Best three-door warm hatch?

My wife is considering replacing her 2002 Toyota Corolla T sport, which has provided outstandingly reliable and fun motoring from new. She only does 5000 miles a year and prefers the style and flexibility of a three-door hatchback, but requires a reasonable performance (0-60 in less than nine seconds) with sporty handling and a petrol engine.

I know the Fiesta ST is the class leader but she definitely doesn't want a Ford. A MINI Cooper is her current favourite but is there anything to challenge it? What about options as a cabriolet?

Asked on 8 October 2016 by Leicester Stig

Answered by Honest John

If she wants a cabrio that sort of size then the options are a blustery MINI Cooper or a cabrio where just the canvas top rolls back such as a Twingo, Citroen C1, Peugeot 108. Toyota Aygo, FIAT 500C, Abarth 500C or a DS3 cabrio. A Twingo GT with 110PS has just arrived, but the C1, 108 and Aygo don't have the performance she wants (they definitely would do if PSA put the 130PS 1.2 PureTech into them).

Tags: buying a new car hot hatches petrol engines

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