There’s a reason that automotive enthusiasts the world over love hot hatches: not only are they practical, but they’re also very sporty and fun to drive. That’s why we spent the last twenty minutes watching Fifth Gear’s Hot Hatch Death Match (Season 22, Episode 4) — a shootout between the VW Golf GTi, RenaultSport Megane 265 Cup, Ford Focus ST, and the Vauxhall Astra VXR (aka the Opel Astra OPC) with Tiff Needell and World Rally star and former intercontinental rally champion Kris Meeke.
So grab a cup of java (or your favorite beverage), sit back, and enjoy:
The GM Authority Take
There’s a spoiler alert ahead, so watch the video above before continuing to read any further.
We wonder if the Astra would have taken first place if it were driven by Mr. Meeke, rather than Mr. Needell… but to let the RenaultSport take gold in the shootout? C’mon!
Also, your truly opines that it would be nothing short of awesome (and necessary) for Chevrolet to have a Cruze hot hatch of its own (and make it available in the States, as well).
Hat tip to Vic1212.
Comments
I wouldn’t sell Tiff out so quickly. He’s a damn experienced driver with legit racing credentials.
Top Gear, though not the best source for informative review (TV that is, not the magazine) concluded the same just with slightly older cars. And The Stig is hard to argue him not being able to throw down consisent lap times
But when it comes to the best review, it’s Chris Harris
his review on the DRIVE Network blows both Fifth Gear and Top Gear out of the water. That is the video you want to watch to understand these cars without actually driving them yourself.
For me, I’d choose the VXR/OPC. I hate the look of the Focus, in 3-door form it’s ok, but I’m really not a fan of the 5-door. As for VW I hate them, I hate their owners and the entire culture that follows VW. The Megane is a cool car, fast obviously, and looks good. But it’s French. It’s also too harsh for daily driving. I drive 30000+km a year, i’d hate life in that on long trips.
The VXR is the best package for everything.
“As for VW I hate them, I hate their owners and the entire culture that follows VW”
Hah! Noted.
I’d take the VXR/OPC or — better yet — a Cruze variant (in sedan or hatch forms). These reviews don’t take into account so many other factors — like interior quality, infotainment tech, safety, ride comfort, or the finer points of the actual driving experience.
For instance, the Opel/Vauxhall is the only car in this shootout to have a technology like HiperStrut… so have fun launching the Focus (with its torque vectoring “magic”) off the line and keeping her straight (I tried it, and it’s anything but confidence-inspiring). As for VW — it’s clearly outclassed here in power alone, something that will apply to the MK7 as well. And to top it all off, the Focus 3 door is no more (at least for now). So OPC/VXR (or a similar Cruze) for me, please.
I should clarify my VW hate. The whole Das Auto ‘german engineering’ thing has bugged me for as long as I can remember. VW is the Chevy of Germany. German Engineering doesn’t mean shit. Their reliability statistically is brutal and repairs certainly don’t come cheap, typically.
I find, in term of entry level cars go, Jetta owners typically have this entitlement to them. And again it might be the German car aspect that they think is holier-than-thou.
The car culture I can not stand. I think people that run little honda’s with nitros and big wings or people with donk’d 67 Impalas are ‘better’ car people. And when I mean VW culture, I mean Thule roof racks for no reason on their 2.slow Golf that is slammed to the ground with bright orange rims and a shocker sticker on the rear window.
I also don’t like the general look of VAG cars. The CC is the only VW I like the look of, it wasn’t until recently that I liked the look of an Audi (S5). I’ve never been a Lambo guy because the McLaren F1 was my poster car as a kid. The Diablo could suck a ball as far as I was concerned lol
As for Bugatti, I like their history, and the technical/engineering aspects of the Veyron more than I like the Veyron itself.
There are brands that I think are downright ugly, like late model Acura, and Infiti, but VW is the only brand I hate.
Good points all around… but usually, to minimize variables, a “real” shootout should have the same driver pilot the cars in the comparo around the same track. This one didn’t follow the same formula.
So, would the results be the same IF the drivers were swapped? Just a hypothetical…
Check out the DRIVE link I posted with Chris Harris. It is the best review/comparison of the Focus, VRX, and Megane. I’d also highly recommend subscribing to the DRIVE channel, I think it’s season 6 that is starting soon. They do a new ‘episode series’ every day. Ex: monday will have a quick episode briefing what is ahead for the week. Then they will also do a full episode, so for instance “Chris Harris on Cars” which is Chris Harris driving whatever. Tuesday might be Drive Clean, a series about car cleaning with Larry Kosilla who owns a highend detail business. Wednesday might be TUNED with Matt Farah where is is always driving some monster tuned car. Then Thursday is something else, and Friday.. Depending on the season they will have different episode series.
It’s hands down the best auto channel on youtube and is part of youtube’s efforts to create original ‘programming’. And they actually do travel to other parts of the world. They did I think a 6 part series touring through Koenigsegg with Christian Von Koenigsegg himself. And they did a trip to Ice Land, and the Morgan factory in England to check out the sweet Morgan 3-wheeler.
