The WRX in last place due to peak torque not coming on at 2800rpm and the steering rattling over bumps.... do the reviewers not realise the boost comes on >4000rpm and it’s the only vehicle with hydraulic steering (ie feel)! I have doubts about the knowledge and judgement of some of the reviewers
STI for me, a proper raw old school drivers car. With 4x4 grip, a engine full of character, big boot, loads of space in the back for 3 adults, head turning looks, great performance and above all... ...it puts a smile on your face every time you drive it. Golf R zzzzzz
Correct! Although it was closer to $12K for me. And I don't need a white cane. I would have to poke my eyes out if I had to look at a Type R in my driveway every morning. I am a Honda fanboy through and through, 25 Hondas in 30 years, but I now own a Lazy H i30N, and love it!
I know Pugs don't sell in 'straylia, but wow. The 308 GTI is light, has a great chassis, huge brakes a Torsen LSD and brilliant engine. Yeah the seat setup is different, but it's fine with a bit of setting up. The only car that can give the pug a run for its money through the twisties or a tight track is the Type- R - but just look at it!
Mike S mate we all have a soft spot for fast French hatches but in this company it just didn’t deliver the goods to the level that the 4 other cars could. It is a superb car none the less, just not superb enough.
I agree with you. For me it's a toss up between the I30N and the 308 GTi. However, the interior and the more "refined" drive drove me towards the pug. Will see. Final decision in August. (since the 308 isn't selling in europe atm.. new exhaust regulations)
The problem with the 308 gti is the engine. It's using the same 1.6t 'Prince' BMW developed engine that was used in the second gen Mini Cooper S and a range of other pugs. The problem comes from the timing chain which is supposed to last the life of the car but only lasts 20k's - 60k's before needing a new one (which isn't cheap) Mini in the states was sued and ordered to replace all of these engines. No such luck here. I've had 2 cars with the same engine and both of them needed replacing before 60k's. This engine has almost double the horsepower of some of the other applications I worry how long it will last.
Blake, I believe the timing chain tensioner/chain issue was resolved in the previous version of this engine. I'm also pretty sure that given they have forged the motor to deal with 36psi of boost they would have ironed out known historical faults.
36psi of boost wow. Crazy for a stock car. The last update was done to the tensioner when they introduced the 208 gti. I have one of the latest engines (2015) and it had timing chain issues. Started to loose power and sound like a tractor. Was fixed under warranty but not a cheap fix without it. Also the thermostat housing and waterpump are made of plastic and leak coolant. Issue happened on both engines. You will be under warranty the whole time so don't let that put you off. Might explain the bad resale values.
I feel as though the RS and Golf R don't really fit in with the rest of these cars. They are a class above the others. They should have included the ST and the Golf GTI instead. I think those would have more appropriatly fit with the rest of the group.
Ben Hargreaves We tested a Golf GTi against the i30N and the i30 can away victorious so we decided the GTi could sit this one out but a Golf was a necessity so the R made the cut. And if we have an R, it needed some serious AWD competition and it doesn’t get anymore serious than an RS especially in Limited Edition form.
A.K Morris - I agree with Ben. I feel that this and every comparison video like it are unfair. How can you possibly compare fairly a four wheel drive 2.3L 350 bhp or, four wheel drive with a DSG box with 2.0L front wheel drive... I’ll tell you, you can’t! It’s like comparing chalk and cheese. Comparisons like this just really put into perspective how good the Type R really is. Love it’s styling or hate it, it wipes the floor with everything in its (true) class, not the 4x4 class. A true 2.0L front wheel drive comparison would include the Renault Magane RS or the Golf GTI. The list goes on. I’m tired of these videos with unfair comparisons. Caradvise.com. You look like you need some advice on how to categorise cars correctly.
The criteria was finding the most fun, engaging and rewarding hot hatche under $60k. Not finding our pick of hot hatches that are FWD and manual or our pick of hot hatches that are AWD with a twin clutch box or our pick of hot hatches that are red. We went with the approach of "I have $60k to spend on a car that has to be compact, loads of fun and respectably quick" what are the options. Then we thought, lets get the widest spread of cars possible. Let's have some AWD and some FWD. Let's have some euro stuff and let's try to get the latest offerings from the manufacturers. Also, we had to have 6 cars total as logistically, more would be impossible due to everything from staffing to flights to time allocated with the cars. Then we had to try and get the cars. I can't communicate to you just how big a challenge it is to organise 6 cars like this to be in the same place at the same time for the same length of time. The manufacturers are very supportive but the scheduling is a nightmare. We do feel that the cars selected are totally comparable because I, like many of my friends are in the market for a new hot hatch and I couldn't care less what brand it is or if it's an AWD DSG equiped car or a manual FWD. I just want to know which is the most fun and is the best drivers car. That's what this video is all about. We would have loved a new Megan in the test but they haven't landed in Australia yet (great excuse to do all this over again when it does get here) and we recently ut the Golf GTi up against the i30N and the Hyundai won so putting it in again would only see it beaten a second time, but, we thought, wonder how it would fair against a Golf R. And if you're tired of these comparison videos, easy, stop watching them.
A.K Morris I fully understand what you set out to do here, and I guess you have bore the brunt of my frustration with those videos that do try and compare the cars in the way i mentioned earlier. In all fairness, I buy cars exactly as you have put this video across. The outcome for me was the FK2 Type R, whick correct me if I'm wrong, was not available in your market. That car has rock hard suspension and (in my opinion) feels like a more focused car to drive than the FK8. That's what made me chose it and the fact there is less of them. So maybe more of a future classic than the FK8 like you mentioned. I enjoyed you video none the less and was defiantly one of the better ones to watch. I hope no offence was taken. The trouble with the internet is that it allows everyone to have a voice.
Alan Gilchrist - Porsche Consultant no offence taken at all mate. We love passionate viewers. You’re right, we didn’t get the FK2 here and I personally haven’t driven one so can’t comment on if it feels more or less focussed than the FK8 but our roads here can be truly shocking so we find many cars that feel wonderfully focussed and communicative in Europe can feel harsh, unforgiving and crashy on Aussie roads. It’s hard to communicate just how different our road conditions are here. Also, if you get the opportunity, drive the i30N. It’s an incredible car. Thanks for watching and thanks for the feedback.
Tony Magnusson, but the I30N has better rear and cargo space and thus more practical for those of us with kids. The Veloster is more for the “single, no kids” crowd
Great Video! for me, I think the i30N would be my pick because you can do so much in configuring it. I can't imagine that the Civic TypeR is $9000 better than an i30N. And you get to keep your warranty coverage if you do non-competition track days.
Graceymay74 cant imagine the type r being 9k more than i30? Type r was the 2nd fastest car on track. 2nd only to the rs with street slicks. You must not be a track guy. Thats understandable. Guys that dont know how to corner usually pick cars for their looks.
Guys with small dicks usually degrade other guys online for things they assumed. what I am or not has no bearing on my comment. This is possibly the 20th comparo for the i30N I've looked at. it is far better for the money, for everyday use than the R or RS. the type R is a visual joke and isn't so much better when on public roads.
PS my cornering is beyond what you imagine. I was sideways more as a teenager than anyone else I knew. those skills have saved my soul so many times. sometimes from myself but mostly from other idiots coming at me with not a skill in their skin.
Ok and the question is which would you rather go on a cross country trip in, a type r or golf r? I'll choose the Golf R thanks, as clearly yall didn't take long term comfort into consideration
You're right, we didn't. We also didn't take into account which car has the best warranty, or which colour we liked the most. We just wanted to find out which car was the most engaging, exciting, fulfilling and fun.
I'm glad the STi was included, as a guy who owns one. However I do agree that Subaru got very complacent and it's no longer as unbeatable (at the price point) as it once was... I'd take the Golf R, Type R or i30 N.. or even the Veloster N
Good comparison. I can't help.but think that the base WRX might have fared better in the second comparison test than the STI since it doesn't quite exhibit the same behaviour that caused gripes.
Golf R for me, as an everyday hot hatch. Remus exhaust, MSS Kits suspension, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, and S2T paddles immensely ups the fun factor and "hoon-ability", while already destroying the others for refinement / pseudo-luxury.
William K it almost doesn't even need all that. I got mine in a 6spd, ordered it with the factory option resonator delete thew on sway bars, springs, swapped the tires for michelin 4s... great choice btw ;) ... And it's significantly better to drive. The lazy yawning drive is now tighter, more responsive and louder. Pretty much all the issues they had with the car. Resolved.
