according to What Car.

 

http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/2013-skoda-octavia-vrs-review/266205?utm_source=Silverpop&utm_medium=EMAIL&utm_campaign=WCAR%20ENews%20Bulletin%20(un-responsive%202%20cols%204%20rows)%20(12.07.2013)&utm_content=reviews1_headline

Whilst not trying to take anything away from the car which on

first impressions I quite like the look of. It's not really what I'd

call a hot hatch...  

What doesn't make it a hot hatch?

 

It seems over the years our "yardstick" for a hot hatch car is constantly being moved to faster and faster cars.

For me it's too big to be a hot hatch.

Does that mean the Superb V6 is a hot hatch?

 

Even if it is actually a hatchback, which as it's huge, explains why it's the most practical!

What doesn't make it a hot hatch?

It seems over the years our "yardstick" for a hot hatch car is constantly being moved to faster and faster cars.

It's simply not quick enough to be considered a hot hatch. The benchmark has moved on. Cars like the BMW M135i , Renault Megane Renault Sport 265 and Vauxhall Astra VXR to name but a few are the new hot hatches and are in a completely different performance league to the Octavia VRS which is merely a warm hatch. and yes I know it's good value and far roomier and more practical than any of those but that doesn't make it a hot hatch. Only performance does.

It's also physically too big.

Edited 12 July, 201312 yr by Timoctav

That would mean the Golf GTI is not a hot hatch which is just silly

It's still a hatchback no matter how big it is!!!

For me it's too big to be a hot hatch.

Does that mean the Superb V6 is a hot hatch?

Even if it is actually a hatchback, which as it's huge, explains why it's the most practical!

Edited 12 July, 201312 yr by kenny

Unless you get the estate LOL

That would mean the Golf GTI is not a hot hatch which is just silly

I am afraid it isn't. It used to be but again, like the Octavia it trails too far performance wise. But at least the size is right and with the performance pack with its clever differential - which the Octavia lacks - it gets closer.

Name alone does not automatically mean that it qualifies.

Tbh I think ur wrong, a hot hatch isn't always defined my ultimate pace, as if it was the Gti would never have been classed that for more than a few years in the past 20 which clearly isn't the case. It's sub 7sec it's a hatch its a hot hatch just not the hotest

I have driven a amg a45 and today the golf gti with performance pack,I agree the game has moved on!

The golf is quick in isolation but m135i and amg leave it for dead

Amg is 10 k more and bmw 5 k more but they are hothatches golf is warm now .but the amg a class can beat a cls63 so is it "hot hatch " or giant killer

Just my opinion ,hot hatch shouldn't be used for golf or octavia

Sorry if this upsets some

What doesn't make it a hot hatch?

 

 

Primarily for me it's about the size. In my eyes it's more of a saloon car than a

hatchback. Performance wise yes there are quicker cars etc but for me the term  

hot hatch describes quite compact cars with big performance.

Imo its not the outright speed that makes it not a hot hatch, there are plenty of hot hatches of similar or less straight line speed. New Clio Turbo and Fiesta ST both with similar 0-60 times, both most definitely hot hatches.

 

Its the handling and size of it. The handling is not on par with a hot hatch, going by the reviews. Certainly the case with the Mk1, never driven a Mk2.

 

 

If anything its the AMG Mercs and M135i's that are not hot hatches.

Edited 12 July, 201312 yr by Chronicbint

It is a hatchback it's classed as a hatchback just accept it it's not a saloon, you can have tiny hatchbacks medium and big hatchbacks lol

Primarily for me it's about the size. In my eyes it's more of a saloon car than a

hatchback. Performance wise yes there are quicker cars etc but for me the term

hot hatch describes quite compact cars with big performance.

The S3 was about for a long time so when that came out the gd Gti hasn't been a hot hatch?

So the golf mk5 Gti isn't a hot hatch?? Come on

It's a hatch. The hatch is at the back.

This is the greatest asset of the car; it's basically a mini van for load - this is why it appeals to so many people.

I cannot fathom a day when I would by a saloon. My other half has a Jag XF which takes up more space generally and also has a massive boot - but WTF do you put in the boot? 'king nothing - because nothing 'king fits through the hole. Mercs are the worst for this.

My Chimeara has better boot space than most Octavia rivals. I NEED BOOT SPACE AND BOOT ACCESS. I am not alone.

