What is Hatchback
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What is a Hatchback?
A hatchback is a car with a sloping rear (trunk). Can be with 3 or 5 doors. In most cases, hatchbacks are small to medium-sized vehicles, and their compactness makes them extremely suitable for urban environments and short distances. This is not very convenient when you need to carry bulky luggage, respectively, on a trip and long trips.
Hatchbacks are often mistaken for small cars compared to regular sedans, while the main difference between a sedan and a hatchback is the "hatchback" or liftgate. The reason it's called a door is because you can get into the car from here, unlike a sedan where the trunk is separated from the passengers.
A sedan is defined as a car with 2 rows of seats, viz. front and rear with three compartments, one for the engine, the second for passengers and the third for storing luggage and other things. All three pillars in the sedan cover only the interior.
On the other hand, the hatchback was originally designed with seating flexibility in mind regarding storage space. It doesn't have to be smaller than a sedan and can seat up to 5 passengers, but it may also have the option to increase storage space by sacrificing a seat. A good example of this is the Volvo V70, which is actually a hatchback, but more than a sedan like the VW vento. The hatchback is called that not because of its smaller size, but because of the door in the back.
Body history
Today, hatchbacks are popular for their sporty look, superior aerodynamics, compact size and versatility. This type of body appeared in the distant 40s of the last century.
The first representatives of hatchbacks were models of the French company Citroen. A little later, the manufacturer Kaiser Motors (an American automaker that existed from 1945 to 1953) thought about the introduction of this type of body. The company released two hatchback models: the Frazer Vagabond and the Kaiser Traveler.
The popularity of hatchbacks among European motorists was due to the Renault 16. But in Japan this type of body was already in demand. On the territory of the Soviet Union, hatchbacks that were gaining popularity were also developed.
Differences between sedan and hatchback
Hatchbacks have a sunroof door (5th door) in the rear, while sedans don't.
Sedans have 3 fixed compartments - for engine, passengers and luggage, while hatchbacks have the ability to fold the seats to increase the luggage compartment.
there is no other definite difference between them. Just so you know, anything that can hold more than 5 people is commonly referred to as a van. Some crossovers or SUVs also have more than 5 seats. And those cars that are taller and have much more storage space with a rear hatch door, but these are not hatchbacks, but pickups.
If there were more "city" cars driving in cities rather than SUVs, vans and large SUVs, most drivers would probably have a more relaxed impression. If smaller and weaker cars didn't end up in the left lane of the highway, but also on secondary roads, off-road driving wouldn't be a song, but the nervousness might decrease. These are, of course, utopian and unrealistic ideas, but yes - the type of car matters for the place of driving. And if there are two people driving in the family, it may be a good idea to have one car suitable for driving around the city, and the other for traveling and excursions. When children or hobbies interfere with the account, the equation gets even more complicated.
Body advantages and disadvantages
Hatchbacks are in demand among lovers of small, but roomy and nimble city cars. Due to its capacity, such a car is perfect for a family motorist.
Other advantages of hatchbacks include:
- Decent maneuverability due to excellent aerodynamics and small dimensions (shortened rear overhang);
- Large rear window provides good visibility;
- In comparison with the sedan, the increased carrying capacity;
- Thanks to the large tailgate, things are easier to load than in the sedan.
But with its versatility, the hatchback has the following disadvantages:
- Due to the increased space in the cabin, it is worse to warm up the car in winter, and in the summer you have to turn on the air conditioner a little harder to ensure a microclimate throughout the cabin;
- If a smelling load or things that are stirring are transferred in the trunk, then due to the absence of a blank partition, this makes the trip less comfortable, especially for back row passengers;
- The trunk in the hatchback, when the passenger compartment is fully loaded with passengers, is practically the same in volume as in the sedan (a little more due to the shelf that can be removed);
- In some models, the trunk is increased due to the space for the rear row passengers. Because of this, there are often models in which small passengers can sit in the back.
Photo: what a hatchback car looks like
So, the key difference between the hatchback and the sedan is the presence of a full-fledged door in the back, a shortened rear overhang, like a station wagon, and small dimensions. The photo shows what a hatchback, station wagon, liftback, sedan and other body types looks like.
Video: the fastest hatchbacks in the world
Here's a short video about the fastest hatchbacks built from basic models:
Iconic Hatchback Models
Of course, it is impossible to create an exhaustive list of the most hatchbacks, because each motorist has his own preferences and requirements for the car. But in the entire history of car creation, the most iconic (in this case, we rely on the popularity of these models and their characteristics) hatches are:
- Kia Ceed. Korean class C car. The buyer has an impressive list of offered options and trim levels.
- Renault Sandero. A modest yet attractive and compact city car from the French automaker. Handles poor quality roads well.
- Ford Focus. It has an excellent combination of price and equipment offered. The model is distinguished by decent build quality - it copes well with bad roads, the engine is durable.
- Peugeot 308. Stylish city hatchback. The latest generation of the model not only received advanced equipment, but also received a spectacular sporty design.
- Volkswagen Golf. It is impossible not to mention the nimble and reliable family hatchback from the German automaker, popular at all times of the model's production.
- KIA Rio. Another representative of the Korean car industry, which is popular in Europe and the CIS countries. The peculiarity of the latest generation is that the car looks like a small crossover.
Questions and answers:
What's the difference between a sedan and a hatchback? The sedan has a three-volume body shape (the hood, roof and trunk are visually highlighted). The hatchback has a two-volume body (the roof smoothly goes into the trunk, like a station wagon).
What does a hatchback car look like? At the front, the hatchback looks like a sedan (a clearly defined engine compartment), and the interior is combined with the trunk (there is a partition between them - often in the form of a shelf).
What is better hatchback or station wagon? If you need the most spacious passenger car, then a station wagon is better, and if you need a car with the capabilities of a station wagon, then a hatchback is the ideal option.
What is a liftback in a car? Outwardly, such a car looks like a sedan with a roof that smoothly merges into the trunk. The liftback has a three-volume body structure, only the luggage compartment is the same as that of the hatchback.