@@MarcraM82 theird very little drone. If any. Id say yeah, worth it. Given it's price and how it's technically a dealer add on part, so it's also peace of mind. Mind you... It's not super loud, just gives a bit more tone and volume wile Still being very livable. If loud and powerful is your goal. I'd recommend looking at somthing else.
@@SG-wj2qj thanks so much for you're reply mate! Only looking for a little more tone, nothing super loud. Just wouldn't mind it a bit deeper. Scared about drone as it's my daily driver. I feel like if they had tested the 6speed it would of rated better than third here..
There something about the i30N what's calling me, im a Honda fan @ heart but I would choose the i30N for bang for your buck then comes the type R if I had the money 💰
I don't think it's hideous, it's just a bit 'loud' (and I'm not talking about the exhaust). This said, ordered an i30N some time ago, waiting for delivery with bated breath...
I think the Veloster N is pretty close to the i30N. Still, as far as I know, you can buy the i30N pretty much everywhere in the world. Strange then, that they left out the US. Then again, the Veloster N is probably US only...
R for me. Had an EP3 CTR for the last 15 years but can't cope with the new one's looks so got an R. No regrets. It is awesome. I eagerly await rain and snow...
No surprise the Type R came on top once again. It’s just a better all around package. Performance, comfort, and practicality all in one. Looks are subjective and although the rear end is a bit too much, they look so much better in person. It has a menacing stand.
Very good test, i didn't know Caradvice before but will definitely follow you from now on. I own a 308GTI, a blast to drive on our country roads here in Europe. And definitely cheaper than the competition (Check the "bonus/Malus" pollution regulation in France/Belgium etc and you will have a better understanding of why those weird specs on the pug...makes almost 10000eur difference after taxes!)
I was so hyped about the RS. Its gorgeous, but i have looked at some 0-200 videos of the RS and it is dreadfully slow :/ 25 sek from 0-200 is just snail pace i feel, and it doesnt sound so good aswell. Idk why they would put in a 1.8L, 2.0 should be the bottom line in this segment.
It’s does look a bit slow. But from other video it does better than Peugeot 307 gti But I am also hoping the trophy cup 300 will turn out much more better than we expect!
The Honda civic, typ R, Hyundai i30N and Focus RS are men cars ruff exterieur and exhaust pipe sounds the fun too drive with a constantily smile youre face that ehat a hot hatch supposed too be. Well done!Ford Hyundai and Honda
Agreed, but if the i30N (We only get the milder "sport" version with 201hp in the U.S. so far) undercuts the cost of the R, I think it would be the perfect car for me. More performance than the normal GTI, more fun than the R even if the track numbers aren't quite there. (I commute on public roads, how many people actually track cars like this?)
As good as they are there is to many of them now especially in the uk were i am if i was spending that much on a car I would want something you don’t see every day
The looks of the Type R may not appeal to everyone, but if you ever get a chance to drive one you will see just how amazing a car it is both on the track and street. It is Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet.
I'd prefer a 1973 Civic 2 door with the rocket fast 1169cc engine equipped with a four speed manual transmission. Or perhaps with the gorgeous 2 speed Hondamatic. Luscious!
The golf r seems to put more into reducing the NVH and maybe its a reason why when you push it, you might not be feeling it much. I guess it's more of a comfy all around car that can go fast rather than the other cars that make you feel great around the corners.
It's a fantastic car for the everyday. We were blown away by the fun factor and sheer ability of the Type R but none of us were 100% sold on owning one as the everyday of the week car but all of us would happily live with a Golf R everyday. In saying that, the i30N gives you the best of both worlds. And it's more affordable.
A.K Morris I would agree the golf r looks great for everyday driving and for me I find that more important than track times. It doesn't look race inspired like the civic and I think it's better that way. The i30n looks great though not yet available in my country.
Very surprising results guys. The I30 N was last on track yet it seems it redeemed itself on road. I'm quite shocked that the Type R is excellent both on track and road, Honda is back. Very interesting and well done.
None of them who are commenting here for Golf R and i30n never driven this all new Type R. Just try it once, the driving dynamics of that thing feels, like the product of some alien technology...
Interestingly the i30N was quicker around the Haunted Hills track than the Civic Type R, Golf R, and the WRX STI in the Wheels hot hatch 12 car shootout. Haunted Hills circuit is probably closer in nature to a twisty driving road than Winton race circuit is, which backs up the conclusions you draw in this video, good job.
Honda TypeR'espect....soon it'll be in my driveway can wait. i just love the way the interior&exterior look's so nice compare to other competitors $50k it's all worth it..typeR the king.
Pretty much everyone knows it is a major achievement and hard to beat. BUT Honda (essentially a family business) refuse to hire someone who can draw a good looking car. It is overwhelmingly considered ugly.
i30N for mine. The custom dampners and noise control mean that you can turn it on and off at will. Whereas the RS and TypeR are always on. The golf is just too expensive and sedate sounding
Didnt even talk about how the golf r kicked all there assess 0 to 60 and 1/4mile. Why leave that out shows basis. That is an important stat on used on the street more often.
Nick Manser as I stated at the start of the video, this test had nothing to do with which car was fastest. This was all about which car was the most fun. Fast doesn’t always equate to fun. If that we’re the case, a new Range Rover vogue would apparently be a better drivers car than an mx5. Watch part 1 for the performance testing.
well you can't control the weather A.K Morris but those fwds, even the most competent, are well compromised in the wet on everyday roads. Type R is just a GT... Just...
Toby Johnson before driving the Type R, I would have agreed, and yes an awd car will have better acceleration off the line and out of a tight corner in the wet but the diff and front end on the Type R (and even the i30N) are just incredible. To put this in perspective, our road course featured a section of badly surfaced and tight uphill corners and when following the STi in the Type R, I had to back off as to not run up the back of the Subi. It wasn’t a dirt surface by any means but it certainly wasn’t a nice clean piece of road either. The Type R pulls out of corners so hard, it makes you question the need for awd. Secondly, the i30N and Type R just felt so much more playful and adjustable than the awd cars.
What really annoys me about these reviews on Peugeot’s is they Always have the steering wheel way too high. When the guy is expressing his views on the 1.6 engine, you can see the steering wheel would be blocking the gauges from his eyeline. But at the same time he’s got about a foot of space under the wheel. As a 208 GTi driver (which has the same setup) you’re supposed to have the wheel right down under the gauges not only does that clear your view, but it’s makes it much more comfortable. Having your arms raised up high gets uncomfortable on long drives, if you get it right down closer to your legs you can actually stick cruise control on bring your feet closer to the seat lifting your knees and you can rest your wrist on your knees and hold the wheel. Once you have everything setup its once of the most comfortable cars ever!
Nah - when the wheel is lower it’s literally sitting on the driver’s lap. It’s a very poor design. Also no excuse for the lack of redline in sport mode.
Jamie the Peugeot should accomodate drivers that prefer to have the wheel wherever they want to have it. Every other car on test provided excellent ergonomics, why can't Peugeot get this right. Also, we all prefer a racecar style seating position where the drivers seat is as low as possible and wheel is quite high and positioned back towards the driver. We all find this seating position to provide a higher level of control and high levels of driver feedback. It's also the foundation to performance driving.
A.K Morris ...I’m 173cm (5’8”) certainly no giant, I have the seat as low as it will go and I can still see the dials, and the wheel is certainly not sat on my lap (or at the lowest setting either) But from my 4 years of driving the Peugeot long term I have found it to be excellent and comfortable and honestly love the small wheel! It’s like being sat on a games console, super easy to spin about and hold on to. When I use other regular cars I can’t but think I’m using a bus steering wheel. 😂 One think I do agree on it the redline disappearing, but I don’t have that problem on the 208GTi as it’s just permanent sport mode. 😄
We loved the ride quality and we loved the size of the wheel too. It is a superb little car and it's the car we would have loved to see succeed as it was the underdog in this group so we were all genuinely hoping it would cause a huge upset, that would have made for great viewing too, but, the other cars are just that bit better at everything. As Jez said, it feels like there's an incredible hot hatch hiding in the 308 GTi, just dying to get out but it's being held back by a few different factors. Personally, I LOVE french hot hatches. I've owned and or run a 205GTi, 206GTi 180, Megane 225 Cup and Megane RS 265 and loved them all (except the seating position and ergonomics in the 206) and I so wish the 308 did better but the others were just outstanding. Seriously, if you get the opportunity, go and drive the i30N and Type R. Both phenomenal.
Hi Jamie - I just realised that despite the identical set-up the 208 gti and the 308 gti are not the same. I thought they were crazy too coming from a 208 gti where you just need to know how to set it up. I got in a 308 gti and the view was a more so compromised. It's because you're naturally forced to sit up higher in the 208 where you can sit much lower in the 308. I love it. The most comfortable set-up for both racing and daily driving I've ever used.
