Have you published your list of criteria? I’m in the market for a hot hatchback, too. I wonder if your criteria includes anything I’ve overlooked. The Subaru STI would be the front runner if it got better gas mileage.

@cookiecrook Well, I didn’t actually write it all down but it was roughly:

1. Fit - I couldn’t get a car that I didn’t fit well in so that limited me a lot immediately. I liked the Subaru STI but I didn’t fit at all, so that was off the list right away.

2. Fuel efficiency - I could have gone with a big truck and probably fit fairly well (you’d be surprised though, it’s more about dash design) but I wanted something with good fuel economy. The Prius was initially at the top of my list but I didn’t fit at all. I didn’t fit in any Toyotas or Hondas actually.

3. Something fun to drive but could still allow for some outdoor activities - That’s why I ended up going with the hatchback since it seemed like a good middle ground. I like to hike and camp but I don’t do it all the time so I figured this would fit perfectly for what I needed to do. I didn’t really need a compact SUV for example.

4. Reliability - I don’t really like buying cars and I don’t need a new one all the time, so I wanted to get something that was reliable or at least wasn’t known for having problems (which is what ruled out the VW for me).

5. Comfort - I drive down to Oregon about 4 times a year so I wanted the ride to be fairly comfortable since it’s 3.5-6 hours in the car depending on traffic.

There were a few more things but these main categories helped frame my decision making. Good luck car shopping!