These are the greatest used warm hatches

Warm hatches are regarded as beginner vehicles for those wanting a performance car.

They offer big thrills with small bills and can be great fun to own. Plus, if you look carefully, there are loads of fun little cars that will be ideal for those looking to upgrade from their first car into something with a bit more power.

With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best used warm hatches.

The first contender on this list is Volkswagen’s Up! GTi.

Launched in 2018, it’s powered by a 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that develops a peppy 114bhp. This pint-sized GTI is also available in three- and five-door bodystyles.

It looks fun and funky, plus is great to drive thanks to its thrummy little engine and lightweight body. And, with a claimed fuel economy figure of 53.3mpg,  it’s frugal, too.

Prices are still strong, with a low mileage 2018 example still fetching around £12,800. But, with it carrying its GTi badge, this little Up! is destined to become a future classic in years to come.

Rewind the clock nearly twenty years and Volkswagen had the Lupo GTi.

Under the bonnet, there is a 1.6-litre four-cylinder unit that develops 123bhp and 152Nm of torque.

Its cheeky central exhaust, flared wheel arches, body kit and sports seats all make this little Lupo a head-turner.

Weighing just 978kg means that the Lupo GTi is extremely light, making it fantastic to drive and it’s now regarded as a modern classic.

However, that means that prices remain high. If you find a clean example, expect to pay around £7,000 to £10,000. An ultra-low mileage example will cost even more.

One of the most underrated cars on this list is Toyota’s Yaris T Sport.

Launched in 2001, the T Sport features a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine that uses Toyota’s renowned variable valve timing (VVT-i) engine to give you the best performance across the rev range.

The result is a car that can achieve over 50mpg, reach 0-60mph in under nine seconds and would top out at 118mph.

Compared to the regular Yaris, the T Sport is lowered by 30mm, has a stiffened chassis, features 15-inch alloy wheels and comes with a body kit to give that sportier look.

Prices are on the up with very clean examples now fetching between £3,000 to £4,000.

However, watch out for rust as these cars can be susceptible to rot on the rear sills and front suspension towers.

A little homologation special that has been completely overlooked is Suzuki’s Ignis Sport.

Launched in 2003, the Ignis Sport was built to celebrate the Japanese firm’s entry into the FIA Junior World Rally Championship (JWRC).

The car features fishnet Recaro bucket seats, a three-door bodystyle, flared wheel arches and deeper front and rear bumpers.

Under the bonnet, there is a 1.5-litre 16-valve petrol engine that develops 107bhp, taking the car from 0-60mph in 8.9 seconds – a direct rival to the Toyota Yaris T Sport.

The Ignis Sport is fun, light and eager, giving it an entertaining driving experience.

Looking at the used market, these cars are hard to find nowadays. If you do find a clean example, expect to pay between £3,000 to £5,000. But, watch out for rust as these cars can also suffer from rather thin metal.

The Ford SportKa is a car that does everything that a warm hatchback should do.

It looks good, has better performance than its standard sibling and carries the blue oval badge – giving it acres of heritage and pedigree.

Powering the car is a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 94bhp and 100Nm of torque.

However, the Sportka weighs just 934kg, making it extremely light and nimble. To drive, the car is responsive, nippy and is a great laugh on a twisty road.

But, just like some of the cars on this list, the SportKa suffers from rust– hence why they have vanished from our roads.

If you manage to find yourself a clean example, look to spend around £3,000, but it’s extremely hard to find an example that hasn’t had repairs done to it.