Hot hatches are everywhere these days, from mild sport compacts to full-blown speed demons, but one still stands out from the crowd. Even after decades on the road, this car proves that you don’t have to sacrifice practicality for fun.

Although they entered the mainstream about 20 years ago, electric vehicles (EVs) have been around for a long time.

In a market where long-term dependability matters just as much as comfort and refinement, one three-year-old sedan quietly proves that Lexus still sets the standard for reliability. While many competitors chase flashy tech or aggressive styling, this model continues to deliver the kind of trouble-free ownership that has made the brand a favorite among drivers who want peace of mind as much as prestige.

Automakers have been chasing speed and power for over 100 years. When developing a new sports car, these aspects are the benchmarks for success. Auto engineers try to achieve this feat by increasing power, reducing weight, and using just about every other trick in the book to improve a new model’s performance. Today, cars are reaching performance levels that are at the limits of what most humans can handle.

If you’re budgeting for a new Toyota Corolla but crave something with a lot more excitement, the used market has a compelling alternative: an engaging hot hatch that delivers spirited performance without straying far from your price target. While compact sedans make sense for commuters, fun-to-drive cars often demand higher budgets, yet this used hatch blends practicality, performance, and value in a way that few new cars can match at the same price point.

Finding a performance sedan that’s thrilling on the road and dependable enough to handle hundreds of thousands of miles is rare, but one model manages both with surprising ease. While many sporty four-doors sacrifice reliability for speed or focus on short-term thrills, this performance-oriented sedan combines engaging driving dynamics with real-world durability you can count on year after year. For drivers who want the best of both worlds, excitement and long-term usability, it stands out in a crowded segment.

Despite early criticism and plenty of skepticism from enthusiasts, one American coupe has done what few expected: it won the North American Car of the Year award for 2026. In a field packed with fresh rivals and evolving tastes, this model’s blend of performance, style, and overall engineering impressed judges enough to top the competition, proving that even controversial designs can succeed when the execution is right.

BMW has M. Mercedes has AMG. Cadillac’s answer is V-Series—and it’s always been the quiet menace of the luxury performance world. The original CTS-V was basically a Corvette in a tailored suit, and Cadillac hasn’t lost that energy since.