best hatchback 2023 Page 169

Asking for the best hatchback of 2023 is like asking which coffee is strongest—depends how jittery you like your mornings. Here are the standouts and their trade-offs:

• Toyota Corolla: Pros—excellent economy, safety tech, rock-solid resale. Cons—tight rear space and boot; performance is sensible rather than spicy.
• Mazda 3: Pros—plush cabin and sweet handling. Cons—poor rear visibility and a snug back seat; pricing can creep up.
• Hyundai i30: Pros—great value and long warranty, locally tuned ride. Cons—thirstier than rivals and an ageing interior in some trims.
• Volkswagen Golf: Pros—polished ride/handling and refined cabin. Cons—pricey options/servicing and those fiddly touch controls.

Test-drive the lot on familiar roads, poke at the infotainment, and pick the one that annoys you least on the commute.