The i30N was disappointing on track he said, maybe because apart from the $46k 308, the other cars that it's being compared with are $10k - $17k more expensive?
I think he was referring to the time it set rather than the i30N itself being disapointing, since 3 of the reporters still chose the i30N over all the others in the end regardless of the laptime.
TheDudeInTheRedHotHatch The i30N is faster than Golf GTI on Top Gear track. Noone ever said the GTI is slow. I bet if the comparison is between Golf GTI, Focus ST, WRX, and i30N, it wouldn't be the slowest.
Wasn't the Golf R, 3rd in the other test as well. With similar statements a proper everyday car that's fast, quiet, and enjoyable to drive but not entirely fun? I'd go with a consistent everyday car that can be tracked rather than a track car that can be driven every day. Type R would be great except for winter..RS would be great except that harsh ride after 100km. So Golf R wins? it sounds like a really good 8/10ths hot-hatch while the Type R and RS are 9/10ths 1)Civic Type R (2,1) 2)Focus RS (slicks?) (1,4) 3)Golf R (3,3) 4) i30N (6,2)
I live in USA with quite heavy snow. FWD, RWD, AWD doesn't matter. Tires matter. A car with proper tires will do well the snow. A car without proper tires won't, regardless of drivetrain
very true, I'm Canadian, it's a law to use winters in most provinces here. All things being equal, winters on awd, even haldex awd > high HP, high torque fwd. I currently drive a tuned GTI with dedicated winters..it's still a pain to drive in the snow and almost unmanageable when the boost comes on. I would have bought the golf R but the GTI was just a bit more affordable and winter only last 4 months.
I only bought my Type R in april, so dont know how it works in snow but I live in Wisconsin. My first car @ 18 was a 240sx. I drove it for 4 years till it died. So snow doesn't scare me lol
NA rear drive cars with a limited slip are the best in the winter you have so much control with proper tires it's crazy. A fwd boosted car though, is an understeer machine. Even with my LSD & proper winters, my GTI is a total dog. You'll need narrower tires with a lot more sidewall. That screws up the natural handling of the car and stopping distances...it's a pain. Winter rim -1 size that will still clear the big brakes...pain. Definitely keep me updated on this.
Tyres help. but no you are wrong. Drivetrain and diffs make a farken huge difference. what Fwd car keeps up with the AWD monsters in WRC? wet, snow, mud you want more drive wheels and clever diffs. no point in having great tyres with the wrong wheel spinning mid corner because the car is dumb
really should have done the track test with a control tyre.... Would have been different results by far. On road differing tyres (oem) on road is acceptable. Also the constant shooting down the pug with its 1178kg weight. It's fuel consumption is also out of this world in this group. Same power levels but MUCH better on fuel
All of everything is pointless if you nullify aspects. In your video you just keep expecting it to come last in every test lol. I'll give you one thing, the instrument cluster needs serious thought. And for the record, i drive a mustang. Just felt this car had a negative stigma in the group and results proved thus. Watch Bradley Pilpot take one of these around the Nurburgring... It is as you know, a very technical bit of blacktop to navigate.
Arno we tested the cars as you'd buy them from a dealership. If we started to swap out tyres, where does it end? This was a real world test. And fuel consumption was not a criteria we were interested in. We just wanted to find which was the most engaging and satisfying car.
I am satisfied with that criteria Adam. The main gripe i had was the grouping continually wanted or expected the PUG to come last which to me personally just showed a bias. I accept the fact that some cars come with better tyres than others from factory for sure so i will concede. But then i think fuel efficiency should be a criteria in the future as prices are going north fast(not a V8 so buyers certainly care) and the wonderful nature of a modern hot hatch is that it can be as fast as a Ferrari 348 but has 5 doors and sips 6.5lt/100km. Alas, that is a personal perspective of where you hold value.
We considered adding the likes of fuel efficiency, practicality and even value for money to the testing criteria but decided to go with just which car is the most rewarding, stimulating, engaging and fun to drive and we will leave the more practical criteria for individual car reviews when it came to this group. As for the Pug, we actually were all hoping it would be the dark horse and blow everything away as a huge upset would potentially get more views and more engagement. I am, and all of the judges are huge fans of French hot hatches and while the 308 GTi is a great car in it's own right, in this test, against these cars and with this criteria, the others were just better. And to make sure we weren't bias, none of the judges had tested every car here before this actual test. From memory I think a couple of us had driven 4 of the 6 before the test and even then, just driving a car is very very different to seriously testing a car. I very much doubt there was a more fair and balanced way of obtaining the results.
The Focus RS definitely has a harsh ride. Most owners purchase upgraded springs which is the cheapest way to resolve the issue. Personally, I would get upgraded coilovers. I would have thought the Golf R would win in this category though. The Type R is undoubtedly strong is this category as well.
Matt from The Smoking Tire had a 4000$ (USD) suspension put on his Focus RS to fix the ride quality. Another 4k on top of what is all ready the most expensive car here.
Matt added the coilovers because it was given to him. You can choose to spend on the springs (~$250) alone for an improved ride. The coilovers are of course a better upgrade which not only improves ride quality but cornering performance as well.
Seems like half the judges are too scared of power. The RS, may be a little bumpy but not too bad, is great. Roll down the windows and you can hear it just fine.
Prices in my country: What you would choose for this price? Hyundai I30N from 27 900 EU Peugeot 308 GTi from 30 900 EU Honda Civic Type R from 36 620 EU Ford Focus RS from 37 712 EU Subaru WRC STI from 37 900 EU VW GOLF R from 40 100 EU (btw VW Golf GTI from 29 893)
Civic type R........ I’ve test drove that before I bought the focus rs ! I found it terrible. Looks like a space ship ! Drives like a tank... infact the golf r is better. I also drove the Audi rs3.. now that was so fast but I felt bored ( auto gear) but when I first drove the focus rs I totally fell in love. The handling is amazing. The power is amazing. The looks are beautiful. The only disappointment for the focus was there’s no comfort mode !! You can’t put you head on the head rest without getting a headache lol !! But I picked the rs because of the price the looks the sound.. to me it’s near perfect 💙
Piece of feedback. Please actually announce the cars in audio as I’m sure I’m not the only person you plays RUclips in the background. Annoying I could hear what car you were talking about. But love the videos
In the "road" test u should have considered how comfortable the car is,how silent it is as a daily driver and the ergonomics and quality of the interior more than how fun the car is!. Fun and sound belong to the first Video(on Track) and not here on the road. Golf R all the way.
We considered this but there are a load of videos and articles covering exactly that. We decided to focus on the "hot" of hot hatch. Which car was the standout drivers car and delivered the most enjoyment. As I state in the video, the Golf R would be, and is, an absolute delight to drive everyday but the i30N and Type R are the more engaging drivers cars.
This video did not come close to analyzing the comfort and ergonomics and quality of every car's interior as this is meant to be the daily driver test!!! Everyone knows who is knowledgable about this subject and a keen motorist that the Golf R wins hands down in this category - The Civic Type R for No 1 spot as daily driver?? You have to be kidding me....
Hi Sami. Did you listen to what the actual criteria for this test was? We were out to find which car was the most rewarding and fun to drive on road. Comfort, ergonomics and interior quality were not in the criteria at all for this particular test. We also never stated that the Type R was the best daily driver. It was the most fun and rewarding car to drive AND we stated that the Golf R would be a delight everyday but, again, we were not out to find which car was best for the day to day grind in traffic or on a long relaxed road trip, we purely wanted to know which was the best drivers car. If you'd like to know our thoughts on comfort, ergonomics and the quality of each car's interior, pop over to our website for full reviews of each car. And no we weren't kidding you.
I think the Type R was a great choice, even I probably would buy the RS. Would be close, though. I prioritize fun and fast in this category, so the understeering soft edged Golf would not my cut, even though I know its a great car.
I sold my type r to get a golf r. Purely because the roads here in the UK are shit and the type r is too harsh. Plus it's soo capable, it's wasted as a daily; and I don't have the balls to track a £30k car. So the golf r does everything I need it to; and the only reason I chose it over the focus RS was because the Ford's Interior is bloody awful.
Focus rs is the best.. Its super fun obviously if you dont know the car and dont own it you simply would find it scary. Its the fastest and most beastly!
