Opinion: Americans and hatchbacks, why don't they fit?

Does America love hatchbacks as much as the rest of the world, or do they just not fit in our larger than life SUV lifestyle?

In reading some articles around the bend I’ve come across the mixed view that although they are praised and loved and heavily favored in Europe (for example), hatches or hatchbacks aren’t really all that liked en mass. Not discounting the VW Golf or the Honda Civic Hatchback (or a few others), car manufacturers are leery of bringing some of their most popular models over to the USA.

For one we don’t get the excellent Fiat Grande Punto or the VXR from Vauxhall. But sporty and tuned models aside, is it they we just can’t fit our daily lives into them or just see them as a necessary driver from the store and back or for just a fun drive? When Honda changed the Civic Si to the hatch style of the last generation, we (Americans) threw a fit. They were popular and are still a bunch on the roads today, but no where near the number of two generations ago. And Subaru is thinking about taking the STI back to a three or five door hatch from the current sedan/saloon body, which might leave a bad taste for some of those who are anti-hatchback.

Now I may be totally off and please tell me differently, but I think we are missing out on some really great cars and seriously great driving. I for one love hatchbacks and see them as a fun car that may only fit two adults comfortably, but for the weight to power on some models you just can’t beat them.

Thoughts?

courtstone - 7/20/2006 10:29:40 AM

+1 Boost

Well, with all the choices of vehicles to buy. I just dont think it practical/cool to purchase a hatchback. I would rather be seen in something that looked more attractive. There are so many other things that would suit most buyers better than a hatchback.

johannas - 7/20/2006 10:55:12 AM

+1 Boost

Maybe it's that we're getting to fat to expect our friends and family to squeeze into the back seat of a hatchback. Especially in the heat of the summer. Gross!

Mark - 7/20/2006 11:06:26 AM

+1 Boost

courtstone, would you buy a european hatchback and not nessessarily just those confined to the USA? There are some really nice designs that we could only dream of.

courtstone - 7/20/2006 11:42:21 AM

+1 Boost

Well Mark that Honda Civic hatch looked pretty good, but as you said...its not even offered here in the States.

SixxFive - 7/20/2006 11:59:18 AM

+1 Boost

Americans not liking hatchbacks has a lot to do with the culture combined with the price of gas. If gas were $5.00 a gallon here and you were taxed on the size engine in your car, etc. etc. I think the view would be more favorable. Aside from sports cars, small cars here are viewed as "less than"....

PlanoA4 - 7/20/2006 12:15:39 PM

+1 Boost

To many Americans Small equals cheap.

Mark - 7/20/2006 12:27:48 PM

+1 Boost

I really had not thought about the tax SixxFive. That really makes more sense. I wouldn't want to think what my truck would run.

kart1 - 7/21/2006 2:48:15 AM

+1 Boost

People here like their cars big. Look at the 50's and 60's. I heard that the formula for success back then was to make the car big and the engine even bigger. That is the attitude for most, and it still lingers. Also Plano is right many people do think of hatchbacks as being the cheap sibling to the sedan, maybe this started in the gas crisis of the 70's. All the cheap frugle cars were pretty much small and hatchback (Civic, Pinto, etc.) Gas is $3 now, but I don't think that people will buy hatchbacks until the gas reaches about $5.

ElSparquito - 7/21/2006 12:43:07 PM

+1 Boost

European roads (& people) are smaller. Parking space is premium & so is gas.

Recently, I've heard a lot of comments about Smart cars and how they will succeed in metro areas. Maybe some are finally grasping the novel idea of small cars - at least in big cities. Don't mind hatches or small cars, not a big fan of Smart, though.