Just tons of stuff, they have 80million views or something near there.
I don’t know what it is but how come the megane always win? Like is it just lighter than the vxr?
The 276 bhp Astra VXR is the fastest & most powerful in its class, so one can only imagine this test is biast
Fastest how? Top speed? 0-60mph?
Performance is more than just a horsepower figure, and HP is just a function of torque.
The Megane is ~150lbs lighter than the VXR. The Megane offers 11.69lbs/HP and the VXR 11.75lbs/HP
For a fwd car to be remotely competent on a track, torque vectoring and suspension geometry is huge. For any car (fwd, rwd, awd) to be fast around a track it needs great brakes too, same with a solid chassis, grippy tires, etc.
Alex mentioned in the comments above about Ford’s magic torque vectoring LSD. I believe the Focus utilizes a Quaife LSD (I know the RS350 does at least). It’s basically what allows that 350hp FWD car to not torque steer of into oblivion and manages to put the power to the asphalt.
It’s always been Vauxhall v Ford not sure why these imports are included but no worries the VXR is the best here, the Ford although handles well is not a patch on the previous model focus, it also looks rater strange (front end kind of nice looks like a small falcon) & I don’t like a hot hatch to have 5 doors. VW has gone slow and has been trading of the GTi & VW badge for years. The Renault the best of the French cars (no great achievement) is flimsy & memory’s of 5GT & breakdowns due to engine failure stories inside 4 months from new spring to mind, lack of build quality & the fact it’s ugly all count against it.
vw preserved is funny. I guess they are not allowed to compete with their competitors and golf r many assays is the Golf GTI.
in fact, it should be a golf r and golf r also has been testing and those results are not worth anything.
MOBILPHONE TIME TAKEN AHHAAA .golf r dsg is perhaps a bit better than even that 0-100km, and that’s all.
but this is a different video drivers and cars. + Media advertising.
In this video, as you heard the rally drivers THEN WON.
THE BETTER ON TESTS AND ONE DRIVER that is impartial. THIS IS A REAL TEST.
One abstention MAID TESTS ON IT.
SEE THE NEW CLIO RS AND SEE CHART times for other machines.
FORD FOCUS RS500 AND OPEL CORSA OPC NÜRBURGRINGEDITION
I don’t know what it is but how come the megane always win? Like is it just lighter than the vxr?
I HAVE SEEN MANY MEDIA HAVE READ AND ALWAYS comparisons and MEGAN not win.
EVERYTHING IS BETTER WITH ONE RIDER TESTS AND WHAT IS NOT LARGE COMPANIES AND TELEVISION unbiased ADVERTISING AND MONEY.
BUT MEGAN IS POWERFUL AND CAPACITY WEIGHT RATIO THAT MAY circuit to be useful.
BUT THEY ARE EQUAL.
Megan racing car OPC BUT FOR EVERYWHERE.
OPC Nurburgring Edition What SHOULD EXPECT MORE FOR WINNING THE VEHICLE.
The funny thing is already compared the OPC MEGAN AND SEATS. OPC SEATS ARE LIKE SOFA SEATS AND MEGAN are very thin.
+ WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS condition, MACHINERY AND MANY ACCESSORIES AND HOW BIG IS ON PASSAGE engines.
OPC ENGINE RUNNING ON 5000km
Also how did we know the Astra VXR lost we didn’t see any cross the finishing line, we only saw what they wanted us to see.
OPC Nurburgring LAP TIME NOT LIKE NEVER HAS DECIDED such tests MANUEL REUTER OPC on machines with decent results.
RENULT MEGAN HAS SERIOUS EVENT BUT MEGAN RS Nurburgring LAP TIME FOR RENAULT RACING WITH GREAT TEAM AND SHARE.
Anyway, this event saw a very suspicious and feel FAKE.
They also use ALREADY IN OTHER RACING tires which they themselves mentioned that they were not ORIGINAL setting.
BUT the track that’s among the most important TIRES AT ALL THINGS.
MACHINE AND WHAT ELSE HAS BEEN TAKEN ME NO ONE KNOWS.
AND I WOULD LIKE to like to call for MANUEL REUTER AND MAKE PROPER OPC Nurburgring time events like the old days
The Corsa VXR Nbg edition, Astra VXR, Insignia VXR, VXR8 & Maloo VXR are all ether the quickest or omongst the quickest in their classes, they are all well respected and very desireable. Vauxhall has a rich heritage in both racing & manufacturing and has competed & won many races, trophys & applause.
This was pretty much a pointless series of test. How good a car is can never be determind by a stop watch or spec sheet.
Something they do not touch on Is the real driving dynamic of the cars. What one is easy to drive fast. A car should be easy to drive fast even if it is not the fastest. This is good tuning. Also it should be driven in a more real world vs. some flat test track.
