Ultimate Hot Hatch Drag Race: Ford V Vw V Mini V Alpine V Abarth

Опубликовано 6 января 2026, 11:04

Get 20% off Car Vertical using code Carwow: bit.ly/Carwow-Car-Vertical

It’s time for a hot hatch 1/4-mile drag race between a Ford Fiesta ST, VW Polo GTI, MINI JCW, Alpine A290, and an Abarth 600e!

These petrol and electric pocket rockets all come in at under £40,000, but which will be quickest over the quarter mile? Let’s take a closer look at the stats…

The Ford Fiesta ST is powered by 1.5 turbocharged 3-cylinder 200hp and 320Nm. This power is sent to the front wheels only via a 6-speed manual gearbox, and it’s the lightest car here, at 1,283kg. When new, it costs around £27,000.

Alongside it is the Volkswagen Polo GTI. It’s packing a 2-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder, and this puts down 207hp and 320Nm. It’s equipped with a 7-speed automatic gearbox which sends power to the front wheels, and it tips the scales at 1,296kg. It costs just over £31,000.

Up next is the MINI Cooper JCW. Like the Polo, it also has a 2-litre 4-cylinder turbo, and it produces 231hp and 380Nm. Power is sent to the front wheels via a 7-speed auto, and it weighs 1,330kg. It costs from £33,000.

The first of the two electric cars is the Alpine A290 GTS. It’s powered by a single electric motor, which sends power to the front wheels, and it delivers 220hp and 300Nm. It weighs in at 1,479kg, and costs around £37,000.

Then we come to the most powerful (and most expensive) car in this line-up, the Abarth 600e. It has a single motor, delvers 280hp and 345N, all of which is delivered to the front wheels only. It weighs in at 1,640kg, and it costs around £38,000.

So, will it be an easy win for one of the electric cars? Or could one of the ICE-powered cars snatch it? There’s only one way to find out for sure… LET’S RACE!

Thanks to everyone who helped us set up this race:
- @tomi-auto
- instagram.com/kingsleyjoinery
- dbfb: bit.ly/dbfb-0601