The Mini Hatch JCW is one of the best and most engaging hot hatches ever made. With an excitable engine and chassis, it is commonly referred to as a go-kart for the road. It provides all the driving thrills synonymous with the JCW name, but step inside and you are greeted with plenty of high-quality leather and modern technology.

In its latest iteration, the Mini Hatch John Cooper Works is more potent than ever. Whilst nowadays 231bhp doesn’t sound like an absurd amount of power, the Mini JCW is hailed as a real driver’s car with its engaging steering and light chassis. In its most recent facelift, the JCW benefits from an updated front-end and latest infotainment system. Staying true to the original icon of the sixties, the possibilities of factory individualisation are broader than ever in this latest iteration of the Mini JCW.

Under the skin, the JCW keeps the same turbocharged B48 2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine as before, with 231bhp and 236lb ft of torque. Arguably a more driver-focussed car with the 6-speed manual transmission, the JCW is also available with an 8-speed automatic transmission. There is no wrong choice; the recipe of a potent, light and involving hot hatch remains convincing.