What is a hatchback?

The automotive world is full of jargon, but the most common word you'll see is "hatchback". This is the type of car that makes up a large part of the best selling models in Britain. So what does "hatchback" mean? Simply put, a hatchback is a car with a specific type of trunk lid. But, apparently, not everything is so simple ...

What does hatchback mean?

The term originated decades ago, but today it is commonly used to refer to small cars with a trunk lid that includes a rear window and is hinged at the top. Think Ford Focus or Volkswagen Golf and you probably imagine what most people imagine when they hear the word.

The sedan has a trunk lid that folds down under the rear window, while the hatchback essentially has an additional full-height door at the rear. That's why you'll often see cars described as three or five doors, even though you'll only ever get in and out through two or four side doors.

Isn't an SUV a hatchback?

If you're looking for technical information, there are many types of cars with a hatchback trunk lid that you would hardly call one. All station wagons, for example, have a hatchback trunk, but you and I would call it a station wagon. And yes, the same is true for an SUV. So let's just say that while the word "hatchback" is used to describe a body type, it's also used to describe a car category. 

In truth, there are no hard and fast rules, and there is definitely a gray area where the coupe is concerned. As a rule, these are sports cars with two side doors and a sloping rear. Some have a hatchback trunk lid, others have a sedan-style trunk. An example is the Volkswagen Scirocco, which looks like a hatchback but is usually referred to as a coupe.

Why are hatchbacks so popular?

A hatchback trunk lid greatly enhances practicality by giving you a much larger trunk opening. The shape of many hatchbacks also gives you more vertical space in the trunk if you remove the shelf (a removable trunk lid that usually pops up when you open the trunk). Fold down the rear seats and you've essentially created a van, but with better visibility and a much smaller footprint.

A hatchback is a type of car that many associate with a smaller and more affordable segment of the market, but these days hatchbacks come in all sizes and prices.

What cars are hatchbacks?

At the smallest end of the market are city car hatchbacks such as the Smart ForTwo, Volkswagen Up and Skoda Citigo. Then you have big superminis like the Ford Fiesta, Renault Clio or Vauxhall Corsa.

Go up another size and you'll find cars like the Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf and Vauxhall Astra. But look at the Skoda Octavia. At first glance, it looks like a sedan, but without the compact rear end of a traditional hatchback. But the trunk is attached to the roof, making it the definitive five-door hatchback. The same can be said for the Vauxhall Insignia, the Ford Mondeo and the huge Skoda Superb.

Jump into the premium world and you'll find more hatchbacks. The more prestigious brands realized that their customers also wanted small cars as well as larger models, so Mercedes-Benz introduced the A-Class, BMW introduced the 1 Series and Audi released the A1 and A3.

Then the same manufacturers realized that hatchbacks could work with larger cars as well. These are the Audi A5 Sportback and the BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo. The flagship Volkswagen Arteon is also a hatchback.

What about hot hatches?

There has long been a connection between hatchbacks and low-cost performance cars. Most manufacturers offer powerful sporty versions of their everyday hatchbacks, including the Golf GTI, Mercedes-AMG A35 and Ford Focus ST.

What are the most expensive hatchbacks?

If you're looking for a luxury hatchback, look no further than the huge Audi A7 Sportback, Porsche Panamera or Tesla Model S, or even the Ferrari GTC4Lusso. Just because you drive a hatchback doesn't automatically mean you're an entry-level car.

Are there any disadvantages to a hatchback?

Since the trunk area of ​​a hatchback is not closed off like a sedan, hatchbacks sometimes have more road noise coming into the passenger compartment from behind, and thieves can gain access to the trunk more easily (by breaking the rear window). 

All in all, hatchback design meets so many requirements, and you'd be hard-pressed to find a manufacturer that doesn't offer many hatchbacks in its lineup.

You will find a huge selection of hatchbacks for sale on Cazoo. Use our search tool to narrow down the one that's right for you, then buy online for home delivery or pick up from one of our customer service centers.

We are constantly updating and expanding our range. If you can't find a vehicle within your budget today, check back soon to see what's available, or set up a stock alert to be the first to know when we have vehicles available to suit your needs.