Why have so many car companies stopped making hatchbacks, as opposed to, say, 20 years ago? They’re so practical and versatile, yet demand has obviously dropped. Have SUVs crowded them out of the market, or is there another explanation?
At least for Honda’s, I think it’s a matter of economics, versus potential profit.
Let me do some research, and I’ll get back to you on this one…
I don’t think a hatchback is practical with modern Unibody construction techniques. You’d have to build it on an old-style frame.
Not true, you can build a hatchback on unibody frame. They did for years, my old Honda Accord Hatchback was, as were many other hatchbacks.
The real problem is that most people don’t want them. IMO, the hatchback got a reputation as an economy car and people aren’t really looking for that now. When people are looking for the ability to haul stuff, they tend to go for minivans or SUVs, not hatchbacks or station wagons. It’s more economical to build just sedans and coupes.
I think they’ll be a return as there is a backlash to SUVs. The station wagons are making a small comeback now, maybe that’ll be all there is, and the hatchbacks never get resurrected.
Well, as far as staion wagons making a comeback I’m not so sure. My wife really wanted a station wagon last time she needed a new car. This was about 4 months ago. The only companies we could find selling them at a reasonable price was Saturn and Subaru. I’m 6’4" and I tried but couldn’t fit behind the wheel of the Subaru and there was no way we were going to look at Saturns since the reason we needed a new car was because our Saturn SC2 was burning nearly 3 qts of oil every 3k miles and this is why we had decided to get a new car.
Honda and Toyota have stopped making station wagons altogether. There are quite a few high end station wagons being made by companies like Volvo and BMW, but those are way more than we were willing to spend on a car. Even the VW station wagon was very expensive.
As far as hatchbacks go doesn’t Honda still make the Civic hatchback? I’m pretty sure my wife test drove one when we were doing our search. We ended up getting a Corolla as the number one quality we were looking for was that the car last a long time.
Last year, I was at a Toyota dealership and I asked about the Corolla hatchback/wagon. I always liked the little AWD Corolla wagons (late '80s, early '90s?) that IMHO looked like toasters on wheels. I was told that they don’t make the little Corolla wagons anymore–that “the customer” for that car was now buying the RAV4!
So, yeah, I think that the people who would have once bought the hatchbacks are now buying/being forced into buying the “cute utes.” AFAIK there are still some hatchbacks being offered, but only in the most inexpensive models.
The success of the Subaru Outback has definitely spawned a station-wagon revolution, but retsin is correct in saying that most of them are quite expensive. (If you like the Subaru, you can get a regular Legacy wagon for a lot less than an Outback, btw.)
Dropped for the US market with the 2001 redesign.
It does seem a bit strange that hatchbacks reamin highly poular in Europe, but (five-door models particularly) have nearly disappeared in the USA.
Have you considered a VW Golf?
It’s just demand. The few companies that are still manufacturing hatchbacks are making the least amount of money off of them, in comparison to their other models. So, they’re losing money by continuing to manufacture them.
As far as wagons go, Ford still makes their Taurus in a Wagon, which runs about $20,000 ($4000 less than the Outback). Something to consider, if your wife is still interested.
You’ve hit on one of my pet peeves.
I think the hatchback is one of the most eminently practical body styles ever concieved. But these days, you can get it only on lower end cars (read “tin cans”) and Saab’s. Performance cars which technically have hatchbacks are excluded - I’m talking about sedan type hatchbacks.
I’m currently a Saab hatchback owner, and have been thinking for months now about a new car. Trouble is, I’m just not wild about a lot of what’s out there, unless I’m going to get two vehicles. And I think Saab has screwed up their cars - I don’t like the “exponential” models.
One really silly aspect of this is that the modern sedan is damn near a hatchback in outline anyway. They’ve gone to short little trunks which slope up to the rear window. Why don’t they just make that a hatch instead, and make the rear cargo area more versatile?
Well, if the theory is that the hatchback is being edged out by the sports utility vehicle and the minivan in the US, I don’t find it so strange that it remains popular in Europe. In Europe roads are narrower and people are more concerned about fuel efficiency than americans are.
Very few cars made in the last 20 years have an “old-style frame”. And the ironic thing is a hatchback is a car idealy suited for use on a unit-body constructed platform.
Wagons on the market today:
Saturn SW
Saturn LW
Saab 95 Wagon
Subaru Legacy/Outback
Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport
Ford Focus
Ford Taurus
Mercury Sable
Audi A4
Audi A6
Volkswagen Passat
Volvo V40
Volvo V70/X-C
I think Hyundai makes one or two, as does Suzuki (Esteme?) and Kia might.
The Focus comes in a 3 door hatchback, and the Saab 93 comes in a 5-door hatchback.
What did I miss?
The reason we in the UK are concerned about fuel efficiency is simply that petrol is horrendously expensive, like close to $6.50 a gallon.
I didn’t say there were none. I was just lamenting the narrowing of choices. BMW and Audi both used to make hatchback 4 seater models and don’t anymore. BMW actually makes a 3-series in hatchback form (323ti?) for European distribution, but it isn’t sold in the US. I actually contemplated taking European delivery of one, since the non-hatchback variants ARE sold here, so it should be able to get serviced. As I said, I don’t like the new Saab’s (for reasons other than the body style), and they are about the only upscale hatchbacks left. The Focus seems to be a nice little car for the price, I will agree.
Wagons, I will agree - there’s a fair choice out there. And more on the way, as the wagon seems to be enjoying a resurgence of popularity. It’s the vehicle most people buying SUV’s actually need.