I noted when these cars were on Top Gear even Mr. Clarkson who is not a FWD lover was impressed with the driving dynamic of the Vauxhall.
To be honest the Ford, GM and VW all are very good cars and the Renault will is a Renault and while it drives nice it is cheap made for the more money it cost.
Any ways this was made for entertainment do it is what it is, GM just needs to get on the ball and bring this car here as a well equipped car for Buick. At Buick it could be priced well enough to challenge the likes of the Mini and top optioned Ford. As a Chevy it would priced too much.
Besides the Opel is a Buick as most Buicks will be Opel’s. It also would get younger people into the dealers and help change the view of many for Buick as just not being for Grand pa anymore.
+1 Scott.
renault cars are also very good as can be inferred. but the renault megan RS 265 Trophy has also been further development. Renault is a lot of different models megan – CUP, TROPHY, 255 …..
Megan competed OPC SHOULD TAKE THE LIGHTER AND LOW-RANGE VERSION then this would be easier. But nevertheless, is the first OPC TOP MODEL ALREADY MEGAN rs versions of the same.
GOLF GTI NOT ONLY TO THE CLASS IN GOLF R.
BUT VW has banned canned VIST TO LARGE COMPARISON OF GOLF R, very few TESTS ON GOLF R and there is NOTHING TULMUSED.
VW preserved is suspicious
fith gear and top gear is interesting to watch but it is also everything.
big money, advertising, and it is a show.
IGÜHEL has their own preference and are suitable for RS MENA WHO WANTS WHO WHO OPC GOLF R OR FOCUS ST (RS)
OLD FOCUS RS is in my opinion the coolest and awesome THEM AT ALL AND EVEN OR MITSUBICHI EVO IMPREZA.
WAITING FOR A NEW FOCUS RS AND ALSO NEW GOLF R MUST.
NEW GOLF 7 R ON ONE OF VW models now others LASI INTERMEDIATE many new models numbers hastily OFF
Seriously, what’s with the caps lock?
VW IS NOTHING
Back to Alex’s point- why on earth do we not have something close to the Opel Astra OPC hatch available here in the US? I assume research shows that sales would not justify the car, but I would absolutely be very, very interested. Let me repeat- VERY interested!!
@Marc the part that’s most ironic is that Ford and VW have both found ways to justify performance compact cars (as seen in this shootout)… but GM (Chevy) haven’t. How can market research be so different, especially for the world’s biggest automaker with massive economies of scale?
What I think is really happening here is that GM really wants to bring a hi-po Cruze to market, but is limited to the financial realities of the line as it exists today. The next-gen D2XX model should deliver such a car, and factor in R&D as well as the tooling at the beginning of the model’s life cycle, rather than way after its launch. At least that’s what I hope.
Right on target with your comments, Alex. Perhaps in the next-gen Cruze. No question at all, I would be in line to buy at that time. We could use a second car that is somewhat practical, but fun to drive, since my wife won’t consider driving the aging ‘Vette. And I do mean the aging ‘Vette, not a metaphor for anything else!
Common sense would suggest sell it as a Buick Verano 3dr performance hatch.
The price point of Buick would let them do things with this car that could never get approved in a Chevy.
Besides a few simple changes would make it a Buick.
Buick needs a car for younger people that is a fun car and affordable if they want to grow the brand. the Opel hatch could just be that car that would make Buick as appealing in 20 somethings as VW is today.
Marc
April 29, 2013 at 8:59 am
Reply
BUY VW GOLF AND YOU ARE COOL .
IThis is the same as children listening to JUSTIN BIIBERI .
FIAT 500 ABARTH IS VERRY COOL CAR US .
AMAZING THAT IT were brought to U.S.
I’m not a vw meet, and I also own shares in VW but this is a comedy that takes place around vw
and the comedy of Germans feel themselves as read AUTOBILD.DE OR AUTO MOTOR UND SPORT articles and reviews
http://www.autobild.de/artikel/mercedes-cla-audi-a3-vw-jetta-test-4178953.html
funny test .VW JETTA .I do not see any competition this test .AUDI AND MB BUT VW JETTA ( WTF)
VW GOLF R loses even a FOCUS ST But they DRIVERS TEST GOLF GTI .
GOLF GTI VS FIESTA ST AAHHAAAA .
GM head in the sand, again! The Cruze looks so old compared to any of these, except the VW. That color on the Astra is great. Put that on a Camaro.
GM does not have their head in the sand as they completing a new Cruze as the one that we have is old in todays terms. It did not go too long but it is time.
Wy gm don’t bring this car North America wywywywywy
Maith, maybe such a high performance car isn’t in Buick’s target audience.
shoulda skipped the Cruze and just brought the Astra over or build ’em here.
“shoulda skipped the Cruze and just brought the Astra over or build ‘em here.”
^^ Possibly the dumbest comment I’ve read all day.
Chevy has the Cruze for a reason. And it’s more successful than the entire Astra squad even without a powerful variant.
in a test around nurburgring 2013 the opel blew megane into weeds.