Amaricans dislike hatchbacks?

[GasSavers_Ryland]

why is it that hatchbacks are so unpopular? personaly I love them, but they seem so rare unless you want a station wagon, and even then the sedan counter part seems to sell better, why is this?

[skewbe]

I've always looked for hatchbacks and wagons, me gusta Estados Unidos.

[cfg83]

Ryland -

I don't know. I think they had their heyday in the 1980's, but have fallen off. I have heard that they are more expensive the manufacture, so maybe that is a factor. Maybe you have to stiffen the car's frame?!?!?!?!?

Hatchbacks Rock!

CarloSW2

[MetroMPG]

This topic comes up regularly in the Canadian auto press. Apparently Canadians like hatchbacks a lot, but don't get enough of them because of our close ties to the US market.

The reason cited most often is that US consumers came to equate hatchbacks with econoboxes, with the result that there's a lingering "practical car" = "cheap car" sentiment that people want to avoid.

So it's just a marketing issue.

[psyshack]

Americans like HB's. Just look at the SUV market.

I could have got a Mazda3 HB when I bought my Sedan. But Im sure Mazda would have charged me a arm and a leg for the string that needs to go on the front to complete its fisher price toy car look.

[MetroMPG]

For the what that needs to go on the front?

[MetroMPG]

Don't most SUV's have swing gates like old station wagons?

[Bill in Houston]

Most SUVs have a single large hatch that opens upward. It is one of the features that they took from minivans, and that minivans took from hatchbacks. If you look at what family-type-people-at-large really want as far as features, a minivan is really the ticket. BUT, they refuse to drive one, because of the aesthetics, so they buy SUVs. And the SUV market has responded by adding minivan features, like a large hatch, folding seats, cupholders, storage, dvd players, etc.

I think that Americans (US citizens) associate sedans with nice cars and good handling, and hatchbacks with cheapness and low quality. It's unfortunate.

[SL8Brick]

I think I read somewhere that VW sells Golf hatchbacks 4 to 1 over Jetta sedans in the world market, but the Jetta continues to dominate sales in the N. American market.

[Mentalic]

Originally Posted by Bill in Houston

I think that Americans (US citizens) associate sedans with nice cars and good handling, and hatchbacks with cheapness and low quality. It's unfortunate.

This abomination likely did not help the hatchback reputation. At the time they were just about the ugliest thing on the road. Maybe just ahead of its time.



I've always liked the hatchbacks, yet my wife disliked them. Her thinking was that all your shopping stuff was in plain site and someone would want to break in.. So much for that, mini vans and Suv's don't have trunks to hide your shopping bags ether.