Stupid Question - Hatchback vs. Saloon

fjon

This is question I have always wondered about but never been arsed to ask.
Why are some cars, for example Mondeos, offered in both 4-door Saloon and 5-door hatchback versions? Would a saloon not be enough? What would be the advantage of the hatchback version - is it only about boot space?

bazz26

Its a matter of choice and demand.

Some people find the hatch back more practicle than the saloon. Others prefer the style. My preference is the saloon, I've always bought saloons, I prefer the boot to the hatch.

Irish drivers tend to like saloons more than hatch backs. 7 out of 10 Mondeos, etc would be saloons. Where as in the UK 9 out of 10 Mondeos are hatch backs.

Johnny Storm

The opening into the boot on a 4 door car can often be very small. EG one time I carried a large heavy TV out to my 4 dr Primera. It would not fit into the boot. There was plentty of room for it in the boot but it could not fit through the boot opening.

On a 5 door car. this is not a problem. Also you can fold down the back seats and get really large things in there. So the 5b door car is much more versatile for carrying large objects.

E@gle.

5 door hatch backs are ugly though

fletch

E@gle. wrote:

5 door hatch backs are ugly though

Mondeo MKII looked way better as a hatch than as a saloon IMHO

PauloMN

5 door hatch backs are ugly though

Hmmmm..... Focus saloon..... need I say more?

Really depends on the car I suppose, and on personal preference, but for the like of say the Astra and Vectra - I much prefer the hatchbacks in both, the saloons are a bit stodgy looking.

Mazda 6 is not a bad looking saloon IMO - both the hatch and saloon would be equally appealing in the style stakes to me, but I'd go hatch for the practicality.

Boot access is a big negative against saloons. While I like the A4 and S40 saloons, I'd wonder if I'd regret it when I visit the homestores of a Sunday afternoon...

E@gle.

Coupes look way better than the both of them

PauloMN

Coupes look way better than the both of them

Of course they do, but that's outside of the hatchback vs. saloon debate. Style is a much more important factor than space, practicality for those choosing coupés over hatchbacks/saloons.

stratos

You get a rear wiper with a hatchback !

Blitzkrieger

Yeah - rear wiper can be good. The amount of saloons you see with the back window still covered in frost/dew in the mornings. An hour later they're trying to park and they can't see **** out the back window.

I think it's really down to style vs practicality. The hatch is a lot more practical but a lot of cars are designed as saloons. Is there a price difference too? I've never bothered to compare.