A hot hatch with low driving position

[dmitry]

Is there such a thing? I've owned or driven EP3 and FN2 Civic Type-Rs, Clio 172 and Clio 197. While they were great fun I've never got used to the way you're seated in them, it felt like being too high and ultimately I couldn't really bond with these cars. I've even replaced standard seats in the 172 for Recaros on custom mounts to drop a few centimetres and it made life slightly better but the way all the controls were arranged for original seats it still was a bit awkward and not very comfortable. On the other hand cars like old E36 3-series BMWs and especially GT86 felt right the moment I got behind the steering wheel and that made driving them a much more enjoyable experience. So I'm sitting now wondering, is there a hot hatch around that has fairly low mounted seats? I think DC2 Integras were made this way but they are now becoming thin on the ground, is there anything else?

[dmitry]

Very interesting replies, thanks a lot! I understand that higher sitting position is an inherent design quirk of a hatch to allow for more room inside but hoped some of them would sacrifice a bit of space for better driving position and seems all is not lost. R53 Mini is of particular interest as I've been contemplating it as the next car. Will have a closer look at it then. A good shout about EK9, forgot about them. Even cooking spec Civics of that generation were low and had great driving position, alas the quick ones are now becoming ridiculously expensive. And as much as I'd love a DC2 I can't see it happening right now.
As a side note, it's not that I'm tall, I'm not, it's just a (silly) personal taste, maybe stemming from karting days.