It definitely was the fastest Chris but we weren't looking for the fastest, just the most fun. Go find a great twisty road and drive the pants off a Type R or i30N and we're confident you'll have more sheer fun than in the RS. Yes the RS is an absolute weapon of a car but the top two feel more engineered for driver enjoyment over sheer pace and there for, were the more engaging drive.
Good heavens, the 130N looks bland... Nothing excites me about that. That exhaust sound sounds pretty aftermarket. The Type R and Golf R. They are very well balanced.. Quality build and perfection
People going on about M140i, utterly useless because the second it rains chances are it'll try and kill you. First time I've seen a Focus RS reviewed accurately, not sure which I'd have between i30N/Golf R!
For an everyday drive it would have to be the Golf R. I couldn’t deal with the Type R’s looks, the Focus is a bit too full on for a daily in my opinion, in the Peugeot 200kw from a 1.6 litre engine would make me worry about it’s longevity, WRX is so outdated it’s not funny and the i30 would piss me off with it’s crackling and popping after about 10 minutes. The Golf is quiet and comfortable for commuting, but still has more than enough power when you want it. Some claim it’s boring, but who wants to drive a noisy car with a hard ride every day?
You know the 308 gti has a small wheel so that you can lower it and look OVER it. Everytime I hear you guys complain about the ergonomics I cringe because you've set it up incorrectly. Takes a few hours to get used to but then you'll love it.
Blake Harrison there are positions in which we could see the dials but none of us found those positions to be at all comfortable for some serious driving.
True but we put the N against the GTi and the N was victorious, hence why no GTi in the test. And the Focus RS is the hotter hatch when compared to the ST so we went with the RS. And we wanted 3 AWD and 3 FWD.
After having watched these two videos it was clear that if the VW R had a louder exhaust then these fools would've had it at the top with the Type R. The Golf R is the best of the bunch in terms of an all around car, not to mention that it completely blew away the whole bunch in the 0-60 and quarter mile, throw in the comfort aspect and again you have to go with VW.
gil, if we were looking for the best hatch in terms of an all around car, you're probably right, the Golf may have taken out the whole competition. But as I stated towards the start of the video, we were looking for the car that provided the most fun. We wanted to know which was the hottest hatch. Not which was the easiest to live with or the fastest or which has the best interior or which was most comfortable, just which was the most engaging, fun and satisfying to drive when having a serious punt. And the Golf just couldn't top the i30N or Type R in these criteria.
lol buying a hot hatch for it's useability ? just now people will be buying super cars for how well it does as a daily ......we at the end of performance driven special focussed cars even the cars shown are not focussed completely on being fun but they can be made fun . but I wouldn't be bothered buy the stock performance cause all of y these cars were made to be modified to the t.
As soon as the new ST lands in Australia, we'll be testing it and we love the Swift Sport but as we didn't have any direct competitors available for it (e.g, new Fiesta ST or Polo GTi), we felt it may have been swallowed up when up against the like of what we had on test. Yes they're brilliant bang for buck and hugely fun for the money but we've found that those shopping for a hot hatch up to $60k rarely look at the sub $30k options. Stay tuned but, I'd love to do a Swift Sport, Fiesta ST and Polo GTi test.
I am sorry but.... The 308 gti... Its almost 200kg!! Lighter then n30 and defo lightest in this group... Masive boot Monsters brakes Proper mechanical differential 270bhp from 1.6 petrol😈😈😈 Front seats are just pure joy to sit in so comfy..comfy ride even on STUPID 19's!! 18's would be so much easier for everyday drive The go-kart steering wheel is pure genius...so small its great... As you can see i did experienced this car...2 whole days driving UK mix roads...2 petrol tanks and a fair few overtakings later i asure you...in golfR or typeR if you in my rearview mirror in a normal car i know you are there...but in the GTI the looks on the drivers faces when i just woof pass them because its so light...B roads 40mph to 65-75mph on 3rd gear its like 3seconds and its done...good bye...and then shift up to 6th gear and it does 45mpg on the motorway...in comfort and almost invisible... THIS IS FOR ME the USP of this car...no other car has this in this group...you just dont expect to be overtaken by normal looking Pug so quickly... I am only 172cm and after couple of hours i did find perfect driving position...its a hot hatch for fuck sake...99% of its life it will be driven on the roads not on the track😂😂😂 Lets wait 5 years from now and see if the 1.6 will suffer the chain bullshit or not.. The focus rs its already fucked after only 2 years i saw few reviews etc... The N30 well its Hyundai's 1st car like this but its cheap so some issues will be defo coming pretty soon but again its cheap... Honda its Honda best engines ever made FULL STOP VW'R its very good in everything but again its a loads more money then 308... STi ist just...bleh... If there is anybody who was reading this and thinking of buying 308 gti please go and have 2 days test drive like me...i DONT have 28k pounds for a new car but as a 2nd hand car when it will hit £15k with 2-3 years old and 10-20k miles... My midlife crisis dream car used to be yellow 911 but this gti in that double red/black😍😍😍 Just take my money😈
I30 N gets my vote from here in Scotland
The righy choice for me also
The WRX in last place due to peak torque not coming on at 2800rpm and the steering rattling over bumps.... do the reviewers not realise the boost comes on >4000rpm and it’s the only vehicle with hydraulic steering (ie feel)! I have doubts about the knowledge and judgement of some of the reviewers
STI for me, a proper raw old school drivers car. With 4x4 grip, a engine full of character, big boot, loads of space in the back for 3 adults, head turning looks, great performance and above all... ...it puts a smile on your face every time you drive it. Golf R zzzzzz
9k difference in price between #1 & #2. There's a lot you can do with 9k.
I was wondering if the Civic was $9k better than the i30N.
Save 20k and watch the Polo GTI versus the Golf R on the track Car Mania
Correct! Although it was closer to $12K for me. And I don't need a white cane. I would have to poke my eyes out if I had to look at a Type R in my driveway every morning. I am a Honda fanboy through and through, 25 Hondas in 30 years, but I now own a Lazy H i30N, and love it!
I would love to see how the Fiesta ST would do in this test. Definitely slower but maybe more fun.
I know Pugs don't sell in 'straylia, but wow. The 308 GTI is light, has a great chassis, huge brakes a Torsen LSD and brilliant engine. Yeah the seat setup is different, but it's fine with a bit of setting up. The only car that can give the pug a run for its money through the twisties or a tight track is the Type- R - but just look at it!
Mike S mate we all have a soft spot for fast French hatches but in this company it just didn’t deliver the goods to the level that the 4 other cars could. It is a superb car none the less, just not superb enough.
I agree with you. For me it's a toss up between the I30N and the 308 GTi. However, the interior and the more "refined" drive drove me towards the pug. Will see. Final decision in August. (since the 308 isn't selling in europe atm.. new exhaust regulations)
The problem with the 308 gti is the engine. It's using the same 1.6t 'Prince' BMW developed engine that was used in the second gen Mini Cooper S and a range of other pugs. The problem comes from the timing chain which is supposed to last the life of the car but only lasts 20k's - 60k's before needing a new one (which isn't cheap) Mini in the states was sued and ordered to replace all of these engines. No such luck here. I've had 2 cars with the same engine and both of them needed replacing before 60k's. This engine has almost double the horsepower of some of the other applications I worry how long it will last.
Blake, I believe the timing chain tensioner/chain issue was resolved in the previous version of this engine. I'm also pretty sure that given they have forged the motor to deal with 36psi of boost they would have ironed out known historical faults.
36psi of boost wow. Crazy for a stock car. The last update was done to the tensioner when they introduced the 208 gti. I have one of the latest engines (2015) and it had timing chain issues. Started to loose power and sound like a tractor. Was fixed under warranty but not a cheap fix without it. Also the thermostat housing and waterpump are made of plastic and leak coolant. Issue happened on both engines. You will be under warranty the whole time so don't let that put you off. Might explain the bad resale values.
I feel as though the RS and Golf R don't really fit in with the rest of these cars. They are a class above the others. They should have included the ST and the Golf GTI instead. I think those would have more appropriatly fit with the rest of the group.
Ben Hargreaves We tested a Golf GTi against the i30N and the i30 can away victorious so we decided the GTi could sit this one out but a Golf was a necessity so the R made the cut. And if we have an R, it needed some serious AWD competition and it doesn’t get anymore serious than an RS especially in Limited Edition form.
A.K Morris - I agree with Ben. I feel that this and every comparison video like it are unfair. How can you possibly compare fairly a four wheel drive 2.3L 350 bhp or, four wheel drive with a DSG box with 2.0L front wheel drive... I’ll tell you, you can’t! It’s like comparing chalk and cheese.
Comparisons like this just really put into perspective how good the Type R really is. Love it’s styling or hate it, it wipes the floor with everything in its (true) class, not the 4x4 class.
