Hatchback cars are the bread and butter of the new and used car market. Many of the most popular cars for sale are hatchbacks, while pretty much all of the most affordable used cars for sale you can buy today have a hatchback bodystyle. The term ‘hatchback’ describes a car with a bootlid which is hinged at the rear edge of the roof and incorporates the rear window, rather than a saloon that has a smaller, opening bootlid and elongated rear body. Hatchbacks are often more practical than saloons thanks to their larger boot openings.
Many people buy a hatchback car simply because they need an affordable compact car. In the UK and Europe saloon cars are usually larger and more expensive, but there are other reasons to buy a hatchback. They offer the large boot opening of an estate car but without the longer body length, making them easier to park and see out of, and folding the seats brings a big load bay. Hatchback cars come in all shapes and sizes, from small city cars to large family cars. There are even executive cars that come in ‘four-door coupe’ bodystyles but offer hatchback bootlids for extra practicality.
Our favourite city cars and small cars are all hatchbacks, and these include the Hyundai i10, Skoda Citigo, Volkswagen Polo and Peugeot 208. Family hatchbacks such as the SEAT Leon and Ford Focus are also great all-rounders, while larger models such as the Vauxhall Insignia and Ford Mondeo offer impressive practicality. If you want a posher badge and style, then the Mercedes A-Class and BMW 1 Series both offer an upmarket feel but with all the hatchback upsides, while the Audi A5 Sportback is like an A4 but more practical.
There are many different types and sizes of hatchback, and finding the right one for sale can be confusing. If you’re looking at a small car it’s worth making sure it’s still roomy enough for your family or luggage carrying needs, while at the other end of the scale large family hatchbacks like the Ford Mondeo are very roomy but also large, so they can be difficult to park and drive around town. Hot hatchbacks can be really fun, but they can also be abused by hard-driving owners, so make sure it’s been looked after and kept in good condition before buying.
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