Consumers Discovering Hot Hatches As Segment Takes Off With A Vengeance

For all the talk about falling passenger-car sales, there is one market segment that is getting a shot in arm: hatchbacks.

At the Chicago Auto Show this week, Hyundai Motor America debuted the redesigned 2018 Elantra GT, a European-inspired hatchback that gets an added kick in the Sport trim also unveiled at the show. The 2017 Honda Civic Hatchback hit showrooms last fall, amping up the fun factor of the Honda staple. General Motors Co. rolled out the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze Hatch at last year’s Detroit auto show.

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MrEE - 2/13/2017 6:00:58 PM

+2 Boost

I suspect hatchbacks will do well by looking enough like a compact crossover, and so will not have the entry level feeling of years past. Packaging allows bigger inside and smaller outside and car fuel efficiency. Civic 5-door is certainly going to do well. Hot hatch market TBD.

MDarringer - 2/13/2017 6:54:01 PM

0 Boost

Manufacturers will "crossoverize" their hatchbacks in the A, B, and C segments and sell them as crossovers. People will be buying hatchbacks but they will delude themselves into believing they are driving a crossover.

The Fiesta "crossoverization" case in point.

The GTI and Cooper S (and cars of that ilk) will remain niche vehicles.

qwertyfla - 2/13/2017 7:46:35 PM

0 Boost

Hatches rock. After having numerous high end cars Jags, Bimmers M3, M5 etc I rightsized down to a Mazda3 Hatch and couldn't be happier. SUV's are too big, cars to small and CUV's just seem dumb to me.

A hatch fits me/my lifestyle like a glove. I have tonnes of cargo space for work, is easy to maneuver in city congestion or park. I also appreciate superb reliability, cheap maintenance, cheap insurance, good gas mileage, being low key and parking my car anywhere not fearing door dings or other damage.

I'm still a gear head and would love me a E30 M3, 635CSI or a 944 turboS (all with a Chevy small block conversion) for a weekend play toy as I don't feel the love for modern metal these days. Until then I will continue zoom zooming in my manual hatch but have caught myself auto-flirting with the Focus RS but don't dare test drive one as I think resistance would be futile with 350HP & Recaro seats...