Mini Cooper S - 1961
The Sir Alec Issigonis designed city car was packed with innovative solutions and the transversely mounted engine, hydrolastic suspension and wheel-at-each-corner layout gave this little car superb handling.
The Cooper S and 1275 GT models were proper giant-slayers, taking on much more powerful competitors in various racing disciplines.
The best ones can be rather pricey these days but there are plenty of great Coopers around for less than half the price of a modern equivalent.
Peugeot 205 GTi - 1984
The ‘80s signalled the beginning of the hot hatch era and the 205 GTi was one of the very best.
Available in either 1.6-litre or 1.9-litre flavours, both provided to be much more capable than their humble underpinnings would have suggested.
A featherweight chassis and well thought out suspension setup imbued this little hatch with a level of ability and driving engagement that nothing outside of the original Golf GTI could hope to match.
Lotus Elan M100 - 1989
The first ever FWD Elan was a big departure compared to what the Hethel-based manufacturer usually produced, and its initial reception was a mixed bag.
Those that could look beyond the unusual layout found that the Elan M100 was a supremely capable sports car that could show many RWD opponents a thing or two around a challenging circuit. It may not have been a volume seller but the M100 proved to the world that FWD was not only practical but could also make for a superb sports car.
Both naturally aspirated and turbocharged variants of the Isuzu-source 1.6-litre motor could be had and despite their capabilities fewer than 4,000 were eventually sold.
Honda Integra Type R - 1995
The Integra Type R arrived in 1995 and essentially redefined what FWD performance cars were all about.
Unlike the earlier Elan, customers had no problem with FWD Honda’s and while it wasn’t exactly cheap, the Type R was far more affordable too.
Described by contemporary journalists as ‘the best-handling FWD car ever’, the Integra Type-R was a finely-balanced sports car that made the most of its high-revving 200 bhp 1.8-litre V-Tec powerplant and lightweight chassis. Well-kept examples today are now coveted collectors’ items.
Renault Clio 172/182 - 1999
An altogether more attainable FWD icon is the second-generation Clio RS. The first variant to be introduced in 1999 was the Clio 172 and it offered a lot of bang for the buck with its 170 bhp 2.0-litre engine and lively(in a good way) handling characteristics.
The basic design went through numerous refinements ending in the sublime 182 Trophy models, but they all offered plenty of driving excitement and can make for a great modern classic today.
Many have led a hard life though and the low prices can mean that not all have been taken care of as they should have been.
Ford Fiesta ST - The New Contenders
We now move on to the latest crop of fast and fun FWD offerings. First up, the latest Fiesta ST. It has ditched the old 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine for a more modern 1.5-litre three-cylinder unit but don’t worry because the new car is both more powerful (200 bhp vs 180 bhp) and faster in a straight line.
The handling is still as razor sharp as before making this little ST the ideal choice for those wanting both a practical hatchback during the week and a fun toy for the weekend. Prices start at £19,495 for the ST-1 trim.
Mini Cooper S
Thanks to safety regulations and the changing needs of the consumer, the new generation of Mini introduced by BMW in 2000 is nothing like that ground-breaking original.
Compared to contemporary rivals though, it is still relatively smaller (although not by much) and that sharp go-kart like handling has not been lost in the modernising process.
The 192 bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged Cooper S is arguably the best balanced of the bunch and in three-door hardtop form is a joy to drive. Stick to the manual gearbox and try not to tick too many options as you can easily add thousands more to the £20,920 starting price.
Volkswagen Golf GTI
The one that started the sporty FWD revolution back in 1974 is still a class-leader over four decades on.
The Golf GTI may have grown in every measurable way over the years but it is possibly the best-balanced of all of the current batch of quick hatchbacks on sale today. The 229 bhp 2.0-litre turbo motor feels very well matched to the chassis and rarely leaves you wanting more.
If you want something that is closer in size to the original GTI then there is always the 197 bhp Polo GTI to consider, it is hardly any slower off the line and at £21,140 before options, it also saves you almost £5,000 compared to the Golf.
Honda Civic Type R
The current FWD performance champion is the manic 316 bhp Civic Type R, putting that much power through the front wheels usually results in uncontrollable wheelspin followed by violent torque steer, yet the Honda engineers have virtually eliminated these issues and that turbocharged engine delivers its huge shove with only the slightest delay between each manual gear change, and the results speak for themselves.
The current Type R is the fastest production FWD car ever to have lapped the Nurburgring, its 7:43.8 lap time is good enough to challenge some very powerful RWD sportscars. At £30,995 it offers a huge amount of bang for the buck, just about the only thing to limit its appeal are those aggressive boy racer looks.
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