Volkswagen GTI - $28,595

The original is still the champion. As good as the other hot hatches on this list are, the Mk. 7 GTI continues to be the benchmark, and with good reason. It's a great chassis combined with a proven engine. Argue stick vs. DSG all you like—whichever trans you pick will leave you smiling in the end. Most importantly, there's a maturity to the GTI that's missing from many of its rivals. The interior is subtle, straightforward and eminently usable. There are more powerful hot hatches. Faster ones, too. But they're still trying to live up to this one's standards. Here's a new one you can own today.

Pricing has yet to be revealed on the all-new Mk. 8 GTI, but we expect it to come in just under the $30k mark.