Which 5 door £15k performance hatchback?

[rotaryjam]

Hello

I'm looking for a fun 5dr family car.

Needs:

-Automatic
- 5 Door
- Hatchback
- 300 bhp or more
- Sounds good
- interesting driving dynamics
- Nice interior
- Petrol

I'm fairly set on an M135/M140i but I'd look to see what other options are available?

I pretty much discounted any FWD or AWD cars which left pretty much the options I mentioned but I'm wondering if I was too hasty. I discounted them as not being interesting enough to drive.

I also discounted anything less than a 6 cylinder but again I'm thinking maybe I've been wrong to do so.

So what other options should I look at?

[Xcore]

Golf r? Dull though.

[BUG4LIFE]

The Beemer ticks all your boxes...just get one. Defo a good do it all car.

[Belle427]

Id say go BMW too, not much can match its interesting engine really.

[ZX10R NIN]

rotaryjam said:

Hello

I'm looking for a fun 5dr family car.

Needs:

-Automatic
- 5 Door
- Hatchback
- 300 bhp or more
- Sounds good
- interesting driving dynamics
- Nice interior
- Petrol

I'm fairly set on an M135/M140i but I'd look to see what other options are available?

I pretty much discounted any FWD or AWD cars which left pretty much the options I mentioned but I'm wondering if I was too hasty. I discounted them as not being interesting enough to drive.

I also discounted anything less than a 6 cylinder but again I'm thinking maybe I've been wrong to do so.

So what other options should I look at?

Good cars but you have to do some work to them to get the best out of them.

In all honesty I'd suggest test driving the Jaguar XE S:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407121...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407021...

[jdoubleu]

ZX10R NIN said:

Good cars but you have to do some work to them to get the best out of them.

In all honesty I'd suggest test driving the Jaguar XE S:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407121...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407021...

Very much not a hatchback though

[georgeyboy12345]

BMW 435i
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408012...

A decent 440i will require you to stretch the budget
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407081...


Porsche Panamera S
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409244...

[rotaryjam]

I must stress that it has to.be a hatchback

[ChrisH72]

I think you could get the BMW and be more than happy about it.

But I'd definitely want to drive the many FWD turbo 4 pot options as you might like them even more.

I have an mx5 now and it's great. RWD and NA engine suit it really well and I enjoy driving it. But my old Fiesta ST was just as much fun in a different way. I went from a straight 6 BMW to the ST and didn't miss the 6 pot engine at all. I didn't miss RWD either. For me, there's more things that add up to fun factor than the amount of cylinders and the drive train.

[ZX10R NIN]

jdoubleu said:

ZX10R NIN said:

Good cars but you have to do some work to them to get the best out of them.

In all honesty I'd suggest test driving the Jaguar XE S:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407121...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407021...

Very much not a hatchback though

I agree but the 135/140 has less boot space etc & is imo a worse steer.

If it has to be a hatchback then the 435i GC is the pick:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408012...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405179...

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Friday 27th September 10:00

[jam_up]

RWD, 5dr hatchback, 300bhp+. I think the M140i is your only choice.

I’ve had one for 18 months -

+ Brilliant engine and gearbox
+ Sounds great (mine is pre-OPF)
+ Surprisingly economical on a run (40+ mpg)

- Ride is unsettling.
- More of a 8/10’s car than a true hot hatch
- Cramped rear space. Not a practical “family car”.

Highly recommend you get one with adaptive dampers or factor in new suspension costs, because the stock one is cr*p. It also needs a LSD. Mine is still factory but that’s mainly because they’re expensive to insure as is. Plus I’m likely to get rid next year.

As mentioned above, I wouldn’t discount any of the FWD offerings, think GTI, ST, Cupra etc. Slower but more practical and you can push them more (stock vs stock comparison).

[nessiemac]

Mini JCW in either 5 door hatch or Clubman?