420 Nm
- 0-62 mph: 5.4 secs
It’s not the quickest or most powerful hot hatch going, and there’s no all-wheel drive wizardry (as you get with the VW Golf R).
But what you do get is a razor-sharp, unadulterated driving experience, with the Type R’s light weight, nimbleness creating something altogether unforgettable.
Expect a track-ready racing chassis, limited slip differential, and rev matching for seamless gear changes. The red-swathed cabin is also something of a show-stopper.
The Honda Civic Type R is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder VTEC turbocharged engine that’s married to a precise six-speed manual gearbox.
Ford Focus ST | £383 per month*
- Power/torque: 280 PS/ 420 Nm
- 0-62 mph: 5.7 secs
The Ford Focus ST has been around since 2002, when it made its debut as a slightly less hot alternative to the balls-out Focus RS.
The latest models are powered by a 2.3-litre petrol engine and mated to either a manual or automatic gearbox, the latter of which get shift paddles on the steering wheel.
Expect an electronic limited-slip differential for spirited handling and 14-way adjustable front sports seats for comfort. The ‘Track’ pack adds extras like KW coilover suspension, Brembo brakes and sharp ST detailing.
VW Golf R Estate | £385 per month*
- Power/torque: 333 PS/ 420 Nm
- 0-62 mph: 4.8 secs
The VW Golf as we know and love it is living on borrowed time.
A new electric Golf is set to arrive in 2027 and that could well sound the death knell for the range-topping, all-wheel drive ‘R’ models. So, if you want one, get in there now.
There’s a lot to recommend the Golf R estate over the hatchback, as it’s a ‘have your cake and eat it’ sort of vehicle that’ll do the school run in the morning before monstering the track in the afternoon.
The R Performance Pack adds a ‘Drift’ and ‘Special’ driving modes designed for track use.
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N | £683 per month*
- Power/torque: 650 PS/ 770 Nm
- 0-62 mph: 3.4 secs
Named ‘World Performance Car’ for 2024, the raucous, all-wheel drive Hyundai Ioniq 5 N takes the word ‘hot’ and then torches it with a flamethrower.
(And yes, we know it’s more of a hot SUV than a hot hatch, but you get the point)
Hyundai’s approach to building its performance EV was to make it as fun as humanly possible - which is why it even gets an ‘N Grin Shift’ button, which provides a 20-second burst of additional power, and a dedicated ‘Drift’ mode.
Despite all of that going-sideways-around-a-race-circuit madness, the Ioniq 5 N still gets an EV range of up to 278 miles.
Alpine A290 | £352 per month*
- Power/torque: 220 PS/ 300 Nm
- 0-62 mph: 6.4 secs
A newcomer to the hot hatch world, the Alpine A290 isn’t as blisteringly-quick as some of the other cars featured in this list, but it’s just as desirable.
A hot sibling to the Renault 5 E-Tech, the Alpine A290 boasts relatively modest power of up to 220 PS and a 6.4-sec 0-62 mph sprint speed. Yet those stats tell just half the story as it’s still a proper track car.
You’lll enjoy an Alpine sport-tuned chassis with multilink rear suspension and hydraulic bump stops, Brembo brakes, and Alpine Telemetrics race data.
Audi S3 Sportback | £560 per month*
- Power/torque: 333 PS / 420 Nm
- 0-62 mph: 4.7 seconds
Can’t stretch to the full-on, 400 PS Audi RS3 Sportback?
The S3 is more affordable and arguably the same amount of fun if you adjust your expectations accordingly.
It’s got pretty much identical power and performance stats as the VW Golf R and, like the Golf, the Audi S3 Sportback is an all-wheel drive affair.
Swanky Vorsprung models also get a panoramic sunroof and augmented reality head-up display.
CUPRA Born VZ | £330 per month*
- Power/torque: 326 PS / 545 Nm
- 0-62 mph: 5.6 secs
The CUPRA Born is, essentially, the evil twin to the mild-mannered VW ID.3, with both EVs sharing the same Volkswagen Group platform.
In standard form, the Born is fairly sedate despite its aggressive design, with power of 230 PS and the ability to accelerate from 0-62 mph in around 6.6 seconds.
The VZ model, however, is a different beast. Expect loads more power, rapid acceleration, bucket seats, uprated dampers and springs, better brake feel, and larger 20-inch alloys than with the usual Born.
Abarth 600e | £522 per month*
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- Power/torque: 280 PS/ 345 Nm
- 0-62 mph: 5.9 secs
The Abarth 600e recently featured in our list of the best cars we’ve driven in the last 12 months, with our scribe Phill Tromans describing it as ‘properly sorted, with fantastically meaty, direct steering, loads of grip and a predictability in its handling that just makes you want to lean on it’.
Range-topping Scorpionissima models get the most power at 280 PS while also featuring a Torsen mechanical limited-slip differential, sport brakes, and racing-derived Michelin Pilot Sport EV tyres.
*Prices include VAT. Credit is Subject to Status, Ts and Cs and Arrangement Fees apply. Excess mileage may apply. Stock levels and prices correct as of 13/06/25.
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