The return of the hot hatch

Remember when you didn't have to choose between buying a car that was cheap and one that was fun, asks Andrew Frankel in The Sunday Times. The halcyon days of the hot hatchback, when Peugeot 205 GTIs roamed the earth, and for little more than the price of a standard shopping car you could get a car you could both use every day and feel good about? Well, those days are back.

The Ford Fiesta ST will set you back just £16,995. And for that you get everything you'd expect from a hot hatch: full body kit with big rear wing, chunky alloy wheels, figure-hugging Recaro seats, leather steering wheel, and ST badging.

True, it's not all that fast, but it does provide "simple driving pleasure": drive it on any half decent road at a legal pace and you'll get "unbeatable entertainment". It's a throwback to a simpler, more enjoyable age.

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This little car is seriously impressive, agrees Ben Barry in Car. It's great value, stylish, frugal, and practical. But most importantly, it's "an absolute blast to drive".

Price: 16,995

Engine: 1,596cc, 4 cylinders

Power: 179bhp @ 5,800rpm

Top speed: 137mph

0-62mph: 6.9 seconds