13: Suzuki Swift GTi
The Geo Metro’s “lesser-known” little brother was a beast when it came to the streets. The Swift GTi was the original hot hatch to come from Japan, and it was affordably priced. Traditionally the three-cylinder engine was in dire straights, but its performance was better than you’d expect for a car of this size. The Swift GTi had a lot of features that you didn’t find on the Metro, and design was quite exceptional.

The interior was a lot more upmarket than a car in this price range should offer. The styling was also much updated from the Metro, with a cleaner looking front fascia and a handsome rear. The Swift didn’t get the kind of attention as the Metro and that is alright because these are rare and fun to drive.