Hot hatches of the 80s and 90s

From the late 1970s onwards, car makers discovered that they could shoehorn big, powerful engines into their smaller production cars. The result was a new breed of vehicles that were a blast to drive, with eager performance and nimble handling.

Crucially, though, these cars didn't cost Ferrari money, but remained affordable for the masses still leafing through their Escort and Astra brochures. Better still, their easy driving manners made them just as suited to the weekly supermarket run as the weekend B-road blast.

Yes, the 1980s and 1990s were a boom time for the hot hatch, and here are some of the best of them. Their relative age, not to mention their well-earned cult status, makes all of these cars candidates for specialist classic car insurance.

Volkswagen Golf Mk2 GTI (1984-1991)

The first-generation Golf GTI pretty much set out the stall for the hot hatch class when it appeared in 1977. Seven years later, could its successor make anything like the same impact? Well, yes, as it turned out: the MK2 Golf GTI could hold its head up high alongside its predecessor, matching it for agility and performance and even making a few key improvements.

Getting bigger and heavier may have seemed like a bad idea when it came to the kind of agility that hot-hatch drivers demanded: however, in reality those weight gains were small (920kg, compared to the Mk1's 840kg). The Mk2 certainly wasn't any less nimble – in fact, more rounded edges made it a more aerodynamic car. It also added some key creature comforts such as central locking and electric windows and sunroof. The car was a huge success, which accounts for the relatively healthy numbers still on our roads today. Indeed, the Golf as a whole features in the top ten of cars for which we most frequently arrange classic car insurance – and a fair few of those will be cooking GTI variants.

Oh, and do you remember the seminal, David Bailey-directed advert in which a post-breakup Paula Hamilton ditches everything her fiancé has given her (ring, necklace, fur coat) – except her beloved GTI? Wise choice.

Fiat Strada Abarth 130TC (1983-1988)

Before the Mk2 Golf GTI appeared in 1984, the Fiat Strada Abarth enjoyed a brief spell at the top of the hot hatch pecking order. And that was interesting in itself, because Fiat's wedgy little hatchback was something of a departure from the genre's usual template.

For one thing, it relied on neither of those two '80s staples, fuel injection or turbocharging, for its power. Instead, the Strada Abarth had a big old two-litre Fiat Twin Cam engine under the bonnet, with a Weber carburettor controlling the fuel and air intake.

Where the Golf GTI was smooth and sophisticated, the Strada Abarth was just that little bit more lairy and untamed. You won't be surprised to learn that, given these qualities, it earned its own passionate following. It was powerful – 130bhp purred away under the bonnet – and fast, capable of a top speed of 125 miles per hour. Best of all was its lively, occasionally unpredictable handling. A hot hatch for those who craved visceral driving thrills.

As such, we'd imagine that concours-condition Strada Abarths are few and far between today. Immaculate or heavy-driven, all examples of this hairy-chested hot hatch will need protecting with car insurance for classic cars.

Citroen Visa GTI (1984-1987)

You probably never associated Citroen's slab-sided 1980s hatchback with sporting pretensions, and we can't say we blame you. The Visa was very straight-edged and sensible-looking (albeit in a leftfield, Citroen kind of way), and its entry model had a titchy 652cc engine. However, Citroen's partnership with Peugeot gave it access to the 1580cc, 105bhp engine that had found its way into the 205 and created a hot-hatch legend. So, if you can find one, a used Visa GTI will give you 205 GTI performance, with five-door practicality. What's not to love?

Well, the looks are perhaps a little challenging, and the car was somewhat prone to rust, so we'd definitely recommend some specialist classic car insurance if you’re embarking on a restoration project. Most of all, though, you'll need a fair amount of luck to find a decent one: never common in their heyday, these cooking Citroens are now vanishingly rare.

Lancia Delta HF Turbo (1985-1990)

As you would expect, the Lancia Delta makes an entry in our list of '80s and '90s hot hatches. However, while you're probably expecting to see the insanely powerful, four-wheel-drive Integrale variant with its famously vice-like grip on the road, we've chosen a different member of the Delta family.

