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?