Best Hatchback Cars to Buy: From Daewoo Lanos to Honda Civic and More

A hatchback is a passenger car that has three important features:

The interior and trunk have a common space; The trunk lid opening extends from the bumper all the way to the roof, and the lid itself has a window; The rear section of the body (where the trunk opening) usually has a large angle of inclination, which is why the lid has to be lifted up like a hatch.

Actually, the essence of this body is encrypted in its name: hatch in English – hatch, back – back, behind. The specific difference from the station wagon is that the hatback has a shorter rear end, while the station wagon has a long rear overhang, like a sedan. Hatchbacks come in three-door and five-door versions – that is, there can be either two or four side doors, and the trunk lid is officially called a door.

Hatchback is, so to speak, the starting body type. It is from this that automakers begin producing new generations of mass-produced models; it is the cheapest in the range and is usually used to make other bodies in the line – station wagon, sedan, coupe, convertible.

The first serial hatchback is considered to be the Renault 16 (1965 – 1980), this type quickly gained popularity, and in several size classes – A, B, C and C+. It is respected for its relative compactness, for its large trunk opening and for the ability, if necessary, to increase its volume by folding the rear seat.

As a rule, it is hatchbacks in the body range of automakers that have a wide selection of trim levels, engine options and transmissions. And this is a big plus for the buyer of a used car, as it allows you to choose the most successful combination in terms of resource.

Daewoo/ZAZ Lanos

The super popular “Korean” (as well as “Pole”, “American” and “Ukrainian”) is a little outdated today, but primarily stylistically. Among the special advantages is a huge selection of well-preserved examples and cheap spare parts, among the disadvantages is a limited number of cars with an automatic transmission and an uneconomical, although trouble-free engine. The chassis is not harsh and tolerates rough roads, the interior is low in the old-fashioned way and therefore not very comfortable.

In the early 2000s, several small batches of three-door cars were brought to Ukraine – in the top-end Sport version and regular ones. Three-door Lanos look stylish and are richly equipped, but the youngest of them are from 2003, so if the body has not yet been welded, its condition will be sad.

VW Golf VI/Golf VII

It would seem that Das auto, and there is nothing special to tell here. But the last few generations of the Golf remain exemplary only for the first five to seven years, and then all that remains of the ideal is impeccable ergonomics and brand. Which, among other things, adds a little hryvnia to the price tag for spare parts. So, since maintaining an old German foreign car today is not cheap, it is most advisable to look for a Golf in the 6th or 7th generation.

Their bodies will not yet be seriously affected by corrosion, and some power units retain the remainder of the resource laid down at the factory. It is better to choose simple and unpretentious engines – MPI gasoline 1.4 l and 1.6 l and diesel 1.6 l. On the “seventh” Golf, all petrol units were of the TSI type, that is, rather capricious, so they are most often brought to us with good 1.6 and 2.0 liter diesel engines. You also need to be careful with automatic transmissions, because in the vast majority these are not classic automatic transmissions, but DSG “robots,” which are very effective, but short-lived and expensive to repair (and sometimes completely unrepairable).

Renault Megane III

The French brand in Ukraine has come close to achieving national status, and Megan is the real leader of the brand. It would be appropriate to consider the third generation Megan. Although it is noticeably more expensive than its predecessor on the market, it is better than it not only because of its youth, but also because of a more durable suspension and more reliable engines – both gasoline and diesel 1.5 dCI.

The latter, by the way, stand out for their efficiency. It is recommended to look for a car purchased new from a Ukrainian official dealer: the actual mileage will usually be less than that of a “European”, and the diesel fuel system will not have a particulate filter, which will most likely already be clogged at the time of sale. Please note that the 3- and 5-door versions differ not only in the number of doors, but also in the shape of the rear body.

Honda Civic VIII

The “space” Civic is a successful car not only in terms of design. The car is reliable and durable in Japanese style, but don’t expect it to behave like a starship while on the move. The Civic handles well, but it will only be a truly hot hatchback in the loaded Type R configuration. A unique feature of the Civic VIII hatchback is the significantly increased height of the luggage space due to the low and flat floor.

The chassis is stiff on uneven asphalt, the engines are exclusively gasoline, and the range of gearboxes includes the classic hydromechanical automatic, coveted by many experts. It is better not to choose a configuration with a “robot” box; it adds trouble to the owner with repairs. Keep in mind that all three-doors came only in the Type R version with a 200-horsepower engine and acceleration to hundreds in 6.6 seconds.

Mitsubishi Colt VII

The last of the Colts available to Europeans has a minivan-like high roof and therefore a comfortable high seating position for passengers in the cabin. The car is really simple, but comfortable and durable. Its important advantage is the wide possibilities for transforming the interior: the designers used in this “worldwide” model something from their super-universal baby kei cars intended exclusively for the Japanese market.

The rear seat can not only be folded in parts, but also moved back and forth in parts (travel 150 mm). And if it really bothers you, you can take it out and leave it at home. The right front seatback also folds down to accommodate long items. The Colt power unit and chassis do not have any special “illnesses,” but an automatic transmission is not a very desirable option, since it will not be a very successful “robot” that not only jerks during shifts, but often breaks down for no reason.

In short

In fact, it is not necessary to specifically look for a hatchback, because its expanded transport capabilities in many cases replace sedans, and even more so station wagons. Therefore, if you come across the same model, but in a different body and in better condition, do not refuse to consider this option. After all, the main thing when purchasing a used car is to choose a vehicle with the largest possible remaining life.

2023-10-20 14:25:35
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