A couple of years before the Integrale was launched, Lancia created its first sporting Delta – the 1.6-litre HF Turbo. In late 1985, the Mk2 Golf GTI was the car to beat, and Lancia did a good job of bringing the fight to Volkswagen with this attractive and capable hot hatch.

Managing the 0-60mph sprint in around eight seconds, the HF Turbo was a genuinely quick car. After all, VW was yet to introduce the 16-valve version of the Mk2 Golf GTI, and the 1.6-litre Peugeot 205 GTI, though hugely capable and an absolute barrel of fun, couldn't quite match the Lancia in pure performance terms.

You may remember the car sporting that distinctive Martini livery, which added to its appeal. Fast and fun, the looks seemed to say. Quite a few discerning UK hot hatch buyers took the Delta route.

Mazda 323 4WD (1986-1988)

Many of these hot hatches were 'sleeper' cars – they hid their performance under a fairly ordinary appearance. That's definitely true of the Mazda 323 FWD. It may have boasted four-wheel drive and an uprated engine but, cosmetically, this car shared most of its utilitarian looks with the standard 323.

When it came to four-wheel-drive hot hatches of the late '80s, the 323 4WD tended to live in the shadow of the revered Lancia Delta HF Integrale. The Mazda's 1.6-litre turbocharged engine produced a very respectable 149bhp and could propel the car at speeds of up to 124mph. Trouble was that the 4WD system made the car quite heavy, and not the nimblest sporting hatchback around. What you got in compensation, of course, were astonishing levels of grip, and the ability to hoon the car around even on wetter days.

It was also able to deliver enjoyable levels of oversteer, understeer and drift, and became – in its small way – a boy racer's favourite.

Peugeot 205 GTI (1984-1994)

What was the best hot hatchback of all time? You could certainly make a decent case for the Peugeot 205 GTI – beautifully packaged, great-looking, nimble and a hoot to drive. The latter quality, in particular, has gone down into motoring legend: the 205's wonderfully responsive steering made it feel almost like a go-kart to drive.

But there was plenty more than that to this talented French supermini. It looked incredibly smart and athletic, and within its small dimensions owners found a very comfortable and practical car.

The car made its debut in 1984 with a 1.6-litre engine: three years later, that was joined by a more potent, 130bhp 1.9-litre unit. Debates over the better 205 GTI engine rage among enthusiasts – here, we'll content ourselves with noting that any 205 GTI will deliver oodles of thrills and spills. Get yourself some vintage car insurance, and start putting this fast French icon through its paces!

By the way, we looked into buying a used Peugeot 205 in a little more detail in this helpful guide.

Ford Escort XR3/XR3i (1980-1990)

One of the earliest cars to jump on the hot hatch bandwagon, after the pace-setting Mk1 Golf GTI, was the souped-up version of the Mk3 Ford Escort. The Escort XR3 was a great car, and deserved all of its huge popularity. It married sharp looks (oh, how we loved those body-coloured mirrors!) with time-honoured Ford affordability… and performance. Although, when it comes to the latter, the car really only came into its own when it got fuel injection in 1983, becoming the XR3i.

Would we recommend an Escort XR3 or XR3i as a used buy today? In many ways, yes we would. These cars evoke a particular time like few others, which is certainly one definition of a 'classic'. What's more, being a Ford, the car is blessed with a great network of enthusiasts, experts and restorers, so you shouldn't find yourself short of places to turn to for help with restoration and maintenance. Indeed, you could start by joining the XR Owners Club, where you'll find a friendly community of fellow XR drivers, and answers to any technical and sourcing questions. You should also be able to secure a members' discount on your classic car insurance.

Vauxhall Astra GTE (1984-1991)

During the 1980s, Ford and Vauxhall were engaged in some closely-fought and always absorbing sales wars, as we recalled in our article on this fascinating period. The Sierra vs Cavalier and Escort vs Astra battles were perhaps the headline head-to-heads – but there were also some interesting side shows, such as the hot-hatch rivalry between the Ford Escort XR3 and its Vauxhall rival, the Astra GTE.

