SUVs may take all the headlines, but the humble hatchback still has plenty of plus points.
They're smaller and lighter than an equivalent crossover – as well as being easy to park, easy to see out of and easy to drive. As an added bonus, hatchbacks are usually cheaper to buy and run than similarly sized SUVs.
We've picked 10 of our favourite hatchback models – almost all are available as great-value used cars from Motorpoint.
Peugeot 208 – best small hatchback
The Peugeot 208 is right at top of the supermini class. Its styling stands out among a crowd of cookie-cutter rivals, and its interior is particularly distinctive. That funky cabin, with its oh-so-flickable small steering wheel and high-mounted dials, is also trimmed with quality materials. The 208 isn’t the cheapest supermini, but it feels more premium than rivals like the Hyundai i20 and SEAT Ibiza, and even takes the fight to the Audi A1. The pointy Peugeot is also one of few cars this size to offer a fully electric option and, because the e-208 was always part of the plan, it doesn’t lose any boot space to the petrol one. It does, however, gain much faster acceleration, a silky smooth driving experience and advertised range of around 200 miles.
Browse used Peugeot 208 cars or read our Peugeot 208 review
Honda Civic – best family hatchback
In the past, you might’ve looked at the Honda Civic for something a little different to the ubiquitous VW Golf or Ford Focus. But the most recent Civic has shot straight above all its rivals. Now hybrid-only, it’s capable of nearly 60mpg when driven carefully, while its 184hp engine provides brisk acceleration. Most of the time, the electric motor powers the wheels, giving an EV-like driving experience, and a CVT automatic gearbox adds to that linear feeling as the petrol engine joins in. The interior is the best ever fitted to a Civic – a drastic improvement on the old car and far more intuitive to use than the Golf's screen-heavy setup. Add in impressive rear-seat space and a glowing five-star safety score, and the Civic offers a potentially SUV-beating package.
Vauxhall Corsa – best used hatchback
One drawback of buying a brand-new car is the waiting time. You might’ve picked out the exact spec you want but it may take until next year to get here – who has time for that?! What if we told you that you’ll almost certainly be able to find a Vauxhall Corsa with the exact engine, spec and colour that you want at Motorpoint, ready to drive away the same day. And, you can save thousands versus a factory-fresh equivalent, making the ever-popular Corsa a fantastic used choice. That’s before you get to the easy user experience, standard-fit phone connectivity and punchy turbo petrol engine.
Search a huge selection of used Vauxhall Corsa cars or read our Vauxhall Corsa review
Ford Fiesta ST – best hot hatch
The hottest hot hatches have crazy power and supercar-like acceleration these days – so, why have we voted a Fiesta with ‘just’ 200hp as the best of the lot? The Fiesta ST feels more like an old-school hot hatch, prioritising addictive cornering ability and driver engagement over outright brute power. After all, when are you ever going to use the Volkswagen Golf R’s 168mph top speed? Simply put, Ford has given the Fiesta ST some secret sauce, making it one of the most fun cars on sale, while still being easy to use as a daily driver. Slow down to a cruise and you’ll see more than 40mpg, while insurance costs and parts prices aren’t too expensive either.
Check out used Ford Fiesta ST cars
Nissan Leaf – best electric hatchback
The Nissan Leaf was one of the first electric cars available but it's since been surpassed by rivals like the Volkswagen ID.3 and MG4 for performance and range, so what's it doing on this list? The answer comes down to the Leaf's price, which is astonishingly affordable on the used market – not just undercutting all its battery-powered rivals, but coming in cheaper than most fuel-powered competitors, too. And you're getting a lot of car for the money – the equipment list is long and fully featured, the cabin is spacious and practical, and the driving experience is smooth and powerful. 40kWh models should manage around 150 miles on a charge, with 62kWh versions pushing this figure above 200, making the Leaf possibly the perfect second car.
View used Nissan Leaf cars or read our Nissan Leaf review
Vauxhall Astra – best PHEV hatchback
The Vauxhall Astra is far from alone in offering a plug-in-hybrid engine option in its lineup – ideal for company-car drivers and urban dwellers. You'll find similar options in the Peugeot 308 and Volkswagen Golf, but we've gone with the blocky Vauxhall and its '80s-inspired 'visor' front end. The first point goes to the British-branded car because it's more affordable than its French or German counterparts, especially as a used car. It keeps scoring once you realise the lower price tag doesn't mean a subpar experience. The cabin is modern and well equipped, the infotainment system is fully featured, and the driving experience is calm, composed and easy. On the road, the PHEV setup is smooth and powerful, and automatically selects the most efficient blend of petrol and electric power.
See a choice of used Vauxhall Astra cars or read our Vauxhall Astra review
Toyota Corolla – best fuel-efficient hatchback
Plug-in hybrids like the Astra above claim astonishing average economy figures north of 150mpg, but you're only going to achieve that in the real world with lots of charging. For most drivers, the 64mpg quoted in the Toyota Corolla’s spec sheet is much more achievable, and you may see even more than that if you spend a lot of time in congested areas. The Corolla is a full or self-charging hybrid, so it has a smaller battery than its PHEV rivals and doesn’t need to be plugged in – simply recharging from the engine or as the car slows down. Refinement is a top attribute of the British-built Corolla, with its quiet and smooth powertrain resulting in a relaxing driving experience that matches the fuss-free but well-made cabin.
Shop used Toyota Corolla cars or read our Toyota Corolla review
Citroen C4 – most reliable hatchback
The old trope about French cars being unreliable is mostly unfounded these days, and a modern Citroen, Renault or Peugeot can be just as reliable as a Toyota Yaris or Kia Rio. The Citroen C4 has proved reliable – especially the electric e-C4 – topping the 2023 Driver Power survey as the best car to own. That’s potentially good news for the Vauxhall Corsa and Peugeot 208, because they share the same engines as the Citroen. Elsewhere, the C4 brings coupe-SUV styling to the family hatch class, and boasts a practical interior with a stripped-back but quirky design that feels fresh compared to more conservative alternatives.
Browse used Citroen C4 cars or read our Citroen C4 review
Volkswagen Golf – safest hatchback
While the latest Volkswagen Golf might not be the default family car choice it once was – and its infotainment system isn’t the easiest to use – the new version still does plenty of things well. It’s one of the safest cars on the road, with a five-star Euro NCAP result comprising 88% and 87% scores for adult and child protection respectively. Its driver assistance and hazard alert systems were also given an ‘advanced’ grading. The Honda Civic and Cupra Born also feature on our list of the safest cars you can buy.
Check out used Volkswagen Golf cars or read our Volkswagen Golf review
Skoda Octavia – hatchback with the best boot space
It might look like a saloon, but the Skoda Octavia is actually a hatchback – the rear glass lifts with the boot lid, granting enormous access to its vast cargo area. It’s based on the same platform as the Golf, but you wouldn’t think that if you parked the two cars side-by-side. With its extended tailgate, the Octavia’s whopping 600-litre boot dwarfs the Golf’s 380-litre space and offers more luggage room than many estate cars and SUVs. The latest Octavia has a higher-quality interior than any previous generation, as well as a comfier, more refined driving experience, so the gap between it and the Golf is closer than ever before.
Take a look at used Skoda Octavia cars or read our Skoda Octavia review
Find your perfect hatch match
Search hundreds of great-value used hatchback cars at Motorpoint – all backed by our Quality Standard.