A true 2.0L front wheel drive comparison would include the Renault Magane RS or the Golf GTI. The list goes on.
I’m tired of these videos with unfair comparisons.
Caradvise.com. You look like you need some advice on how to categorise cars correctly.
The criteria was finding the most fun, engaging and rewarding hot hatche under $60k. Not finding our pick of hot hatches that are FWD and manual or our pick of hot hatches that are AWD with a twin clutch box or our pick of hot hatches that are red.
We went with the approach of "I have $60k to spend on a car that has to be compact, loads of fun and respectably quick" what are the options. Then we thought, lets get the widest spread of cars possible. Let's have some AWD and some FWD. Let's have some euro stuff and let's try to get the latest offerings from the manufacturers.
Also, we had to have 6 cars total as logistically, more would be impossible due to everything from staffing to flights to time allocated with the cars. Then we had to try and get the cars. I can't communicate to you just how big a challenge it is to organise 6 cars like this to be in the same place at the same time for the same length of time. The manufacturers are very supportive but the scheduling is a nightmare.
We do feel that the cars selected are totally comparable because I, like many of my friends are in the market for a new hot hatch and I couldn't care less what brand it is or if it's an AWD DSG equiped car or a manual FWD. I just want to know which is the most fun and is the best drivers car. That's what this video is all about.
We would have loved a new Megan in the test but they haven't landed in Australia yet (great excuse to do all this over again when it does get here) and we recently ut the Golf GTi up against the i30N and the Hyundai won so putting it in again would only see it beaten a second time, but, we thought, wonder how it would fair against a Golf R.
And if you're tired of these comparison videos, easy, stop watching them.
A.K Morris I fully understand what you set out to do here, and I guess you have bore the brunt of my frustration with those videos that do try and compare the cars in the way i mentioned earlier.
In all fairness, I buy cars exactly as you have put this video across. The outcome for me was the FK2 Type R, whick correct me if I'm wrong, was not available in your market. That car has rock hard suspension and (in my opinion) feels like a more focused car to drive than the FK8. That's what made me chose it and the fact there is less of them. So maybe more of a future classic than the FK8 like you mentioned.
I enjoyed you video none the less and was defiantly one of the better ones to watch. I hope no offence was taken. The trouble with the internet is that it allows everyone to have a voice.
Alan Gilchrist - Porsche Consultant no offence taken at all mate. We love passionate viewers.
You’re right, we didn’t get the FK2 here and I personally haven’t driven one so can’t comment on if it feels more or less focussed than the FK8 but our roads here can be truly shocking so we find many cars that feel wonderfully focussed and communicative in Europe can feel harsh, unforgiving and crashy on Aussie roads. It’s hard to communicate just how different our road conditions are here.
Also, if you get the opportunity, drive the i30N. It’s an incredible car.
Thanks for watching and thanks for the feedback.
Bit unfair to put the i30N and the Pug into this category. $55-60k is another class altogether.
100%. Those two should go up against the Megane RS and Golf Gti (and WRX?). That fits.
I can’t wait to get my 308 GTi, so light and aggressive!
I wish so much we could get the I30N in the USA.
Jesse James you'll get the veloser N. Basically the same. Honestly I think it looks cooler
Tony Magnusson, but the I30N has better rear and cargo space and thus more practical for those of us with kids. The Veloster is more for the “single, no kids” crowd
Great Video! for me, I think the i30N would be my pick because you can do so much in configuring it. I can't imagine that the Civic TypeR is $9000 better than an i30N. And you get to keep your warranty coverage if you do non-competition track days.
Graceymay74 cant imagine the type r being 9k more than i30? Type r was the 2nd fastest car on track. 2nd only to the rs with street slicks. You must not be a track guy. Thats understandable. Guys that dont know how to corner usually pick cars for their looks.
Guys with small dicks usually degrade other guys online for things they assumed. what I am or not has no bearing on my comment. This is possibly the 20th comparo for the i30N I've looked at. it is far better for the money, for everyday use than the R or RS. the type R is a visual joke and isn't so much better when on public roads.
PS my cornering is beyond what you imagine. I was sideways more as a teenager than anyone else I knew. those skills have saved my soul so many times. sometimes from myself but mostly from other idiots coming at me with not a skill in their skin.
boo hoo.
The i30 N is amazing
Type r for the win!! I think its the best car on track and on the road. Picking one up pretty soon. Cant wait!
Type r looks like a transformer goofy looking car for sure
I love my i30N.. Goes quick enough for me and $15k more in my pocket..
Ben Liu what colour did you grab?
Great decision
Polar White.. It looks great!
Ben Liu nicee you should uplaod a video of your car aha
Plus money left for future mods 😀
i30 for me. I can't deal with the looks of the typeR.
Amazing i30 N
RS for me, but i think you're right about the type r looks. over compensation for an aging fwd concept imo
looks versus reliability… wise choice…
a pity no bmw 135i was there it would have won :)
Pussy
Type R must be quite a phenomenon. Wins everything, everywhere, and everybody is raving about it.
Mate it is. It's genuinely incredible. Thanks for watching and commenting too.
Love i30 N
Ok and the question is which would you rather go on a cross country trip in, a type r or golf r? I'll choose the Golf R thanks, as clearly yall didn't take long term comfort into consideration
Yawn.
You're right, we didn't. We also didn't take into account which car has the best warranty, or which colour we liked the most. We just wanted to find out which car was the most engaging, exciting, fulfilling and fun.
I'm glad the STi was included, as a guy who owns one. However I do agree that Subaru got very complacent and it's no longer as unbeatable (at the price point) as it once was... I'd take the Golf R, Type R or i30 N.. or even the Veloster N
I only drive a manual, and the Golf and Pug are annoying around town with the indicator always on the same side as the shifter
Good comparison. I can't help.but think that the base WRX might have fared better in the second comparison test than the STI since it doesn't quite exhibit the same behaviour that caused gripes.
I 30 N in every way
I'll definitely give the i30 N a go soon. My daily drive is a M2 DCT (automated Manual), I need another real manual ;-)
Since this targets real world application, what was the combined MPG of each car over the course of the test?
I'd take Hyundai, with money saved, more left over for mods 😀
Golf R for me, as an everyday hot hatch. Remus exhaust, MSS Kits suspension, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, and S2T paddles immensely ups the fun factor and "hoon-ability", while already destroying the others for refinement / pseudo-luxury.
William K it almost doesn't even need all that.
I got mine in a 6spd, ordered it with the factory option resonator delete thew on sway bars, springs, swapped the tires for michelin 4s... great choice btw ;) ... And it's significantly better to drive.
The lazy yawning drive is now tighter, more responsive and louder. Pretty much all the issues they had with the car. Resolved.
@@SG-wj2qj hey mate I have the 6speed also. Any drone with the res delete? Thinking about doing it. What's your thoughts? Does it sound much better?
@@MarcraM82 theird very little drone. If any.
Id say yeah, worth it. Given it's price and how it's technically a dealer add on part, so it's also peace of mind.
Mind you... It's not super loud, just gives a bit more tone and volume wile Still being very livable. If loud and powerful is your goal. I'd recommend looking at somthing else.
@@SG-wj2qj thanks so much for you're reply mate! Only looking for a little more tone, nothing super loud. Just wouldn't mind it a bit deeper. Scared about drone as it's my daily driver. I feel like if they had tested the 6speed it would of rated better than third here..
There something about the i30N what's calling me, im a Honda fan @ heart but I would choose the i30N for bang for your buck then comes the type R if I had the money 💰
If they had have had a manual golf R I wonder if the fun factor would be as high as the others
Aidan Papa great point and we asked ourselves the same question.
Probably, but its track performance would also be worse. The only reason it had the best 0-60 was because the DSG has launch control
Such a shame the civic is so hideous to look at. I love everything else about it.
I don't think it's hideous, it's just a bit 'loud' (and I'm not talking about the exhaust). This said, ordered an i30N some time ago, waiting for delivery with bated breath...
Agreed, @christof. Not hideous, just a bit 'boy racer'. Not my style, but appealing in its own way. Great call on the i30 N! - Mike S
Christof Roeyaert. I really wish they sold the i30N here in the US. I have a mk7 GTI, and i would seriously make the jump because the i30N is more fun
I think the Veloster N is pretty close to the i30N. Still, as far as I know, you can buy the i30N pretty much everywhere in the world. Strange then, that they left out the US. Then again, the Veloster N is probably US only...
