Round and round in circles... Golf R?

[tyred]

Help! I’m going round in circles here…

Currently driving an E92 330i. It was a relatively cheap, impulse purchase as my company started pulling us back to the office in mid-2021. I love it, but the 3-door setup with a 2-yr old, and the lack of modern amenities has me looking for a change.

I generally do a couple of 120-mile trips on mostly motorway a week. The rest is shorter journeys either around town or out to the hills with the mountain bike. Whereas I’d like something nimble enough to be fun, I’d still like some comfort and composure on the longer journeys.

Previous cars were a Mk7 GTI PP and 987.2 Cayman S, so looking for something that ticks some different boxes.

Primary requirements:
5-doors
Decently quick/engaging (tempered with at least 30mpg real-world)
Significantly more modern than my 2006 E92 (DAB, Cruise, heated seats etc.)
Petrol preferred
Manual preferred
£20k budget with some flex for a good spec.

I had fancied an S1 but think it might be a bit too small for child/mountain bike. Golf R seems like an obvious choice, but I’m loathed to concede to it, especially having had the GTI. Saw a couple of A45’s, but seems they may be a bit risky at this price point. Not too fussed for an M135/M140. We do also have another family estate car, so practicality isn’t the primary focus here.

I’m going round in circles looking at the same group of mid-size hatches, returning to the Golf R! What am I overlooking as an alternative to the R, or more generally in an alternative segment?

Cheers!

[tyred]

Ah! I hadn't considered a Focus - partially due to bad experience with a Focus in the past. I expect they've moved on a bit since. They do seem to be much better value than the German stuff.

Similarly, the 308 look like great value relative to the VW/Audi, albeit a bit rarer.

Perhaps that's another factor drawing me to the Golf R - there's so many of them, it's easy to find a desirable spec without travelling the length of the country. (I live in central Scotland)

Cheers for the recommendations - will continue to investigate!

[tyred]

A decent shout too! I haven't really considered the i30N. Perhaps perceived quality relative to the VAG stuff putting me off. The all-wheel drive is also a big draw bringing me back to the R.

I was hoping I might've had some suggestions in alternative segments - I'm not particularly well read on much outside of hatches, so am keen to hear if anyone has any completely different recommendations that might excite within the bounds of the relatively open brief...

[tyred]

Fair point - appreciate that the brief does point me squarely at hot hatches, albeit when I say modern, I mean relative to a non-iDrive E92! A newer 3/4 Series could be a shout.

WRT the Golf R comments, I probably need to go and drive one myself. If I'm honest, I never really clicked with my mk7 GTI, but assumed that the 4wd R would feel completely different - certainly on the basis of all the reviews anyway.

I think I need to make time to go and see/drive some cars. Browsing Autotrader has given me decision paralysis!

Cheers for the input - you've given my wife some much-needed respite from my dithering!

[tyred]

Perhaps I've unduly dismissed the i30N. Would certainly take a look around one, although there doesn't appear to be one for sale in Scotland...

The S5 Sportback and Giulia are avenues I hadn't considered. I'd have to concede my manual gearbox though...

Civic Type R - I'd love one, but just couldn't live with the looks.

I think I'm actually most tempted by an S1, but the price of them relative to the more practical Golf/S3 makes it seem frivolous.

Thanks again for the input!