What Is a Hatchback?

Hatchbacks are becoming increasingly popular — they combine many positive characteristics of an SUV while making it easier to maneuver in tight spots or on busy roads. Although there are several types of hatchbacks, they have some common identifiers that help you set them apart from sedans or SUVs. If you’d like to know more or explore our range of Mazda hatchbacks and SUVs, please contact us at Kiefer Mazda in Eugene, Oregon.

Definition and Basic Characteristics

A hatchback has a large door at the rear that incorporates the back window to give you easy access to the cargo area. Due to this configuration, hatchbacks generally have larger cargo areas than models with trunks. Inside, some hatchbacks will have a removable shelf that you can use to store items or take out to maximize space. Many hatchbacks will have a second row of seats that folds flat and allows you to transport bulky items, making it a flexible vehicle for carrying passengers and cargo alike.

Sedan vs. Hatchback: Key Differences

Understanding what hatchbacks have to offer may be easier if you compare their features to other body styles. For example, a sedan typically refers to a compact or midsize car with a trunk at the rear. Since the liftgate on a sedan only gives you access to a trunk, you usually will have less storage space than you would with a hatchback.

However, the sedan’s body may be more compact, making it a good choice if you often park in tight parking spots. Additionally, sedans mostly don’t have the option of folding down the second row of seats to create more cargo space.

Another difference between hatchback and sedan cars is the number of doors. A sedan will either have two or four doors, depending on the body style and size. Hatchbacks are often said to have three doors or five doors since the rear opening is counted as a door in addition to those used by the passengers to enter the vehicle.

There are some similar vehicle design elements between a hatchback and a sedan. They’re built with less ground clearance than trucks and crossovers, which tends to improve their maneuverability and handling. They may also be powered by similar-sized naturally aspirated or small turbocharged engines, whereas larger vehicles are equipped with V-6 or V-8 engines to accommodate their size.

Hatchbacks, SUVs, and Crossovers: Distinctions and Overlaps

Now that we’ve covered the hatchback definition and the difference between sedan cars and hatchback vehicles, we can discuss what distinguishes a hatchback design from an SUV. For starters, you can usually spot an SUV thanks to its bulkier body style. The cabin normally has a larger feel to it than the cabin of a hatchback, which is more compact and somewhere between a sedan and an SUV.

As we mentioned earlier, SUVs have a higher ground clearance than hatchbacks. This makes them better equipped to deal with rough terrain and off-roading, but some people find hatchbacks more enjoyable to drive on the road than SUVs.

The distinction between a hatchback and an SUV has become a bit more difficult to maintain with the recent popularity of crossovers in the U.S. Mazda has vehicles in its lineup that could be considered crossovers, such as the subcompact CX-30 or the compact CX-5.

Crossovers are small SUVs with a more compact body style and other features to improve fuel efficiency and maneuverability on city roads. You should still be able to tell the difference between them and hatchbacks due to the amount of ground clearance, and hatchbacks usually have a lower overall profile.

Hatchback Variants

There are several hatchback variants, some of which stand out due to the number of hatchback doors. A three-door hatchback is a small vehicle that has two front doors to enter the cabin and a rear door to access the cargo area. Rear-row passengers access their seats by folding down the front seats and climbing into the back. Five-door hatchbacks are larger. They have four passenger doors to access the front and rear seats, plus a fifth door at the rear for the cargo area.

Luxury hatchbacks or hatchbacks with a high-powered engine are called hot hatches. Distinctions are also made between small hatchbacks, such as the Honda Civic, and larger family hatchbacks, such as the Toyota Corolla.

Advantages

The main benefit of hatchback cars is that they’re cheaper to operate than SUVs. They’re more fuel efficient, meaning you’ll pay less at the pump over time than you would to fill up an SUV. They also have lower starting prices due to their more compact size. As a result, the first hatchback a driver buys is often also the first vehicle they own.

Another benefit of hatchbacks is their versatility. Unlike sedans, which are ideal for daily commuting but limited in cargo space, hatchbacks offer a balance of affordability and extra capacity, making it easy to carry additional cargo or passengers comfortably.

Find Your Ideal Hatchback at Kiefer Mazda in Eugene

Are you looking for a new or preowned hatchback? Here at Kiefer Mazda, we sell the popular Mazda3 hatchback, which combines the benefits of a compact car with the added storage space hatchbacks are known for. You can arrange a test-drive or find out more about your auto financing options by contacting our professional team today. We look forward to welcoming you to our Mazda dealership and helping you have a hassle-free buying experience.

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