Many expert drivers would agree that fast hatchbacks offer the best motoring experience on open roads, outside a race track. The small size complemented by sharp throttle responses and maybe a burbly exhaust note, add to the fun experience of driving a fast hatchback, commonly referred to as “hot hatchbacks” or “hot hatches”.
Unfortunately, the hot hatchback scene in India has remained mostly dry, despite the immense potential for sporty vehicles in the country. The recent launch of Tata Altroz Racer has yet again ignited flames within auto enthusiasts wanting more and more fast hatchbacks at a time when hatchback as a segment has shrunk significantly over the past few years.
Alongside Altroz Racer, Hyundai i20 N Line is the only other hatchback in the country presently which can be classified as a hot hatchback. In this article, we look back at all the hot hatchbacks that graced the Indian roads in the past with their performance and flair, and cars we wished they made a return.
Maruti Baleno RS
The most recent hot hatchback that faced the axe was Maruti Baleno RS which was priced between Rs 7.89 and 8.45 lakh (ex-showroom). Introduced in India in 2017, the Baleno RS was a fun hatch with a more potent 1.0-litre Boosterjet turbocharged petrol engine, plonked to its heart. However, a high price and low demand meant that the Indo-Japanese carmaker couldn’t sustain the Baleno RS which eventually got discontinued in 2020.
The 1.0-litre Boosterjet motor pushed out 101 bhp and 150 Nm of peak torque. Part of this motor was imported from overseas countries, hence a major reason for this model’s high cost. Last year, this 1.0-litre Booster jet motor made its comeback in the Fronx, a crossover based on Baleno. Hopefully, the Baleno RS returns with this motor under its hood
Volkswagen Polo GTI
Volkswagen Polo was a sporty hatch in its standard form in itself, but the icing on the cake was the two-door Polo GTI which was a true hot hatch. Powering the Polo GTI was a 1.8-litre TSI turbocharged petrol engine which dishes out 190 horses and 250 Nm of peak torque. Complementing this motor was a responsive 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox sending power to the front wheels.
Drifting on the Polo GTI was a hoot which was possible due to superb chassis dynamics and stiffly sprung suspension. This model was fully imported to India and hence it was priced at a whopping Rs 20.69 lakh before the last unit was sold in 2020.
Fiat Punto Abarth
One of the saddest moments of Indian automotive history was the Fiat brand quitting the Indian market. Fiat as a brand was known to produce some very sporty cars and the Punto Abarth was one of the best examples of a sporty hatchback. It was locally assembled in India and priced at Rs 9.67 lakh (ex-showroom). Powering the Punto Abarth was a 1.4-litre petrol engine churning out 140 bhp and 210 Nm of peak torque. This motor was paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox.
Fiat 500
Another hot hatch from Fiat was the 500, priced at Rs 14.93 lakh (ex-showroom, last recorded). It is also the only model in this list to run on diesel. Powering the Fiat 500 was a 1248cc diesel engine which kicked out 75 bhp at 4,000 rpm and 145 Nm of peak torque at 1,500 rpm. The highlight of this engine was its peak torque arriving as early as almost idling which made it jet off the line really quick.
Fiat also offered a full-imported 595 Competizione priced at Rs 29.85 lakh (ex-showroom) which was powered by a 1368cc Turbo T Jet petrol engine which dished out 160bhp and 230 Nm of torque. This version came mated to a 5-speed automatic gearbox.
Maruti Zen Carbon & Steel
In the early 2000s, Suzuki used to export two-door versions of Zen from India to Poland. However, lukewarm reception in Poland, made Suzuki discontinue this version and the company was left with 300 units each of Carbon and Steel. To clear its inventory, Maruti launched the Zen Carbon & Steel variants as limited edition models.
Powering this hatch was a 1.0-litre petrol engine which kicked out 60 bhp and 78 Nm of torque, which was quite decent for its time. The robust chassis and the tunable engine offered a lot of fun to the owners of this car.
