Family hatchbacks
BMW 1 Series review – the keen driver’s premium hatchback pick
BMW 1 Series review – the keen driver’s premium hatchback pick
"The BMW 1 Series offers comfort, luxury and driving enjoyment, though it’s not as practical as before"
Citroen C4 and e-C4 get a striking redesign and big price cut for 2025
Citroen C4 and e-C4 get a striking redesign and big price cut for 2025
Citroen’s C4, e-C4, C4 X and e-C4 X pick up fresh styling and subtle interior updates
Ford Focus review – a great-to-drive family hatchback
Ford Focus review – a great-to-drive family hatchback
“The Ford Focus is as great to drive as ever, plus it’s spacious, well-equipped and comfortable”
Mercedes A-Class review – a comfort-focused premium hatchback
Mercedes A-Class review – a comfort-focused premium hatchback
"Hi-tech, well built, stylish and as comfortable and luxurious as it should be: the Mercedes A-Class is a great premium hatchback"
Volkswagen Golf review - the go-to family hatchback
Volkswagen Golf review - the go-to family hatchback
"The eighth-generation Volkswagen Golf improves incrementally in most areas, but its new digital interior is far from perfect"
Mazda3 review – an economical and classy family hatchback
Mazda3 review – an economical and classy family hatchback
"The Mazda3 is good to drive, with a stylish, premium cabin. But it’s not the most practical"
Volkswagen ID.3 review - solid EV, but infotainment lets it down
Volkswagen ID.3 review - solid EV, but infotainment lets it down
"The Volkswagen ID.3 is a strong EV contender that’s good to drive, practical and has a decent range, and now there’s a sporty GTX model too"
MINI 5-door hatchback review (2014-2024)
MINI 5-door hatchback review (2014-2024)
"The MINI hatchback is also available with five doors, making it much more practical for families, while still being fun to drive"
The top 10 best family cars 2024
The top 10 best family cars 2024
There are family cars of all shapes, sizes and fuel types today – these are the best on the market
New Audi A3 plug-in hybrid gets massive 88-mile electric range for under £40k
New Audi A3 plug-in hybrid gets massive 88-mile electric range for under £40k
The new Audi A3 40 TFSI e has one of the longest electric-only ranges of any PHEV
Volkswagen Golf GTI review – the quintessential hot hatch
Volkswagen Golf GTI review – the quintessential hot hatch
"Favouring precision over power, the Volkswagen Golf GTI is a sophisticated hot hatch"
Peugeot 308 review – premium family hatchback
Peugeot 308 review – premium family hatchback
"The Peugeot 308 is a comfortable, stylish family hatchback with a great interior but it’s not the most practical”
Honda Civic review – a great EV alternative
Honda Civic review – a great EV alternative
"The Honda Civic e:HEV is a hybrid family car that’s good to drive, comfortable and well equipped"
Skoda Octavia review – the most practical family hatchback
Skoda Octavia review – the most practical family hatchback
"The Skoda Octavia hatchback is more spacious, efficient and handsome than ever"
Renault Megane E-Tech review - a sporty, yet comfortable EV
Renault Megane E-Tech review - a sporty, yet comfortable EV
“The first all-electric Renault Megane is a trendy and tech-filled family car that offers an enjoyable driving experience and good range, but lacks a …
Kia Ceed review – a simple but effective family hatchback
Kia Ceed review – a simple but effective family hatchback
"The Kia Ceed hatchback takes on the establishment and gets close to causing an upset, offering more space and fun than before"
Skoda Scala review – a practical hatchback at a supermini price
Skoda Scala review – a practical hatchback at a supermini price
“The Skoda Scala is more practical and less expensive than the similarly sized Volkswagen Golf”
SEAT Leon review – a good-to-drive family hatchback
SEAT Leon review – a good-to-drive family hatchback
"New technology narrows the gap between the SEAT Leon and the latest VW Golf"
Vauxhall Astra review - striking hatchback with updated tech
Vauxhall Astra review - striking hatchback with updated tech
“The latest Vauxhall Astra gets a striking look and the latest tech to better compete with rivals”
Vauxhall Astra Griffin cuts nearly £3k from petrol and electric models
Vauxhall Astra Griffin cuts nearly £3k from petrol and electric models
The Vauxhall Astra gets a new special edition that packs more kit for less cash
Mazda3 gets a big petrol engine for better ‘real-world performance’
Mazda3 gets a big petrol engine for better ‘real-world performance’
Mazda has ditched its 2.0-litre petrol engine in favour of a bigger one, and upgraded the Mazda3’s tech
DS 4 gets new hybrid tech, still just as stylish
DS 4 gets new hybrid tech, still just as stylish
New hybrid model adds a fourth engine to the DS 4 range, alongside petrol, plug-in hybrid and diesel power
The 10 best hatchbacks to buy in 2024
The 10 best hatchbacks to buy in 2024
Hatchbacks are the ideal car for many drivers, with plentiful interior and boot space packaged in a small footprint – these are the best
Polestar 2 review – Tesla Model 3's fiercest rival?