Christof Roeyaert. True but I would much rather have the i30N. The Veloster is too small
R for me. Had an EP3 CTR for the last 15 years but can't cope with the new one's looks so got an R. No regrets. It is awesome. I eagerly await rain and snow...
5:28 yep my 2017 STi has that rattle in the steering rack also! subaru said it's normal and a known issue and have no fix for it yet. anybody else?
No surprise the Type R came on top once again.
It’s just a better all around package. Performance, comfort, and practicality all in one.
Looks are subjective and although the rear end is a bit too much, they look so much better in person. It has a menacing stand.
Good job Australia, on a great review! Love the comparisons.
Cheers mate
It would be a hard choice between Type-R, i30 N, and Focus RS for me
seth mcfarland moved to Australia?
Very good test, i didn't know Caradvice before but will definitely follow you from now on. I own a 308GTI, a blast to drive on our country roads here in Europe. And definitely cheaper than the competition (Check the "bonus/Malus" pollution regulation in France/Belgium etc and you will have a better understanding of why those weird specs on the pug...makes almost 10000eur difference after taxes!)
I wanna see Renault megane rs vs type r when it release in 3rd quarter
I was so hyped about the RS. Its gorgeous, but i have looked at some 0-200 videos of the RS and it is dreadfully slow :/ 25 sek from 0-200 is just snail pace i feel, and it doesnt sound so good aswell. Idk why they would put in a 1.8L, 2.0 should be the bottom line in this segment.
Joshua 9858 wait for the trophy edition. 300bhp does the job with tweaks to the chassis.
It’s does look a bit slow. But from other video it does better than Peugeot 307 gti But I am also hoping the trophy cup 300 will turn out much more better than we expect!
kenocucum yep.
The Honda civic, typ R, Hyundai i30N and Focus RS are men cars ruff exterieur and exhaust pipe sounds the fun too drive with a constantily smile youre face that ehat a hot hatch supposed too be. Well done!Ford Hyundai and Honda
I'll have the Golf R. ....perfect every day sporty hatch.
John Grytbakk Looks, sounds and feels bit boring though. Needs more excitement.
Agreed, but if the i30N (We only get the milder "sport" version with 201hp in the U.S. so far) undercuts the cost of the R, I think it would be the perfect car for me. More performance than the normal GTI, more fun than the R even if the track numbers aren't quite there. (I commute on public roads, how many people actually track cars like this?)
As good as they are there is to many of them now especially in the uk were i am if i was spending that much on a car I would want something you don’t see every day
John Grytbakk Don’t buy VW shitbox
i have a bmw 130i and its a little pocket rocket!
The looks of the Type R may not appeal to everyone, but if you ever get a chance to drive one you will see just how amazing a car it is both on the track and street.
It is Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet.
Civic is ridiculous, that's why I'm getting one!!!
I'd prefer a 1973 Civic 2 door with the rocket fast 1169cc engine equipped with a four speed manual transmission. Or perhaps with the gorgeous 2 speed Hondamatic. Luscious!
The golf r seems to put more into reducing the NVH and maybe its a reason why when you push it, you might not be feeling it much. I guess it's more of a comfy all around car that can go fast rather than the other cars that make you feel great around the corners.
It's a fantastic car for the everyday. We were blown away by the fun factor and sheer ability of the Type R but none of us were 100% sold on owning one as the everyday of the week car but all of us would happily live with a Golf R everyday. In saying that, the i30N gives you the best of both worlds. And it's more affordable.
A.K Morris I would agree the golf r looks great for everyday driving and for me I find that more important than track times. It doesn't look race inspired like the civic and I think it's better that way. The i30n looks great though not yet available in my country.
Very surprising results guys. The I30 N was last on track yet it seems it redeemed itself on road. I'm quite shocked that the Type R is excellent both on track and road, Honda is back. Very interesting and well done.
Subjective. On track numbers matter. On the road, feelings matter. And we all know facts don't care about your feelings :)
None of them who are commenting here for Golf R and i30n never driven this all new Type R. Just try it once, the driving dynamics of that thing feels, like the product of some alien technology...
Interestingly the i30N was quicker around the Haunted Hills track than the Civic Type R, Golf R, and the WRX STI in the Wheels hot hatch 12 car shootout.
Haunted Hills circuit is probably closer in nature to a twisty driving road than Winton race circuit is, which backs up the conclusions you draw in this video, good job.
Honda TypeR'espect....soon it'll be in my driveway can wait. i just love the way the interior&exterior look's so nice compare to other competitors $50k it's all worth it..typeR the king.
Big Time have you bought the car yet?
People hate the CIvic because it's at another level above all these other cars.
So true...
Nah.
Pretty much everyone knows it is a major achievement and hard to beat. BUT Honda (essentially a family business) refuse to hire someone who can draw a good looking car. It is overwhelmingly considered ugly.
i30N for mine. The custom dampners and noise control mean that you can turn it on and off at will. Whereas the RS and TypeR are always on. The golf is just too expensive and sedate sounding
Didnt even talk about how the golf r kicked all there assess 0 to 60 and 1/4mile. Why leave that out shows basis. That is an important stat on used on the street more often.
Nick Manser as I stated at the start of the video, this test had nothing to do with which car was fastest. This was all about which car was the most fun. Fast doesn’t always equate to fun. If that we’re the case, a new Range Rover vogue would apparently be a better drivers car than an mx5. Watch part 1 for the performance testing.
Poor old Honda lol. Did you do any wet track work??
It didn't rain so no.
it rains 40% of the year in Australia to some degree. any wet road work?
Toby Johnson we could only get the cars together for 4 days and they were the most beautiful 4 days. Zero rain and hardly any clouds.
well you can't control the weather A.K Morris but those fwds, even the most competent, are well compromised in the wet on everyday roads. Type R is just a GT... Just...
Toby Johnson before driving the Type R, I would have agreed, and yes an awd car will have better acceleration off the line and out of a tight corner in the wet but the diff and front end on the Type R (and even the i30N) are just incredible.
To put this in perspective, our road course featured a section of badly surfaced and tight uphill corners and when following the STi in the Type R, I had to back off as to not run up the back of the Subi. It wasn’t a dirt surface by any means but it certainly wasn’t a nice clean piece of road either. The Type R pulls out of corners so hard, it makes you question the need for awd.
Secondly, the i30N and Type R just felt so much more playful and adjustable than the awd cars.
What really annoys me about these reviews on Peugeot’s is they Always have the steering wheel way too high.
When the guy is expressing his views on the 1.6 engine, you can see the steering wheel would be blocking the gauges from his eyeline. But at the same time he’s got about a foot of space under the wheel.
As a 208 GTi driver (which has the same setup) you’re supposed to have the wheel right down under the gauges not only does that clear your view, but it’s makes it much more comfortable.
Having your arms raised up high gets uncomfortable on long drives, if you get it right down closer to your legs you can actually stick cruise control on bring your feet closer to the seat lifting your knees and you can rest your wrist on your knees and hold the wheel.
Once you have everything setup its once of the most comfortable cars ever!
Nah - when the wheel is lower it’s literally sitting on the driver’s lap. It’s a very poor design. Also no excuse for the lack of redline in sport mode.
Jamie the Peugeot should accomodate drivers that prefer to have the wheel wherever they want to have it. Every other car on test provided excellent ergonomics, why can't Peugeot get this right. Also, we all prefer a racecar style seating position where the drivers seat is as low as possible and wheel is quite high and positioned back towards the driver. We all find this seating position to provide a higher level of control and high levels of driver feedback. It's also the foundation to performance driving.
A.K Morris ...I’m 173cm (5’8”) certainly no giant, I have the seat as low as it will go and I can still see the dials, and the wheel is certainly not sat on my lap (or at the lowest setting either)
But from my 4 years of driving the Peugeot long term I have found it to be excellent and comfortable and honestly love the small wheel! It’s like being sat on a games console, super easy to spin about and hold on to.
When I use other regular cars I can’t but think I’m using a bus steering wheel. 😂
One think I do agree on it the redline disappearing, but I don’t have that problem on the 208GTi as it’s just permanent sport mode. 😄
We loved the ride quality and we loved the size of the wheel too. It is a superb little car and it's the car we would have loved to see succeed as it was the underdog in this group so we were all genuinely hoping it would cause a huge upset, that would have made for great viewing too, but, the other cars are just that bit better at everything. As Jez said, it feels like there's an incredible hot hatch hiding in the 308 GTi, just dying to get out but it's being held back by a few different factors.
Personally, I LOVE french hot hatches. I've owned and or run a 205GTi, 206GTi 180, Megane 225 Cup and Megane RS 265 and loved them all (except the seating position and ergonomics in the 206) and I so wish the 308 did better but the others were just outstanding. Seriously, if you get the opportunity, go and drive the i30N and Type R. Both phenomenal.
