Why are hatches so polarizing? : culture|garage

Why are hatches so polarizing?

March 19, 2008

Posted by Chris

Tags: NYIAS, concepts, new models, opinion

The new STI. The Volvo C30. The Audi A3. The Mazda Speed 3, hell, even the Ford Verve concept. And now the 9-x concept.

It’s such an absolute love/hate split. I love them for their functionality. And quite honestly, driving a hatch makes me feel all Euro. I feel smarter than the masses. I get performance and functionality. And not another appliance or point to point shuttle.

More rambling… and do hatches do it for you?
To me hatches are almost a lifestyle accessory. They are the Macs of the automotive world. The trendy glasses that don’t make you look like a douche. The ankle boots to the penny loafers. The argyle socks to the standard blues.

But they are almost too trendy for their own damn good. Which means we don’t get the good stuff (i.e. BMW 1 series hatch). Over lunch, Bryan Nesbitt, V.P. GM Global Design, told a crowd that the 9-x was an experiment. They were trying to figure if there was a healthy enough market to continue to feed the higher-end stylish hatch market.

Problem is, once they figure out if the market is healthy enough to sustain it… it will be at least another 3.5 years before it ever hits the market. And by then cars will be flying.

That being said, if they can keep the design and production close to the actual concept, while still keeping the car in the 24-31k range (and maybe even throw in some AWD) they could have a sure hit where the Audi A3 has dropped the ball.

So are you a hatch guy/gal? What is it about it that gets to you or on the flip side, what is it that keeps you away?

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5 Responses to “Why are hatches so polarizing?”

kansei Says:
March 19th, 2008 at 11:27 pm

hatches ABSOULTELY do it for me. I’ll probably drive my Protege5 into the ground (shouldn’t take long, 97k miles turbocharged for the last 25k of that). Thing is I do hate the styling of some hatches, namely the Mazda3 (even in Mazdaspeed guise I can’t tolerate it).

I love most other hatches, but my fav has gotta be the Ford Focus ST (and the RS if it comes out) in europe. Not the newest one.. with the restyled headlights that are weird. The one from like.. I wanna say 2007 model year. Just absolutely perfect as a 3-door in orange.
mat Says:
March 20th, 2008 at 12:08 am

I’ve never owned anything BUT a hatch. Started with an ‘82 Accord hatchback, then into an ‘87 SAAB 900 SPG, and now in an ‘03 Protege5. Still have the SAAB, but am going to sell it soon.

I honestly can’t see myself in anything but a hatch for all future cars. Well, a Legacy 2.5 GT wagon is probably my next car, but it’s all in the family.

There are sedans I like (Evo, previous gen WRX/STi, E36 M3), but it’s just that there are so many out there. I like having a car that’s a little bit different, a little quirky. I honestly can’t figure out why Americans feel sedans are the sh*t… though I once read something that said it goes back to the time when cars were still a rarity. Four doors with a trunk were the cars of the rich, so everyone else saw them as the aspirational car. That’s led to where we are today. Not sure how much I agree with it (or understand it), don’t know enough about the early automotive industry, but it sounds plausible.

So yeah, I like my hatches.
Ryan Says:
March 20th, 2008 at 11:26 am

To me it’s simple. I hate trunks. I hate having my stuff in a locked box that gets no ventilation which I can’t access unless I get out of my car. So that narrows it down to a wagon or hatch, assuming it’s going to be a car.
Raza Says:
March 24th, 2008 at 12:01 am

I actually like the security of having my cargo locked away in the boot of a car.

That said, I love hatchbacks. Sometimes carmakers have a hard time pulling off the two box design, but then you get a car like the MkV GTI. Fantastic!

I’m currently thinking about buying a conventional hatch (two box) in the EP Honda Civic Si, and a slantback hatch in the Saab 9-3 Viggen.
BT Says:
March 26th, 2008 at 10:55 am

I can’t imagine not having a hatch. I don’t know exactly what the downside of a hatchback would be, particularly with a well designed hatch. You still get car style and aerodynamics, but you also get the versatility to put a lawnmower, dishwasher, or futon in the back when you need it. You don’t have to go rent a truck, or keep one in your driveway. I admit, I’m a Saab nut, particularly for the 9000’s, so I am rather biased.

‘94 Saab 9000 Aero
‘92 Saab 9000 Turbo
‘86 Saab 9000 Turbo (RIP)
‘97 Saab 900 SE Turbo