The latter car is sometimes overlooked in roundups of the great hot hatches of the era, but it really shouldn't be. The fast Astra had nicely swoopy, aerodynamic styling which, when coupled with a two-litre, eight-valve engine, made it one of the quickest small cars of its day, capable of a top speed of around 126mph. In 1988, meanwhile, the Astra GTE went even more hardline with the introduction of the 156bhp 16-valve edition, capable of topping out somewhere nearer 140mph. Handling could be interesting and torque steer was a feature. However, to the adrenaline-seeking end of the market, these were hardly deal breakers.

Alfa 145 Twin Spark (1994-2000)

Alfa Romeo had long been famed for producing cars that were as beautiful to look at as they were thrilling to drive (indeed, our list of the most breathtaking Alfas makes for pretty mouth watering reading).

So, as the hot hatch era reached its zenith in the early 1990s, what was this revered Italian outfit up to? Why, they were creating the 145 Twin Spark – a car that looked, truth to tell, a little too much like a bread van for some tastes, but which handled with typical Alfa charisma.

In sporty Cloverleaf trim, the 145's two-litre dual ignition engine ('Twin Spark', see?) was tuned to push out 150bhp, and to race up to 60 mph from a standing start in around eight seconds. So, plenty powerful enough – but, as so often with Alfa, the joy here was in the way it drove. High-revving and sharp-handling, the little Alfa was a true enthusiast's car.

Peugeot 106 GTI (1996-2003)

Peugeot had already scooped the hot-hatch laurels the previous decade with their era-defining 205. And, for the Nineties, they were back with another superb pocket rocket. In fact, the marque's sporting division was busy this decade, also turning out high-performance versions of the larger 306. But it was the small, lightweight 106 GTI that really set pulses racing – and kept the 205's sporting DNA alive.

The first fast 106 was, in fact, the 1.3-litre Rallye from 1991. Stripped of any unnecessary features to keep weight down, this variant did away with power steering, central locking and electric windows. Its distinctive steel wheels were painted white. "Fewer frills, more thrills" went the ingenious slogan.

Then in 1996, the 106 got a facelift (the solemnly titled 'Phase II'), and the GTI arrived, with its 1.6-litre, 118bhp engine. This added just that little extra bit of grunt to the Rallye's already addictive nimbleness and lithe handling, creating a worthy successor to the 205.

Peugeot did some fine adverts around this time (remember the 405 driving through burning fields to the strains of Berlin's Take My Breath Away?). And the 106 GTI got its own eye-catching ad, taking off from a humpback bridge and shooting up towards the skies.

Rover 200 BRM (1997-99)

Some hot hatches tended to hide their extraordinary performance behind a workaday appearance. Certain Japanese cars, such as the Mazda 323 4WD and Toyota Corolla GTI, belong in this camp.

Others liked to shout a little louder about their capabilities. Step forward the Rover 200 BRM.

With its scarlet quilted leather seats and door panels, and its red carpet, seatbelts and steering wheel, the 200 BRM was no shrinking violet. Perhaps the car's most striking visual cue, in fact, was its woven mesh grille that sat above a large, bright orange air intake in the front bumper. This may, to some, have looked like gratuitous showiness: in fact, it was a callback to the British Racing Motors team of 1960s Formula One racing fame. Hence, also, the car's Brooklands Green paintwork – an iconic colour for British motor racing exploits during decades past.

Did the Rover 200 BRM also bring the power to match its aggressive looks? Well, yes, it did: 143bhp under the bonnet, plus lowered, firmer suspension, a close-ratio gearbox and a Torsen differential all added up to a car as visceral to drive as it was striking to behold. Just 1,115 Rover BRMs were produced, and 797 of those were destined for the domestic market. You'll have to delve deep into the classifieds to find a good one today.

Nissan Sunny GTI-R (1990-94)

During the late 1980s and early '90s, most of the Japanese marques were focused on motorsport and on producing some awesome high-performance models. Cars like the Toyota MR2 and Nissan 300ZX and various sporty Honda Civics moved things on significantly in the affordable fire-breather class. The Japanese marques also turned their eye to the hot hatch sector – with some memorable results.

