Best hatchbacks arriving in 2022

Cupra might be an unfamiliar name, but it’s about to get a lot of attention in Australia. It is the performance spin-off of Volkswagen Group’s Spanish brand, Seat.

Cupra will offer three models from its June 2022 launch, including the Formentor and Ateca SUVs, as well as the Leon small hatchback.

The Leon will be available with a choice of three 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol variants – 140kW, 180kW and 221kW – as well as a 180kW/400Nm plug-in hybrid that has an all-electric driving range of 60km.

Read more: 2022 Cupra Leon price and features: New hybrid-ready hot hatch puts Kia Cerato GT, Hyundai i30 N and Honda Civic Type R on notice prior to Australian launch

It feels like the Ford Fiesta ST only just went on sale in Australia, but the Blue Oval is wheeling out a facelifted version of the five-door hot hatch in May 2022.

The only change under the bonnet is an increase in torque from 290Nm to 320Nm, while power remains at 147kW. A six-speed manual is still the only transmission available, driving the front wheels.

Exterior changes include new headlight and tail-light treatments, a tweaked grille and two new colours. Inside, the Fiesta ST gains new sports seats, a digital instrument cluster, extra connectivity functions and a boost to active safety.

Read more: Toyota GR Yaris, Volkswagen Polo GTI and Hyundai i20 N on notice! 2022 Ford Fiesta ST increases torque and gets higher price but new features with facelift

More than seven years after the current model landed, Peugeot will replace the 308 with the striking third-generation version in the third quarter of 2022. It adopts Peugeot’s latest design language and debuts the brand’s new ‘lion’ badge.

Based on an updated version of PSA’s EMP2 platform, the new 308 is 110mm longer but the height has been reduced by 20mm for a lower, sleeker look.

Peugeot was forced to offer the new 308 in some global markets without the promised digital instrument cluster because of the ongoing semiconductor shortage. But the carmaker’s Australian importer says it will definitely come to market with the digital display.

Read more: 2022 Peugeot 308 detailed: New Toyota Corolla, Mazda 3, Hyundai i30, Kia Cerato and Volkswagen Golf rival emerges with striking design

Based on the same MQB-AO platform as the current VW Polo, the Fabia’s boot space has increased by 50 litres, and it gets a big uptick in onboard tech and safety gear.

It will only be offered in range-topping Monte Carlo guise from launch in the third quarter – likely powered by a 110kW turbo-petrol engine – meaning the price of entry will increase to around $30,000.

Read more: Huge price increase! 2022 Skoda Fabia confirmed for Australia and will be more expensive than Mazda 2 and Volkswagen Polo?

The pinnacle of the Mk8 Golf range, the new Golf R hatch hits Australian shores in April 2022, alongside its wagon sibling.

The new Golf R packs a 235kW/400Nm punch from its 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, representing a 22kW/20Nm increase over the outgoing version.

Both Golf R variants drive all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and the hatchback can dash from 0-100km/h in 4.7 seconds – 0.2 seconds quicker than the wagon.

Read more: 2022 Volkswagen Golf R price and features: Last-minute engine downgrade for incoming Toyota GR Corolla and Honda Civic Type R rival

• Volkswagen Golf R 2022 review

The facelifted Polo is heading upmarket with pricing for the four-variant range starting from just over $25,000 (BOC), or about 30 per cent more than the outgoing model’s opening price.

Three powertrains are available, including the 147kW turbocharged unit in the sporty GTI, plus the Polo gains a new steering wheel, digital instrument cluster and dashboard, as well as tweaks to the multimedia screen.

Read more: The premium light hatch? 2022 Volkswagen Polo starting price up 30 per cent as facelifted Toyota Yaris and Mazda 2 rival marches upmarket with more features

• Volkswagen Polo 2022 review

Audi’s new-generation A3 range is available in 35 TFSI, 40 TFSI, S3 and flagship RS3 guise in both Sportback (hatch) and sedan body styles.

The range-opening 35 TFSI is powered by a 110kW/250Nm 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid technology, while the 40 TFSI quattro S line uses a 140kW/320Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine.

Read more: 2022 Audi A3 price and features: Australian pricing of new-gen Mercedes-Benz A-Class and BMW 1 Series rival creeps up

Audi A3 2022 review

Ford has dropped all Focus variants except for the spicy ST hot hatch as part of a midlife update for the fourth-generation small hatchback.

Lobbing in quarter two, 2022, the revised Focus ST features a redesigned front end with unique LED daytime running lights, new LED tail-lights, fresh alloy wheels and a new 'Mean Green' body colour.

It also gains a new 13.2-inch landscape touchscreen powered by Ford's SYNC4 multimedia system. A more premium ST X model grade will also be offered, but there are no changes under the bonnet.

Read more: 2022 Ford Focus ST runs hot! Price and features confirmed for facelifted Hyundai i30 N, Volkswagen Golf GTI, Renault Megane RS and Honda Civic Type R rival

A new-generation Honda Civic Type R is a big deal, and given what we know about the new-generation hot hatch landing before the end of 2022, expect it to make a splash.

Rumours suggest it will be powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol powertrain paired with two electric motors for a total system output of 294kW.

Given the regular Civic hatch has gone upmarket as part of the brand's premium push, expect the new Type R to be pricier than the outgoing version's $54,990 (before on-road costs) price tag.

Read more: 2023 Honda Civic Type R: Engine, timing, potential performance numbers and everything else we know so far about Japan's new hero hatchback

Want to know what other new models are due in 2022? Check out our rolling coverage by clicking on the links below.

- The best new cars coming to Australia in 2022

- Best SUVs arriving in 2022

- Best utes arriving in 2022

- Best crossovers arriving in 2022

- Best electric cars arriving in 2022

- Best hatchbacks arriving in 2022

- Best 4x4 and off-road vehicles arriving in 2022

- Best sedans arriving in 2022

- Best sports cars arriving in 2022

- Best hybrid cars arriving in 2022

Want to know what new models are due in 2023? Check out our rolling coverage by clicking on the links below.

- The best new cars coming in 2023

- Best SUVs arriving in 2023

- Best sports cars arriving in 2023

- Best hatchbacks and sedans arriving in 2023

- Best small SUVs and crossovers arriving in 2023

- Best 4x4, off-roaders and light-commercial vehicles arriving in 2023

- Best utes arriving in 2023

- Best hybrid cars arriving in 2023

- Best electric cars arriving in 2023