The ‘ultimate’ in ‘hot hatch performance’ - that’s what Honda proudly boasts about its blisteringly-quick Civic Type R.
But is it the right lease option for you, or is there another performance hatchback that you’d rather see sitting on your driveway?
The brand new Civic Type R was launched this week, much to the delight of petrolheads, after the old model was taken off sale back in November 2021 ahead of the unveiling of this facelifted version.
The Civic itself turned 50 years old this month - meaning it has been around longer than both the Volkswagen Polo and the Ford Fiesta. And the Type R itself is 25 years old, with the first, and much-coveted, first generation R having gone on sale in 1997.
So there’s some real pedigree at play here, and rivals need to work hard for your lease money.
Here’s a few of the most popular Type R alternatives - as well as some left-field suggestions to get you thinking:
Refreshed at the tail end of last year, the Audi RS3 is quicker and more responsive than ever before.
A 2.5 litre petrol engine provides power of 400 PS and 500 Nm of torque, resulting in a 0-62mph time of just 3.8 seconds.
A torque splitter distributes drive torque between the rear wheels for maximum stability when you’re hooning it around a track, while ceramic brakes are an option you might also want to consider.
Audi has also built the RS3 to be ‘suitable for everyday use’, and so it comes as standard with creature comforts like a 10.1 inch touchscreen and a sumptuous interior.
Four-wheel-drive, power of 257 bhp, and weight that’s been shed like a boxer preparing for a fight - the Toyota GR Yaris really means business.
The GR Yaris, a performance variant of the bog standard Yaris hatch, was first unveiled in 2020 and promptly won the best 'Performance Car of the Year' prize at the 2021 Auto Express New Car Awards.
The ‘Circuit Pack’ takes things up a notch, adding uprated 18 inch forged alloys, front and rear Torsen Limited Slip Differentials and suspension specifically tuned for the track.
Huge smile, small monthly leasing fee.
Of course, the VW Up! GTI isn’t really a rival to the Honda Civic Type R. For that, you’d look to the 320 PS VW Golf R, or the 300 PS Golf GTI Clubsport.
But the ‘grin factor’ is important when picking a hot hatch, not just how powerful it is. And the plucky little Up! GTI is sure to have you beaming.
A 1.0 litre petrol engine generates 115 PS and you’ll get from 0-62mph in 8.8 seconds - while also enjoying fuel economy of around 51 mpg.
Hot hatches don’t have to be powered by thundering petrol engines - just look at the all-electric Cupra Born.
When you lease a Born with the smaller 58 kWh battery with power of 230 PS, you’ll sprint from 0-62mph in just 6.6 seconds.
That’s very nearly as quick as the current Ford Fiesta ST, which will hit 62mph in 6.5 seconds. Unlike the ST, the fastest Cupra Born will also give you a zero emissions range of 252 miles between charges.
Okay, bear with us here. We know it’s not strictly a traditional ‘hatch’, but the all-electric Genesis GV60 is much more of a hatchback compared with rivals like the Kia EV6 or the Hyundai Ioniq 5.
And with power of up to 483 bhp with the range-topping, all-wheel-drive ‘Sport Plus’ models, the GV60 is plenty quick enough.
You’ll accelerate from 0-62mph in 4.0 seconds flat, while still getting a range of up to 289 miles between charges.
You might consider the GV60 a ‘hot crossover’. In which case, you should also check out the 200 PS Ford Puma ST.
Hyundai is making real strides on the performance front with its ever-expanding range of ‘N’ cars. And the South Korean firm played a blinder when they turned its exceedingly ‘vanilla’ i20 supermini into a squealing track beast, complete with an eye-catching rear wing.
Power of 204 PS comes from a 1.6 litre turbocharged petrol engine and you can expect a 0-62mph time of 6.2 seconds.
Need further convincing?
The i20N scooped the prestigious ‘Car of the Year’ trophy at Top Gear's annual awards in 2021.
The Fiesta ST might have been around for a while - since 2005 - but it’s still one of the definitive hot hatches and is an absolute hoot to drive.
The current ST is the ‘ST-3’, which is packing a 1.5 litre EcoBoost engine with 200 PS and which translates to a 0-62mph time of 6.5 seconds.
Opt for the ‘Performance Pack’ and you’ll also get a Limited Slip Differential from British motorsport engineers Quaife.
Mercedes-AMG A45 S
The regular Mercedes-Benz A Class as we know and love it has been going strong since 2013.
And the Mercedes-AMG A45 S is the quickest, most raucous and most attractive A Class going.
Power of 421 hp comes from a 2.0 litre mill that’s said to be the world’s most powerful four-cylinder mill.
It’ll hit 62mph from a standstill in just 3.9 seconds and then on to a top speed of 168 mph.
The interior is as plush as they come, too, and comes complete with the Mercedes ‘MBUX’ multimedia infotainment system.
When it comes to the most powerful BMW hot hatch, you’d look to the M135i, the most potent variant of the 1 Series with 306 hp.
But the lesser-powered 128ti is also well worth a look, proving more affordable and being arguably more fun, too.
A twin-turbocharged 2.0 petrol engine produces a healthy 265hp and gives the 128ti a 0-62mph time of 6.1 seconds.
You get the same Torsen limited-slip diff that’s in the M135i, yet the 128ti is actually lighter than its M rival.
There’s also lovely style flourishes and red accents throughout the interior and exterior.
The definitive electric hot hatch? The MINI Electric might just be.
It’s not really billed as a performance model, but the 182 hp MINI Electric is actually more powerful than the 178 hp MINI Cooper S, the latter of which is a bona fide hot hatch.
The Electric isn’t as quick to accelerate as the S, reaching 62mph in around 7.2 seconds.
But you can enjoy the trademark go-kart handling while also experiencing a 145 mile range between charges.
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