The Octavia is a saloon with a hatch(back). And it's pretty hot. But it it isn't a hot-hatch, as IMHO the hatch does not dominate the car (like it did in my Renault 5 GTT)

my2pennies.

Surely the new 3 series GT will be a more practical hot hatch?

328i, 240bhp and a bigger interior than the Octavia in a platform much the same size.

How is a 3 series a "hot hatch". 

How is a 3 series a "hot hatch".

So the M135i isnt a hot hatch?

To me, what constitutes a hot hatch has become very blurred simply due to the number of options out there - no bad thing really; massively different power levels, different drivetrain configs - four cylinder, turbos, straight six's, rear wheel drive, awd, fwd.... Different sizes and weights....

I tend to think of THE classic hot hatch as being the Golf GTi and tend to think of cars such as the AMG A45 as a uber hot hatch - a class and level of performance way above the general hot hatch brigade. I'd also suggest that power isn't the outright need in a hot hatch. Fundamentally, the chassis needs to communicate and be able to make me smile even on a short journey. I've always thought that performance in a hot hatch should be easily accessible - why I tend to like the Ford Fiesta ST. Lightness is also on my wish list, you can't defy physics and the weight plays a massive part in how the car responds and works out on the road.

So the M135i isnt a hot hatch?

 

 

Imo a hot hatch, in its initial guise, was a small sporty family car which was reasonably priced, the price made it accessible to all. M135i fills most of that definition but I don't think it matches the spirit of what a hot hatch should be as its 30 grand. Doesn't really matter though.

A 1 series with a 320hp turbo'd straight 6, Rear wheel drive, big 4 pot brakes and a fair portion of the development carried out by the M division, does 60 in less than 5 secs .....if thats not the definition of a hot hatch i dont know what is.

RE the A45 AMG, sure its a great car but its 37K before you even start with spec, has a highly tuned 4 cylinder engine that certainly does the job but IMO doesnt sound amazing and also only revs to 6.1k which is v boring. 4wd also dilutes it a bit for me.

Steve Sutcliffes recent road test was grossly unfair in Autocar, pitching a fully blooded AMG car against a half-M car thats several K more expensive, also comparing both to a great car thats not even in the same ballpark....one of the more disappointing biased bit of writing ive seen in the magazine for a while. When BM finally get round to producing another 1M which im sure they will its obvious to me which will be better.

Anyway...digressed enough would never pitch the vRS as a hot hatch, its a warm family hatch and a very good one at that. I doubt its dramatically better than the MK2, just a touch quicker and a little more up to date but I really dont think Skoda will see late FL owners trading their cars in by the bargeful from July 17th.

Edited 13 July, 201312 yr by pipsyp

Hot hatch should be reasonably priced, 30k isn't, not a hot hatch. 

Edited 13 July, 201312 yr by Chronicbint

Don't forget that the GTI PP managed to out-accelerate the Focus ST, Megane RS and the Astra VXR due to lower weight (almost 200kg lighter than the Astra) and the e-diff. And it was considerably faster in accelerating at higher speeds towards 200km/h (around 120mph). I would call the GTI PP a hot-hatch any day. 

 

The A45 AMG and 1M are in a completely different league all together, on price alone. I can guarantee you that if you let Ford/VW/Renault/Vauxhall engineers play around with the same budget, their cars would be on the same performance levels.

Edited 13 July, 201312 yr by TudorM

How is a 3 series a "hot hatch".

Er the same way the Octavia is? It has a hatch and is fairly hot at 240bhp & near 300bhp models...

Granted the boot isn't as big at 520litres but with the 3 folding seats in the back and an automatic hatch opening option, more cabin space and rwd, I'd say it was hotter and more practical than the Octavia or am I missing something.

You do know they do a 3 series hatch back now?

So the Porsche 928 or even more recently Panamera is a hot Hatch then?

What about the Ferrari FF?

I'd say the owners of the above cars would be insulted if you were to refer

to their GT cars as hot hatches...

 

Ferrari FF owner -  'Well,I've worked hard and spent 230k on a top of the line

GT car. I've never been happier, to see the fruits of my labours like this is a dream  

come true...'

 

Octavia owner - 'Nice hot hatch mate'

 

Ferrari FF owner - 'Four cough!'