Performance
| 0-60 MPH | 6.1 Seconds |
| Top Speed | 140 MPH |
| Curb Weight | 2,815 Pounds |
| Horsepower | 228 Horsepower |
| Torque | 184 Pound-Feet |
Aside from the manual gearbox, everything else about the BRZ is designed for performance driving. The 2023 BRZ boasts quick ratio steering, heavily bolstered front seats, a driver-centric cockpit design, and a chassis that can handle more than the available muscle.
72023 Volkswagen Golf GTI
MSRP starts at $30,180
German carmaker Volkswagen offers the 2023 Golf GTI in four trims: S, SE, Autobahn, and the 40th Edition. All iterations of the GTI come with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 241 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. The two-liter block sends the power to the front wheels through either a six-speed manual transmission that comes standard or a seven-speed automatic as an option. You can easily bring the car from 0 to 60 MPH in 6.2 seconds when the package comes with the manual transmission or 5.9 seconds with the automatic (but of course, be ready to pay the surcharge).
Performance
| 0-60 MPH | 6.2 Seconds |
| Top Speed | 155 MPH |
| Curb Weight | 3,206 Pounds |
| Horsepower | 241 Horsepower |
| Torque | 271 Pound-Feet |
Living to its reputation, the 2023 Golf GTI is a fun compact ride with enough space for passengers and your cargo. You may find many alternatives in the market today, but the Volkswagen Golf GTI remains to be the gold standard for hot hatches.
62023 Toyota GR Corolla
MSRP starts at $35,900
Don’t let the compact footprint and small engine of this hatch fool you. The 2023 Toyota GR Corolla may sport a 1.6-liter three-cylinder turbocharged engine but it roars 300 horsepower and produces torque of up to 295 pound-feet. The powerplant is matched exclusively with a six-speed intelligent Manual Transmission with rev-matching. The Japanese car manufacturer estimates 0 to 60 mph time at 4.99 seconds for the CORE Grade and Circuit Edition and a blink quicker 4.92 seconds for the Morizo Edition. Electronically controlled speed is pegged at 142.9 MPH.
Performance
| 0-60 MPH | 4.92 to 4.99 Seconds depending on trim |
| Top Speed | 142.9 MPH |
| Curb Weight | 3,252 to 3,285 Pounds depending on trim |
| Horsepower | 300 Horsepower |
| Torque | 273 to 295 Pound-Feet depending on trim |
The feisty Corolla GR also comes standard with an all-wheel drive system with three settings that can vary the distribution of torque. With its potent performance, it can easily match a more powerful Honda Civic Type R on the drag strip.
52023 Honda Civic Type R
MSRP starts at $42,895
With 315 horses under its hood, the 2023 Honda Civic Type R is the most powerful production vehicle from the Japanese carmaker ever sold in the United States. The hot hatch only comes with a six-speed manual transmission— something so pleasing to hardcore enthusiasts. The quick-shifting gearbox is equipped with an auto rev-matching system, so downshifts even feel more visceral for drivers who seek connection with their speed monsters.
Performance
| 0-60 MPH | 4.9 Seconds |
| Top Speed | 169 MPH |
| Curb Weight | 3,188 Pounds |
| Horsepower | 315 Horsepower |
| Torque | 310 Pound-Feet |
You shift gears using a solid aluminum knob, and from there, the car crisply shifts with very low friction and smooth synchronizers. The engineers gave the gearbox a colling fin case architecture and an oil cooler to ensure things don’t get too hot. Likewise, the Type R transmission is housed in a more rigid casing with higher capacity and strength compared with its other Honda Civic siblings. The 2023 Civic Type R is an immensely capable performance car that’s more refined than the previous generation.
