MINI Cooper S with John Cooper Works GP Kit Auto Express ranked its top 20 hot hatchbacks from the past 30 years.  The top 10 are:

  1. Renault Clio Williams
  2. Peugeot 205 GTi
  3. Renaultsport Clio 200 Cup
  4. Peugeot 306 Rallye
  5. VW Golf GTi MkII
  6. VW Golf GTi MkV
  7. Renault 5 GT Turbo
  8. VW Golf GTi MkI
  9. Peugeot 106 Rallye Series 2
  10. Ford Focus RS MkI

The highest ranking MINI on the list was the MINI Cooper S with John Cooper Works GP Kit.  It ranked only 12th.