2018 Volkswagen Golf GTI SE

The 2018 Golf GTI is Volkswagen's hot hatch, the one that made the class famous and still sets the benchmark for everyday fun. It's the rare car that feels eager on a back road yet settles into a calm, easy commute, which is why so many people daily-drive one. The steering is quick and precise, and the front end tucks in eagerly, so it turns in with a confidence most rivals can't match. The hatchback body gives you a surprisingly roomy cargo area, and the front seats are supportive enough for long drives. The SE is the mid-range GTI, adding the larger infotainment screen and keyless access over the S, but skipping the leather and adaptive dampers of the Autobahn. Its 2.0L I4 makes 220 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, routed through a six-speed automatic to the front wheels, and it returns 27 mpg combined.