Topic: Hatchbacks are in?

[Ice]

We've had many a discussion on here about hatchbacks and wagons and the acceptance of said class of vehicle in the North American market. Although many of us feel that Canada is a little different than the US... it does seem that a shift is taking place.

I saw this article and I found it really interesting: http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/28/hatchbacks-who-says-americans-dont-buy-em/

Approximately 60% of Fiestas that have been sold so far are hatchback rather than sedan and that is only one example amongst many.  Personally I would have bought a hatchback rather than sedan but the Corolla ended up being the car of choice and they don't offer it in hatchback/wagon form - they offer the Matrix but that's a totally different car interior wise (and I hated it).

Maybe by the time I start a family and need a  family vehicle there will be some true midsize hatchback/wagon vehicles on the market. I have small hopes that Ford may do that when the Mondeo and Fusion merge.

[tpl]

Funny this hatchback thing  ( and wagon thing)   After all, what is the archetype of modern SUVs, the Ford Explorer but either a hatchback or a wagon. It  just happens to be a bit higher than some.

[sailor723]

Funny this hatchback thing  ( and wagon thing)   After all, what is the archetype of modern SUVs, the Ford Explorer but either a hatchback or a wagon. It  just happens to be a bit higher than some.

I think you have a point. Americans quit buying wagons when they invented the SUV. When I was a kid growing up in the 60's and 70's we always had a wagon. (Mercury Colony Park,Grand Turino,Chev Caprice Classic etc,etc) After the mid 90's my dad switched to an Explorer followed by 2 Envoys and then a Murano.

[tpl]

Cars like the Murano, that is unit bodies not body on chassis ARE hatchbacks. Scale them down and they are no different from a Golf or a Yaris hatch.

[sailor723]

I don't disagree,however, I think less trucklike SUV's replaced the "Brady Bunch" wagon of the 70's and 80's and then morphed into CUV's with unitbody construction and a more "car-like" feel.

[safristi]

...

 Devolution in Action...............CUVMagnon Man..............

[dr_spock]

It's handy to have a hatch in the back.

[safristi]

 3 and 0 wot can I say................

[The Mighty Duck]

Interesting that while inexpensive/entry level hatches seem to do very well, high-end hatches are still unpopular. I wonder what we can extrapolate from this?

Younger people are buying their first car, which tends to be an entry-level vehicle, and opting for hatches? This would imply that as time goes on demand for premium hatchbacks will increase.

People of all age groups are choosing more fuel efficient vehicles? These "smart shoppers" also recognize the obvious benefits of hatches vs. sedans, and are opting for the more practical car?

I'm also quite interested that the Mazda3 sedan outsells the hatch. That seems to be counter-intuitive to both of my guesses, though as the article says, the hatch is a lot more expensive than the sedan...

[initial_D]

Smaller cars looks better in hatch than its sedan counter part, that might contribute to its higher numbers.

[Snowman]

Smaller cars looks better in hatch than its sedan counter part, that might contribute to its higher numbers.

Good point and I agree

[tpl]

Smaller cars looks better in hatch than its sedan counter part, that might contribute to its higher numbers.

A properly designed hatch should have better aerodynamics than a sedan... a small advantage in economy.  To be fair this would work better for longer cars than stubby ones like the Yaris

[Mike]

I quite like my hatch, but for many there is a stigma out there.

If there is a choice for a hatch (or wagon) on any car I buy I will always opt for the hatch.  So much easier to load and way more practical.

[Nathan@1010tires]

I've owned four cars, all hatchbacks. My wife however prefers sedans, so go figure.

[Snowman]

Nothing like picking up the lawnmower after a round of golf   

[Ice]

Interesting that while inexpensive/entry level hatches seem to do very well, high-end hatches are still unpopular. I wonder what we can extrapolate from this?

Younger people are buying their first car, which tends to be an entry-level vehicle, and opting for hatches? This would imply that as time goes on demand for premium hatchbacks will increase.

People of all age groups are choosing more fuel efficient vehicles? These "smart shoppers" also recognize the obvious benefits of hatches vs. sedans, and are opting for the more practical car?

I'm also quite interested that the Mazda3 sedan outsells the hatch. That seems to be counter-intuitive to both of my guesses, though as the article says, the hatch is a lot more expensive than the sedan...

With the Mazda3 it's more complicated because until the last couple of model years...  There was the GX, GS and GT in the sedan form with only the GT having the larger engine (2.3L and then later 2.5L). For the hatch there was only the GS and GT and both had the larger engine. Now they have added the GX trim for the Mazda3 Sport and with the smaller engine. I wonder how many more of those will be sold in that configuration than before.

My generation loves hatchbacks so far. Maybe we'll see some hatchbacks at the higher levels at some point... i.e. wagons

[Mike]

Interesting that while inexpensive/entry level hatches seem to do very well, high-end hatches are still unpopular. I wonder what we can extrapolate from this?

Younger people are buying their first car, which tends to be an entry-level vehicle, and opting for hatches? This would imply that as time goes on demand for premium hatchbacks will increase.

People of all age groups are choosing more fuel efficient vehicles? These "smart shoppers" also recognize the obvious benefits of hatches vs. sedans, and are opting for the more practical car?

I'm also quite interested that the Mazda3 sedan outsells the hatch. That seems to be counter-intuitive to both of my guesses, though as the article says, the hatch is a lot more expensive than the sedan...

With the Mazda3 it's more complicated because until the last couple of model years...  There was the GX, GS and GT in the sedan form with only the GT having the larger engine (2.3L and then later 2.5L). For the hatch there was only the GS and GT and both had the larger engine. Now they have added the GX trim for the Mazda3 Sport and with the smaller engine. I wonder how many more of those will be sold in that configuration than before.

My generation loves hatchbacks so far. Maybe we'll see some hatchbacks at the higher levels at some point... i.e. wagons

Yeah, I never understood why hatchbacks cost more money then thier sedan counterparts.  Maybe that rear wiper and hatch mechanics cost a lot?  Subaru still requires a premium for thier hatches over thier sedans.

[Schmengie]

I drive a hatchback because it's so versatile and useful. It does what I want it to do and I don't drive it to impress anyone. Personally, I've never given a rat's ass what people think of the car I drive, and for them to feel it's somehow beneath them to be seen in a hatch or minivan is pretty indicative of how shallow our society's become. Big honking trucks and SUVs were 'in' not long ago, still are for a lot of people - maybe we should stigmatize them instead.     THAT might actually get us somewhere.

[safristi]

"Stigmatize" schmengie....yer wife wears a white 50's helmet and you haven't removed it yet..............

[DoubleClutch]

With small hatchbacks like the Mazda3s they're only more versatile if you don't have kids. Try putting one of those big ass strollers in the hatch without folding down the seats ... good luck. I would take a Mazda 3 sedan over a hatch every time. Wagon's on the other hand is a different story.