Topgear Mag (current edition) has an interesting article about a 'stig test' of the new Civic Type-R against the Mazda3 MPS, Renault Megan Sport 26 thingy, Focus ST, GTI, and a few others.

Following this, the TG team have ranked 29 hot hatches (the Type-R coming tops). The list is on the web: www.topgear.com/hothatches

Here is the full ranking:

29: Peugeot 307 2.0 180GT

28: Seat Ibiza 1.8T Cupra

27: Mitsubishi Colt CZT

26: Peugeot 207 GT

25: Citroen C2 VTS

24: Volvo C30 T5

23: Seat Leon Cupra

22: VW Polo GTI

21: Alfa Romeo 147 GTA

20: Citroen C4 VTS

19: Mazda3 MPS

18: Ford SportKa

17: Skoda Octavia vRS

16: Fiat Panda 100HP

15: Skoda Fabia vRS

14: Vauxhall Astra VXR

13: Suzuki Swift Sport

12: Ford Fiesta ST

11: BMW 130i

10: VW Golf R32

09: Renaultsport Megane 225 Cup

08: Audi S3

07: Renaultsport Megane R26

06: Mini Cooper S

05: Renaultsport Clio 197

04: VW Golf GTi Edition 30

03: Ford Focus ST

02: Volkswagen Golf GTI

01: Honda Civic Type-R

this list seems to be slightly wrong! how can a car that was voted 'what car's' hot hatch of the year 2006 (the octavia vrs) be 17th>????????

seems like rival magazines making completely different choices to create diversity and difference! after all no one wants 2 buy 2 mags that say exactly the same thing. But even so the octavia should be alot higher, considering how much power it has for its size! it has loads of room and performs amazingly well. it easily has the biggest boot out of all the hatch's! and some of the nicest seats.

however i maybe biased!

Hehe...

I think ill move this to the general car section.. afterall it does have both hot skodas in the list

/discuss

But even so the octavia should be alot higher, considering how much power it has for its size! it has loads of room and performs amazingly well. it easily has the biggest boot out of all the hatch's! and some of the nicest seats.

I'm not sure whether it fulfils the criteria for a decent hot hatch though, which is specifically what this list is about......... also doesn't say if it's talking about the Octy I or Octy II - I'd guess the II?

Chris

And, how can the Octavia be so far off the Golf ? Or is this a "money no object" test?

Ahh. apparently "Shares its chassis with the Golf GTI, but lacks that car's grace and character."

Here is the full ranking:

29: Peugeot 307 2.0 180GT

28: Peugeot 307 2.0 180GT

27: Mitsubishi Colt CZT

You missed the Seat Ibiza 1.8T Cupra and put the Pug twice, heh

You missed the Seat Ibiza 1.8T Cupra and put the Pug twice, heh

good spot - now corrected.

D

seems like rival magazines making completely different choices to create diversity and difference!

Yep, I agree. Evo mag this month isn't too keen on the new CTR and I'm sure their list would be very different to Top Gear's.

We as readers are pretty clued up anyway though. I personally agreed with all the reviews that liked the Mk1 vRS and not the ones that didn't. But again, I am biased and want to read that my car is great, not that it has a few shortcomings and could have been better.

Take it all with a pinch of salt.

funny to see the fabia above the octavia

seems like rival magazines making completely different choices to create diversity and difference! after all no one wants 2 buy 2 mags that say exactly the same thing. But even so the octavia should be alot higher, considering how much power it has for its size! it has loads of room and performs amazingly well. it easily has the biggest boot out of all the hatch's! and some of the nicest seats.

however i maybe biased!

