1. Mazdaspeed 3
The perfect example of an overpowered and brutal front-wheel hot hatch is the legendary Mazdaspeed 3. They introduced it in 2007, and it was powered by a 2.3-liter four-cylinder delivering 263 HP. And that was considered a crazy number of horsepower to send to the front wheels.
However, despite severe torque steer, the Mazdaspeed 3 was a capable and rapid car. It even brought many customers back to the dealerships. Also, it reintroduced Mazda as one of the prime affordable performance brands on the U.S. market at that time. These are the 30 most influential hatchbacks ever made. They paved the way for the hot hatchbacks of today. Attractive yet highly practical, they are a win-win for any driver.