Hi Jamie - I just realised that despite the identical set-up the 208 gti and the 308 gti are not the same. I thought they were crazy too coming from a 208 gti where you just need to know how to set it up. I got in a 308 gti and the view was a more so compromised. It's because you're naturally forced to sit up higher in the 208 where you can sit much lower in the 308. I love it. The most comfortable set-up for both racing and daily driving I've ever used.
Go for the Hyundai you won’t be disappointed.
What about the cold hatch?
Hyundai I30N 👍
The i30N was disappointing on track he said, maybe because apart from the $46k 308, the other cars that it's being compared with are $10k - $17k more expensive?
I think he was referring to the time it set rather than the i30N itself being disapointing, since 3 of the reporters still chose the i30N over all the others in the end regardless of the laptime.
TheDudeInTheRedHotHatch The i30N is faster than Golf GTI on Top Gear track. Noone ever said the GTI is slow. I bet if the comparison is between Golf GTI, Focus ST, WRX, and i30N, it wouldn't be the slowest.
It seems many people are denying the fact that with proper engineering fwd can be more fun and faster than awd
Wasn't the Golf R, 3rd in the other test as well. With similar statements a proper everyday car that's fast, quiet, and enjoyable to drive but not entirely fun? I'd go with a consistent everyday car that can be tracked rather than a track car that can be driven every day. Type R would be great except for winter..RS would be great except that harsh ride after 100km. So Golf R wins? it sounds like a really good 8/10ths hot-hatch while the Type R and RS are 9/10ths
1)Civic Type R (2,1)
2)Focus RS (slicks?) (1,4)
3)Golf R (3,3)
4) i30N (6,2)
I live in USA with quite heavy snow. FWD, RWD, AWD doesn't matter. Tires matter. A car with proper tires will do well the snow. A car without proper tires won't, regardless of drivetrain
very true, I'm Canadian, it's a law to use winters in most provinces here. All things being equal, winters on awd, even haldex awd > high HP, high torque fwd. I currently drive a tuned GTI with dedicated winters..it's still a pain to drive in the snow and almost unmanageable when the boost comes on. I would have bought the golf R but the GTI was just a bit more affordable and winter only last 4 months.
I only bought my Type R in april, so dont know how it works in snow but I live in Wisconsin. My first car @ 18 was a 240sx. I drove it for 4 years till it died. So snow doesn't scare me lol
NA rear drive cars with a limited slip are the best in the winter you have so much control with proper tires it's crazy. A fwd boosted car though, is an understeer machine. Even with my LSD & proper winters, my GTI is a total dog. You'll need narrower tires with a lot more sidewall. That screws up the natural handling of the car and stopping distances...it's a pain. Winter rim -1 size that will still clear the big brakes...pain. Definitely keep me updated on this.
Tyres help. but no you are wrong. Drivetrain and diffs make a farken huge difference. what Fwd car keeps up with the AWD monsters in WRC? wet, snow, mud you want more drive wheels and clever diffs. no point in having great tyres with the wrong wheel spinning mid corner because the car is dumb
really should have done the track test with a control tyre.... Would have been different results by far. On road differing tyres (oem) on road is acceptable. Also the constant shooting down the pug with its 1178kg weight. It's fuel consumption is also out of this world in this group. Same power levels but MUCH better on fuel
All of that’s pointless if it’s not good to drive or live with.
All of everything is pointless if you nullify aspects. In your video you just keep expecting it to come last in every test lol. I'll give you one thing, the instrument cluster needs serious thought. And for the record, i drive a mustang. Just felt this car had a negative stigma in the group and results proved thus. Watch Bradley Pilpot take one of these around the Nurburgring... It is as you know, a very technical bit of blacktop to navigate.
Arno we tested the cars as you'd buy them from a dealership. If we started to swap out tyres, where does it end? This was a real world test. And fuel consumption was not a criteria we were interested in. We just wanted to find which was the most engaging and satisfying car.
I am satisfied with that criteria Adam. The main gripe i had was the grouping continually wanted or expected the PUG to come last which to me personally just showed a bias. I accept the fact that some cars come with better tyres than others from factory for sure so i will concede. But then i think fuel efficiency should be a criteria in the future as prices are going north fast(not a V8 so buyers certainly care) and the wonderful nature of a modern hot hatch is that it can be as fast as a Ferrari 348 but has 5 doors and sips 6.5lt/100km. Alas, that is a personal perspective of where you hold value.
We considered adding the likes of fuel efficiency, practicality and even value for money to the testing criteria but decided to go with just which car is the most rewarding, stimulating, engaging and fun to drive and we will leave the more practical criteria for individual car reviews when it came to this group. As for the Pug, we actually were all hoping it would be the dark horse and blow everything away as a huge upset would potentially get more views and more engagement. I am, and all of the judges are huge fans of French hot hatches and while the 308 GTi is a great car in it's own right, in this test, against these cars and with this criteria, the others were just better. And to make sure we weren't bias, none of the judges had tested every car here before this actual test. From memory I think a couple of us had driven 4 of the 6 before the test and even then, just driving a car is very very different to seriously testing a car. I very much doubt there was a more fair and balanced way of obtaining the results.
why there is not an m140i or rs3?
Both were over our $60k pricing criteria
WHER IS DE MEGANE RS TROUPHY?????????????????
Wasn't in Australia when we shot this.
The Focus RS definitely has a harsh ride. Most owners purchase upgraded springs which is the cheapest way to resolve the issue. Personally, I would get upgraded coilovers. I would have thought the Golf R would win in this category though. The Type R is undoubtedly strong is this category as well.
Matt from The Smoking Tire had a 4000$ (USD) suspension put on his Focus RS to fix the ride quality. Another 4k on top of what is all ready the most expensive car here.
Matt added the coilovers because it was given to him. You can choose to spend on the springs (~$250) alone for an improved ride. The coilovers are of course a better upgrade which not only improves ride quality but cornering performance as well.
Seems like half the judges are too scared of power. The RS, may be a little bumpy but not too bad, is great. Roll down the windows and you can hear it just fine.
Have you driven the RS Limited on the exact roads we tested on?
I would've chosen the Kia stinger gt as a wild card in this comparison, would've been a funny car in this company.
No M140i? really??
Was over the $60k budget criteria
This channel rocks
Funnyitskool if you have rocks.....
Where is the Leon Cupra???
Not sold in Australia
Prices in my country: What you would choose for this price?
Hyundai I30N from 27 900 EU
Peugeot 308 GTi from 30 900 EU
Honda Civic Type R from 36 620 EU
Ford Focus RS from 37 712 EU
Subaru WRC STI from 37 900 EU
VW GOLF R from 40 100 EU (btw VW Golf GTI from 29 893)
In Aus
GOLF R $55k
Honda Type R $50k
I30 N $40k
FOcus $51
STi $50k
Pug GTi $45k.
where is the Megane 4 RS?
Not in Oz yet
Will be good to see the Megane RS against these when it comes out!
Golf R as a daily - best daily hatch you can buy. I have one :)
Indeed!
Niallboy1 🤣
bmw 140i waves hello :o)
Civic type R........ I’ve test drove that before I bought the focus rs ! I found it terrible. Looks like a space ship ! Drives like a tank... infact the golf r is better. I also drove the Audi rs3.. now that was so fast but I felt bored ( auto gear) but when I first drove the focus rs I totally fell in love. The handling is amazing. The power is amazing. The looks are beautiful. The only disappointment for the focus was there’s no comfort mode !! You can’t put you head on the head rest without getting a headache lol !! But I picked the rs because of the price the looks the sound.. to me it’s near perfect 💙
Why do they hang shit on the Sti as well
Corey Swift because it’s a average car by todays standards
That guys voice could crack granite
Piece of feedback. Please actually announce the cars in audio as I’m sure I’m not the only person you plays RUclips in the background. Annoying I could hear what car you were talking about. But love the videos
In the "road" test u should have considered how comfortable the car is,how silent it is as a daily driver and the ergonomics and quality of the interior more than how fun the car is!. Fun and sound belong to the first Video(on Track) and not here on the road.
Golf R all the way.
As an overall package all those cars are far behind the Golf R and Golf GTI!
We considered this but there are a load of videos and articles covering exactly that. We decided to focus on the "hot" of hot hatch. Which car was the standout drivers car and delivered the most enjoyment. As I state in the video, the Golf R would be, and is, an absolute delight to drive everyday but the i30N and Type R are the more engaging drivers cars.