Polestar 2 review – Tesla Model 3's fiercest rival?
"The Polestar 2 gets plenty of range and performance, and has one of the best infotainment systems in the business. It’s fun to drive, too, but a firm…
Top 10 used hatchbacks – the best second-hand buys in 2024
Top 10 used hatchbacks – the best second-hand buys in 2024
Cars like these are easy to park, spacious, well-equipped and cheap to run. We pick out the best used hatchbacks
Cupra Leon review – a sporty hatchback that’s also a great all-rounder
Cupra Leon review – a sporty hatchback that’s also a great all-rounder
"The Cupra Leon is a stylish, high-performance take on the standard hatch that's a desirable alternative to mainstream rivals"
New MINI Cooper 5-Door: city car gains a pair of doors for £900
New MINI Cooper 5-Door: city car gains a pair of doors for £900
The new MINI Cooper has grown in length and gets an extra pair of doors for more interior space and improved practicality
Hot car deal: sporty Cupra Leon hatchback for just £195 per month
Hot car deal: sporty Cupra Leon hatchback for just £195 per month
After a desirable hatchback that’s not a VW Golf? Our hot car deal for June 5th could provide the answer; the stylish Cupra Leon for just £195 per mon…
New BMW 1 Series: hybrid tech but no diesel for facelifted baby Beemer
New BMW 1 Series: hybrid tech but no diesel for facelifted baby Beemer
BMW 1 Series gets a thorough facelift, touching everything from exterior styling to engine upgrades
DS 4 review – French model takes on premium rivals
DS 4 review – French model takes on premium rivals
“The DS 4 is an upmarket hatchback to rival the Mercedes A-Class and is the brand’s most convincing model yet"
Cupra Born review – a good-value and fun electric hatchback
Cupra Born review – a good-value and fun electric hatchback
"The Cupra Born is effectively a sportier, more distinctive version of the Volkswagen ID.3"
SEAT Leon gets a tech overhaul, plus new hybrid system with 60-mile electric range
SEAT Leon gets a tech overhaul, plus new hybrid system with 60-mile electric range
The SEAT Leon gets a handful of useful upgrades shared with the VW Golf
Audi A3 Sportback review – the original premium hatchback
Audi A3 Sportback review – the original premium hatchback
"The striking Audi A3 Sportback now has the technology it needs to compete with rivals"
2024 Audi A3 gets a sporty-looking facelift, prices start from £32k
2024 Audi A3 gets a sporty-looking facelift, prices start from £32k
The Audi A3 is lightly updated for this year, with minor visual tweaks and more interior equipment
Peugeot 408 review – sleek lines and practicality combined
Peugeot 408 review – sleek lines and practicality combined
“The Peugeot 408 blurs the lines between SUVs, hatchbacks and even saloons, combining style with practicality in the process”