Best Electric Hatches
2.Audi RS3
8.5
No badges available
$91,400 - $93,900*MRLP
What we love
- -Sharp new styling oozes aggression
- -Smarter rear axle transforms in-corner performance
- -Heightened performance and more commuter comfort
What we don't
- -Small boot and back seat
- -Sedan is much dearer than Sportback
- -With great power comes... Great thirst
3.BMW 1 Series
8.5
12 badges available
$53,900 - $75,300*MRLP
What we love
- -Single-rate suspension done right
- -Premium, well-kitted interior at an agreeable price point
- -A front-wheel-drive car that doesn't succumb to torque steer
What we don't
- -Not quite as engaging as cheaper alternatives
- -Silly seat design lacks shoulder support
- -Australian cars get detuned
4.Audi S3
8.4
2 badges available
$71,800 - $73,900*MRLP
What we love
- -It's fast in a straight line
- -It's fast around corners
- -At the same time, it's very comfortable and refined
What we don't
- -It could use a little more aural theatre
- -Pricing has gone up since the last generation
- -Out-powered by the Golf R
5.Audi S7
8.4
No badges available
$171,500 - $171,500*MRLP
What we love
- -Excellent drivetrain
- -Stunning design
- -Fantastic cabin execution
What we don't
- -V6 lacks the mongrel of old V8
- -Thirsty on fuel
- -Three-year warranty is below par
6.Audi A5
8.2
6 badges available
$78,500 - $99,600*MRLP
What we love
- -Willing drivetrain combination
- -Brimming with standard kit
- -Practicality of the liftback
What we don't
- -Fussy ride on 20-inch alloys with thin rubber
- -Lacklustre warranty
- -No shortcut buttons for infotainment
8.BMW 4 Series
8.2
7 badges available
$75,500 - $141,900*MRLP
What we love
- -Great traction and grip provided by all-wheel drive system
- -Engagingly direct and responsive dynamic traits
- -Sporting driving position, overall cabin ambiance
What we don't
- -Firm ride and excessive tyre roar on coarser road surfaces
- -Rear seat compromised by sloping roof and transmission tunnel
- -Pricey next to other new 4 Series Gran Coupe models
9.Volkswagen Golf
8.2
39 badges available
$35,190 - $69,990*MRLP
What we love
- -Understated performance styling
- -New all-wheel-drive system is a huge leap forward
- -Breadth of competence is peerless
What we don't
- -Minimalist interior is too minimal
- -Understated styling may not please some
- -Capacitive touch buttons hard to use
- -
Finalist - Best Hot Hatch
Drive Car of the Year 2022
Winner - Best Small Car
Drive Car of the Year 2022
Winner - Best Small Car
Drive Car of the Year 2022
10.Audi RS5
8.1
No badges available
$160,600 - $160,600*MRLP
What we love
- -Brutish powertrain
- -Optional adaptive dampers are fantastic
- -New infotainment system is connected and clever
What we don't
- -Second row is a challenge with younger kids
- -General ingress and egress woes
- -Thirsty
Drive's Best Cars
Drive's team of experts reviews and rates hundreds of the latest models each year to help you find your next new car. Browse our Best Car lists to discover how different models rank against each other and what our team loves and doesn't love about these top-rating vehicles.
* ‘MRLP’ is the manufacturer’s recommended list price as provided by our data provider and is subject to change, so is provided to you for indicative purposes only. Please note that MRLP is inclusive of GST, but is exclusive of any options and does not include on-road costs such as registration, CTP, stamp duty and dealer delivery. Where an MRLP is stated as a price range, this reflects the lowest to highest MRLP provided for that model range across the available variants.
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