5. Volkswagen Golf GTI/R: 25,192
The VW Golf GTI is one of the classic hot hatches. It was one of the first of its kind way back in the 1970s, and the new model continues the tradition. You get 220 horsepower from a 2.0-liter turbo-four, a six-speed manual, or a six-speed automatic. Plaid seats and a golf-ball shifter are still standard.
The GTI is one of the most fun cars in its class to drive on real roads. If you want more power and grip, the Golf R boosts power to 292 horsepower, adds all-wheel drive, and an even stiffer suspension. GTI and R sales were down 6 percent from 28,427.
4. Subaru Impreza WRX and STI 31,358 sold
Subaru’s hot Impreza sports cars are the rally icons you remember from the late 1990s – or maybe from “Gran Turismo” – updated for today.
The WRX offers up 268 horsepower, while the STI with a 2.5-liter four makes 305 horsepower. But the Impreza twins are still on an old platform while the lowly base Impreza has been on a new platform for over a year.
The only automatic is a CVT and it’s only on the WRX. Both of those could explain why sales were down just under 6 percent from 33,279 in 2016.
3. Dodge Challenger: 64,537
Dodge hasn’t made many updates to the basic Challenger in a long time. But that hasn’t stopped the company from making more and more performance and special trim models. The most recent was the 800-plus-horsepower Dodge Demon that’s designed for the drag strip.
The basic Challenger uses a 3.6-liter V6 that makes 305 horsepower. Then there are four V8 options: 5.7-liter and 375 horsepower, 6.4-liter and 485 horsepower, a supercharged 6.4 that makes 707 horsepower, and the Demon. Sales were steady, up slightly from 64,433 in 2016.
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