Here’s the second of our mini tests from the SMMT press day at Millbrook proving ground & this time it’s the turn of the hot hatches.
Mini John Cooper Works
The best all rounder of the group, the Mini, while still a fast, fun car, is a bit less frenetic than the Megane. This, combined with a softer ride and nicer interior (not to everyone design taste), make it easier to live with on a daily basis. Immediately it inspires confidence and is great fun – it’s an easy car to just jump in and drive quickly. Feedback was good but the grip was a little lacking compared to the limpet like Renault and ultimately it’s not as exciting/involving to drive. Performance was impressive and it made some great crackles & pops out the exhaust! The main downside for me was the automatic gearbox (all that was available to drive). While not that bad, it’s some way off the best dual clutch systems and I suspect a manual would have been better and suited the car’s character more.
Renaultsport Megane 275 Trophy
Right from the off, the Megane feels like a proper full fat hot hatch which has been engineered by people who love driving. Easily the most capable out on the track. Although it’s wheel base is longer than the Mini’s, the ride is pretty firm and can feel a bit ‘fidgety’ when going slow but it improves with speed. Performance, handling, steering, and fun factor are all top notch and the way it deploys its 275 PS/271 BHP through the front wheels is impressive. Although admittedly it was a warm & sunny day so it might not be quite so good in greasier conditions. The driving position and seat combination were excellent but the clutch did have a very ‘binary’ action – either on or off – which took a bit of getting used to. The only other negative really would be the quality of some of the interior materials with acres of cheap grey plastic, making it feeling more tinny when compared to the Mini & Toyota. A small price to pay though for a car that’s so great to drive!
Toyota GT86
This is the real sportscar in the group. There is no mistaking the difference between this and the other “hot hatches”. It’s rear wheel drive to start with, and has a lovely gearchange and steering. Toyota have definitely achieved the “lively lightweight” goal – resulting in a really involving car to drive. You do notice the lack of power in this company of cars though. While it would be great fun if you had the road to yourself, it’s lower power could be a little frustrating if you are waiting for a safe overtaking opportunity. However, cars don’t need to be super fast to be fun and the GT86 provides great driving thrills at lower speeds and it would no doubt be a riot on some of the fantastic roads we have up here in Scotland. Kudos too to Toyota (and Subaru with the BRZ) for making such a driver focused car.
If I had to pick one of these to use everyday, my choice would be the Megane. While the MINI would be the easier car to live with on a daily basis and the purists might prefer RWD of the GT86, the Trophy is a proper hot hatch which just loves to be driven hard and it’s worth sacrificing some comfort for that!