Jay - The reasons you give are probably the exact reason it was marked down. Historically most people have viewed "hot hatches" as small, nimble and quick - think 205 GTI, Golf GTI, R5 GT, Uno Turbo etc. The Octavia's look, size and functionality doesn't really fit in this category so I can understand why it wouldn't be viewed as the best "hot hatch". The Golf gets up there by not looking or being quite as big as the Octy ... and probably a bit of the "history" thing

Jay - Historically most people have viewed "hot hatches" as small, nimble and quick - think 205 GTI, Golf GTI, R5 GT, Uno Turbo etc. The Octavia's look, size and functionality doesn't really fit in this category so I can understand why it wouldn't be viewed as the best "hot hatch". The Golf gets up there by not looking or being quite as big as the Octy ... and probably a bit of the "history" thing

I parked my Mk1 Golf GTI next to a Mk4 Golf GTI once (when the Mk4 was current) and my poor Mk1 was dwarfed by its fatter cousin. I also noticed a Mk1 Fiesta in town the other day parked beside a new Yaris and again, the new so-called small car towered over the old Fiesta, making it look tiny. I could go on and on (Mini & Mini), but I reckon you're right. No matter how big the Golf gets, it will still be classed as a hot hatch.

Oh, and I don't class my Mk1 vRS as a hot hatch, it just feels too big to fall into that category - & it isn't hot, merely warm.

What do they mean by 'Approach with caution' about the Furby? I've never thought it was quick enough to be dangerous, surely?

What do they mean by 'Approach with caution' about the Furby? I've never thought it was quick enough to be dangerous, surely?

Probably the smog thing

is it the new or old CTR in 1st place , as has been said above EVO don't rate the new one and i think there was another recent test in a mag which said it was not good

Hehe...

I think ill move this to the general car section.. afterall it does have both hot skodas in the list

/discuss

Nice move

Should be a good one this :popcorn:

What do they mean by 'Approach with caution' about the Furby? I've never thought it was quick enough to be dangerous, surely?

maybe becuase when they open the doors they could get washed away by all the water inside the foot wells?

:confused:

p.s I don't havr this problem on my fabia VRS tho

Cool, so that means that my car is 5 times better than MrsF's car!!!

Well the Seat Leon Cupra R, isn't even on there. And the car I'm now after is first. That sums it up!

Well the Seat Leon Cupra R, isn't even on there. And the car I'm now after is first. That sums it up!

Thats because the LCR isnt a current car

Im suprised about the results tho.. maybe us furby owners (especially shifty) are on to something

The Furby VRS beats the Octy VRS.....

Must be a load of old 8ollocks.

:sofahide:

01: Skoda Fabia vRS

02: Volkswagen Golf GTI

03: Ford Focus ST

04: VW Golf GTi Edition 30

05: Renaultsport Clio 197

06: Mini Cooper S

07: Renaultsport Megane R26

08: Audi S3

09: Renaultsport Megane 225 Cup

10: VW Golf R32

11: BMW 130i

12: Ford Fiesta ST

13: Suzuki Swift Sport

14: Vauxhall Astra VXR

15: Honda Civic Type-R

16: Fiat Panda 100HP

17: Skoda Octavia vRS

18: Ford SportKa

19: Mazda3 MPS

20: Citroen C4 VTS

21: Alfa Romeo 147 GTA

22: VW Polo GTI

23: Seat Leon Cupra

24: Volvo C30 T5

25: Citroen C2 VTS

26: Peugeot 207 GT

27: Mitsubishi Colt CZT

28: Seat Ibiza 1.8T Cupra

29: Peugeot 307 2.0 180GT

That's better!!

Was good to see the Fabia vRS in 15th place 'Approach with caution' - I reckon they're on about the stupid seat colour

I havn't read any bad reviews on the new CTR. The dealers are getting them in soon... *rubs hands together* - whilst thinking of visiting bank for a loan. :(

I'm sure the CTR is a good car; if you like your engines with no torque. Shifts a bit better in an Elise, mind you!

Thats weird.... a Fiat Panda 100HP is better than the Octy vRS ? Somebody obviously never has driven both of them.

It's all subjective, though. Not actually sure that I would call an Octavia VRS a hot hatch. Isn't is too big?