Base price: $23,695
The GTI earns a mention here partly because of its excellent driving dynamics, and partly because it practically invented the "hot hatch" genre. Despite a few dark years in the 1990s, the GTI has continued to hold true to its original design, and it is still a fun, tossable, usable and well-designed vehicle. The punchy turbo engine is a perfect match for the car, serving up delightfully instant squirts of torque whenever needed. Build quality is fantastic, and the interior serves up just the right mix of hip and refined.
View Pictures: 2010 VW Golf GTI
James Tate cut his teeth in the business as a race team crew member before moving to the editorial side as Senior Editor of Sport Compact Car, and his work has appeared in Popular Mechanics, Automobile, Motor Trend and European Car. When not writing, Tate is usually fantasizing about a vintage Porsche 911.