Top 10: the fastest-accelerating sports compacts in the world

Discover the fastest sports compacts in the world in the following Top 10.

Sports compacts continue to increase their performance year after year. What seemed like madness a few years ago – seeing compacts with more than 300 CV of power – has now become the standard for the most performance-oriented models in this segment. In this performance war, acceleration is one of the best ways to determine which model takes the crown, or put another way, which is the fastest on paper. Below we leave you a list of the 10 sports compacts with the fastest acceleration on the market:

10. Renault Megane IV RS: 5.9 seconds

The new Renault Megane RS features a turbocharged 1.8-litre petrol engine (replacing the 2.0-litre of the previous generation) that produces 280 CV and 390 Nm of torque. The French compact incorporates an electronically controlled intelligent torque distribution system. The car accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds. It may be the last on the list, but remember that the radical “Trophy” version is just around the corner, an even more performance-focused variant from which we can expect a considerable increase in performance over the standard Megane RS.

9. Seat Leon Mk3 Cupra 300: 5.7 seconds

The updated Seat Leon Cupra (2017) features a 2.0-litre TSI engine that produces 300 CV of power and 380 Nm of torque. The car incorporates an electronic limited-slip differential on the front axle which, among other things, allows it to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.7 seconds.

8. Honda Civic Type R FK8: 5.7 seconds

The Honda Civic Type R is the fastest sports compact on the Nürburgring circuit. Its 2.0-litre turbocharged VTEC engine develops 320 CV of power and 400 Nm of torque. It features a limited-slip differential on the front axle and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds.

7. Seat Leon Mk3 Cupra R: 5.5 seconds

The limited edition of the Seat Leon Cupra features the 2.0 TSI engine from the VAG group, but this time with slightly more power than the standard version: 310 CV. It incorporates a limited-slip differential and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.5 seconds.

6. Ford Focus RS Mk3: 4.7 seconds

We’re under 5 seconds! The Ford Focus RS Mk3 may be in its final months of production, but its 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine develops 345 CV of power and 470 Nm of torque, allowing it to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds.

5. Audi S3 Mk3: 4.7 seconds

The third generation of the Audi S3 offers a 2.0 TFSI engine (the same as the Leon Cupra) that develops 310 CV of power and 400 Nm of torque. It features the famous Quattro all-wheel-drive system from Audi and a 7-speed S-Tronic gearbox. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds.

4. Volkswagen Golf R: 4.6 seconds

The Volkswagen Golf R features the same 2.0 TFSI engine as the Audi S3: 310 CV of power and 400 Nm of torque. It also incorporates a four-wheel-drive system with Haldex differential, but its acceleration is slightly better: from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds.

3. BMW M140i xDrive: 4.4 seconds

The BMW M140i xDrive is the only model on this list with a six-cylinder engine. Its 3.0-litre twin-turbo petrol engine develops 340 CV of power and 500 Nm of torque. The base version is rear-wheel drive, but the xDrive variant is the fastest from 0 to 100 km/h: just 4.4 seconds.

2. Mercedes AMG A45: 4.2 seconds

The most radical compact from the star brand features a 2.0-litre petrol engine that develops 380 CV of power and 475 Nm of torque. It incorporates an all-wheel-drive system and reaches 100 km/h in 4.2 seconds.

1. Audi RS3 Sportback Mk3: 4.1 seconds

The title of the fastest sports compact from 0 to 100 km/h goes to the Audi RS3 Sportback. The car accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds thanks to the most powerful five-cylinder engine in the world: 400 CV of power and 480 Nm of torque. The 2.5-litre TFSI engine comes with a full-time all-wheel-drive Quattro system. Thanks to all of the above, the Audi RS3 Sportback reaches 100 km/h in just 4.1 seconds.