This video did not come close to analyzing the comfort and ergonomics and quality of every car's interior as this is meant to be the daily driver test!!! Everyone knows who is knowledgable about this subject and a keen motorist that the Golf R wins hands down in this category - The Civic Type R for No 1 spot as daily driver?? You have to be kidding me....
Hi Sami. Did you listen to what the actual criteria for this test was? We were out to find which car was the most rewarding and fun to drive on road. Comfort, ergonomics and interior quality were not in the criteria at all for this particular test. We also never stated that the Type R was the best daily driver. It was the most fun and rewarding car to drive AND we stated that the Golf R would be a delight everyday but, again, we were not out to find which car was best for the day to day grind in traffic or on a long relaxed road trip, we purely wanted to know which was the best drivers car. If you'd like to know our thoughts on comfort, ergonomics and the quality of each car's interior, pop over to our website for full reviews of each car. And no we weren't kidding you.
I think the Type R was a great choice, even I probably would buy the RS. Would be close, though. I prioritize fun and fast in this category, so the understeering soft edged Golf would not my cut, even though I know its a great car.
Nice video.., type r ...the legend
Sorry guys i30 N not to bias but I have one and it a weapon of sort, test drove the Ford Focus not to my liking.
Where is the Renault Megan
Meantime Wheels Australia has the I30N firmly at number 1...
We possibly had a different criteria.
I sold my type r to get a golf r. Purely because the roads here in the UK are shit and the type r is too harsh. Plus it's soo capable, it's wasted as a daily; and I don't have the balls to track a £30k car.
So the golf r does everything I need it to; and the only reason I chose it over the focus RS was because the Ford's Interior is bloody awful.
Good choice and the right choice mate!
I'll take the M140i and enjoy oversteer thanks
Woaa! Wasn't expecting Xerxes speaking at 0:43 there...
No bmw M140i ??
Over the $60k budget
A.K Morris in the UK it’s the same price as the focus rs
And this is why we're jealous of the pricing in the UK
M140 cost $70000 under left party government , $10000 cheaper now
Focus rs is the best.. Its super fun obviously if you dont know the car and dont own it you simply would find it scary. Its the fastest and most beastly!
It definitely was the fastest Chris but we weren't looking for the fastest, just the most fun. Go find a great twisty road and drive the pants off a Type R or i30N and we're confident you'll have more sheer fun than in the RS. Yes the RS is an absolute weapon of a car but the top two feel more engineered for driver enjoyment over sheer pace and there for, were the more engaging drive.
@5:25 "peak torque at 2800 rpm" , the peak torque is at 4000 rpm.... so a lazy car when driven normally compared to a modern turbo engine.
RS or Type R. I dont care much about ride, and I hate understeer. I want fun and fast.
Good heavens, the 130N looks bland... Nothing excites me about that. That exhaust sound sounds pretty aftermarket. The Type R and Golf R. They are very well balanced.. Quality build and perfection
Thanks for the feedback!
People going on about M140i, utterly useless because the second it rains chances are it'll try and kill you. First time I've seen a Focus RS reviewed accurately, not sure which I'd have between i30N/Golf R!
For an everyday drive it would have to be the Golf R. I couldn’t deal with the Type R’s looks, the Focus is a bit too full on for a daily in my opinion, in the Peugeot 200kw from a 1.6 litre engine would make me worry about it’s longevity, WRX is so outdated it’s not funny and the i30 would piss me off with it’s crackling and popping after about 10 minutes.
The Golf is quiet and comfortable for commuting, but still has more than enough power when you want it. Some claim it’s boring, but who wants to drive a noisy car with a hard ride every day?
Type r rear end is hideous... plus the i30n cost less. I know what I'd go for
I would choose CTR for sure
You know the 308 gti has a small wheel so that you can lower it and look OVER it. Everytime I hear you guys complain about the ergonomics I cringe because you've set it up incorrectly. Takes a few hours to get used to but then you'll love it.
Blake Harrison but we all like our steering wheel high and back towards us. It really should accomodate that
jep, it's not that difficult to adjust the position. They are just too dumb to do it.
I can hear a French man somewhere screaming "imbosils!" I share the car with my wife, I'm 6"4 and she's 5"5 and we both can see the dials perfectly.
ClassicRoachPapa oh trust me, we all tried every possible position, none of them worked
Blake Harrison there are positions in which we could see the dials but none of us found those positions to be at all comfortable for some serious driving.
1 Honda Civic Type R
2 Ford Focus RS
3 Volkswagen Golf GTI
The i30 is more on par with the GTI and the ST focus, not their top of the line brothers, nonetheless I’d still have the R
True but we put the N against the GTi and the N was victorious, hence why no GTi in the test. And the Focus RS is the hotter hatch when compared to the ST so we went with the RS. And we wanted 3 AWD and 3 FWD.
Focus RS for me.
After having watched these two videos it was clear that if the VW R had a louder exhaust then these fools would've had it at the top with the Type R. The Golf R is the best of the bunch in terms of an all around car, not to mention that it completely blew away the whole bunch in the 0-60 and quarter mile, throw in the comfort aspect and again you have to go with VW.
gil, if we were looking for the best hatch in terms of an all around car, you're probably right, the Golf may have taken out the whole competition. But as I stated towards the start of the video, we were looking for the car that provided the most fun. We wanted to know which was the hottest hatch. Not which was the easiest to live with or the fastest or which has the best interior or which was most comfortable, just which was the most engaging, fun and satisfying to drive when having a serious punt. And the Golf just couldn't top the i30N or Type R in these criteria.
lol buying a hot hatch for it's useability ? just now people will be buying super cars for how well it does as a daily ......we at the end of performance driven special focussed cars even the cars shown are not focussed completely on being fun but they can be made fun . but I wouldn't be bothered buy the stock performance cause all of y these cars were made to be modified to the t.
So based on that is Fiesta ST or a Swift Sport in the mix then too.....bang for buck and fun for the money then....
As soon as the new ST lands in Australia, we'll be testing it and we love the Swift Sport but as we didn't have any direct competitors available for it (e.g, new Fiesta ST or Polo GTi), we felt it may have been swallowed up when up against the like of what we had on test. Yes they're brilliant bang for buck and hugely fun for the money but we've found that those shopping for a hot hatch up to $60k rarely look at the sub $30k options.
Stay tuned but, I'd love to do a Swift Sport, Fiesta ST and Polo GTi test.
+A.K Morris and add the ignis as the odd ball to look out for
Audi?
Was over the $60k criteria
Not an S3
I am sorry but....
The 308 gti...
Its almost 200kg!! Lighter then n30 and defo lightest in this group...
Masive boot
Monsters brakes
Proper mechanical differential
270bhp from 1.6 petrol😈😈😈
Front seats are just pure joy to sit in so comfy..comfy ride even on STUPID 19's!!
18's would be so much easier for everyday drive
The go-kart steering wheel is pure genius...so small its great...
As you can see i did experienced this car...2 whole days driving UK mix roads...2 petrol tanks and a fair few overtakings later i asure you...in golfR or typeR if you in my rearview mirror in a normal car i know you are there...but in the GTI the looks on the drivers faces when i just woof pass them because its so light...B roads 40mph to 65-75mph on 3rd gear its like 3seconds and its done...good bye...and then shift up to 6th gear and it does 45mpg on the motorway...in comfort and almost invisible...
THIS IS FOR ME the USP of this car...no other car has this in this group...you just dont expect to be overtaken by normal looking Pug so quickly...
I am only 172cm and after couple of hours i did find perfect driving position...its a hot hatch for fuck sake...99% of its life it will be driven on the roads not on the track😂😂😂
Lets wait 5 years from now and see if the 1.6 will suffer the chain bullshit or not..
The focus rs its already fucked after only 2 years i saw few reviews etc...
The N30 well its Hyundai's 1st car like this but its cheap so some issues will be defo coming pretty soon but again its cheap...
Honda its Honda best engines ever made FULL STOP
VW'R its very good in everything but again its a loads more money then 308...
STi ist just...bleh...
If there is anybody who was reading this and thinking of buying 308 gti please go and have 2 days test drive like me...i DONT have 28k pounds for a new car but as a 2nd hand car when it will hit £15k with 2-3 years old and 10-20k miles...
My midlife crisis dream car used to be yellow 911 but this gti in that double red/black😍😍😍
Just take my money😈
Such a biased comment.. Go on buy the 308 I'll buy i30n
Get what you like and what comfortable for you.
Where is the mercedes a45 amg???!!!! It's soo much better than all the other hot hatches.
Amg takes it to the next level with performance