When it went on sale in 1991, the turbocharged, fuel-injected Nissan Sunny GTI-R became the fastest hot hatch available in the UK. That, and its take-no-prisoners styling, ensured that the little Japanese speed demon won a devoted following from the get-go.

Nissan built its GTI-R as a homologation special to allow the company to take part in Group A rallying. So, although the car was, in theory, based on the small family hatchback of the same name, in performance terms it hailed from another planet altogether.

Its makers somehow crammed a turbocharged two-litre engine into the little car. They also gave it four-wheel drive, with the result that the car could do 0-60 in an extraordinary six seconds.

SEAT Ibiza Cupra (1993-2002)

These days, SEAT has a reputation as a sporty brand. That pretty much started with the Spanish firm's incorporation into the larger Volkswagen Group in 1990. The marque's Ibiza hatchback had been around since 1986 – and the second generation was introduced in 1993.

The VW links meant that this generation was able to introduce a sporty Cupra variant, using the 16-valve, 150bhp engine that had gone into the Mk3 Golf GTI.

In fact, Golf GTI purists found the Mk3 GTI less engaging than its two predecessors, as the car had got bigger and heavier and the engine didn't quite have the requisite power. When slotted into a smaller car like the Ibiza Cupra, however, it was more than up to the job.

SEAT underlined its new-found sporting credentials by entering the Cupra into rally events. The car duly won the two-litre class at the World Rally Championship for three successive years from 1996 to 1998. This is where sporty SEATS began, folks.

Renault Clio Williams (1993-1998)

When Renault decided to launch a limited-edition run (just 3,800 cars) of its hot-hatch Clio variant in 1993, the company wouldn't have predicted that it would end up producing no fewer than 12,000 versions of the car across three separate production runs – and creating one of the decade's best-loved small fast cars.

The car was named after the Williams team which, in the early 1990s, was dominating the Formula 1 circuit with its Renault cars. In fact, though, the British racing outfit had no input into the design and production of the hot hatch. But as a piece of marketing, it was an ingenious choice.

With a two-litre engine and one sole colour choice – navy blue with gold wheels – the Clio Williams was a huge hit. The car even got its own moment on the Formula 1 stage, acting as a safety car during the 1996 season.

These fast, nimble Renaults tended to get driven hard, meaning that relatively few of those 12,000 remain in good condition today. If you do have your eye on a Clio Williams, check it over meticulously and ask to see all paperwork relating to servicing, MOT, repairs and restoration.

Fiat Tipo 2.0 16v (1989-1995)

Fiat had a pretty good 1980s, truth to tell. First out of the blocks was the legendary Panda, which shook up the economy car segment when it arrived in 1980. Next up was the Uno, a superb supermini that memorably pipped both the Peugeot 205 and Mk2 VW Golf to the European Car of the Year title in 1984. And, before the decade was out, Fiat would win that accolade again – this time with the Golf/Escort-rivalling Tipo.

The Tipo was a very decent car – and, in 1991, it got the same hot hatch treatment that its C-segment rivals had already enjoyed. Fiat had taken over fellow Italian marque Lancia way back in 1969, so had access to the latter's range of engines – and as we all know, Lancia produced some very decent cars around this time. Fiat decided to load the two-litre, 16-valve unit from the Lancia Thema into its small car, thus creating a 148bhp hot hatch.

These sporty Tipos got a bespoke bodykit and 15-inch alloy wheels, giving them the looks to match their performance. A nicely leftfield choice for the discerning early '90s hot hatch enthusiast.

Protect your vintage hot hatch with classic car insurance

We're glad to say that plenty of these 1980s and '90s hot hatches are still going strong in the UK. That's because cars like these – distinctive-looking, brilliant to drive, and evoking an era of fun and adrenaline in motoring – are a source of pride and joy to their owners.

Cars like these should be protected with specialist classic car insurance and that's exactly what we recommend for your own classic.

Contact us for a classic car insurance quote today.