Why aren't small luxury hatchbacks sold in the US?

nakamuru · 07-31-2019, 11:03 PM

I really like the Mercedes A Class hatchback and the BMW 1 Series hatchback but they've never come to the US.

Also, although they are not luxury vehicles, Subaru stopped selling the WRX and WRX STi hatchbacks here as well.

Is the US not hatchback ready?

MmmmmM2 · 08-01-2019, 12:01 AM

Probably had sales taken away by CUV's and SAV's. I loved the STi hatchback.

Redd · 08-01-2019, 03:20 AM

Europeans prefer hatches. Americans prefer coupes and trucks.

Nicolas74 · 08-01-2019, 04:50 AM

Yes Europeans prefer it

david in germany · 08-01-2019, 07:38 AM

Love my e87! Oh, and I am an American but living in Europe.

bucketfoot · 08-01-2019, 10:12 AM

Very simple, Americans don't buy hatches (other than Hatch green chili!)

I certainly like them, but I am very much in the minority.

Darth One · 08-01-2019, 11:23 AM

I mean all these luxury crossovers are pretty much luxury hatches. We just fatter than Asians and Europeans so our cars just need to be super-sized a bit...

SteveinArizona · 08-01-2019, 11:26 AM

As others have said, hatchbacks don't sell well in the USA. Same for station wagons.

I just bought my daughter a VW Golf Alltrack. Gets great reviews from Consumer Reports (which tends to focus on utility and safety) and from Car & Driver (which tends to focus on performance). But I never see any on the road (a true Unicorn) and VW is going to stop selling it in the US as of next year.

Americans want their hatchbacks raised. Some of the small SUVs are really hatch backs with a tiny height increase. But Americans buy them because they are called SUVs or crossovers.

Red Bread · 08-01-2019, 11:39 AM

I'm doing my part. Owned a CRX, a Z3 M Coupe, two Mazda 3 hatches, and two GTI's. Greatly prefer a hatch to a sedan or coupe. All but the GTI's have had roof racks too.

See5 · 08-01-2019, 08:55 PM

Americans aren't concerned with being space conscious.

Why spend $35K on a MINI Hardtop when I could get a Accord, a RAV4, or Ranger for the same price?

Did I mention people hate them? I think many Boomers associate hatchbacks with cars like the Pinto and Colt and that hasn't gone away.

Red Bread · 08-01-2019, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by See5

Americans aren't concerned with being space conscious.

Why spend $35K on a MINI Hardtop when I could get a Accord, a RAV4, or Ranger for the same price?

Did I mention people hate them? I think many Boomers associate hatchbacks with cars like the Pinto and Colt and that hasn't gone away.

Agreed. We had some Fiats as a kid that made me question my love of hatches.

Germanauto · 08-02-2019, 12:07 AM

I love seeing little hot hatches and A1 Audis in Europe. And while not "luxury," the Renault Megane, Peugeot 308, etc. look cool.

In America everything's gotta be supersized. The only sustainable hatch here has been the Golf.

Red Bread · 08-02-2019, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Germanauto

In America everything's gotta be supersized. The only sustainable hatch here has been the Golf.

Don't worry. VW USA is killing that too. Just the GTI and R will be coming here for the Mk8.

ShocknAwe · 08-02-2019, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Bread

Don't worry. VW USA is killing that too. Just the GTI and R will be coming here for the Mk8.

Christ. It's getting pretty hard to find "compact" cars here in the US. Rented a compact the other day, measured in at ~190". Lol. I guess compared to the Tacoma and F150. Never mind "full size" trucks.

Agree that the budget/compact SUVs are all actually lifted hatchbacks or wagons though.

mkoesel · 08-02-2019, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Germanauto

The only sustainable hatch here has been the Golf.

The Mazda 3 and Subaru Impreza hatchbacks have maintained momentum for a few generations as well. Also, both Toyota and Honda have multiple successful small hatchback models (including the Prius). The Koreans seem to be have carved out their niche too, at least for the time being.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Bread

Don't worry. VW USA is killing that too. Just the GTI and R will be coming here for the Mk8.

Yep. The Golf Sportwagen and Alltrack are dead after MY2019 too.

I think VW's decision not to bring the ID.3 here is short-sighted. I understand they have big plans for MEB in the US with the ID.4x and Microbus redux, but there are demonstrable synergies between the green car market and anti-establishment form factors. I suppose that's why the bus has been tagged as "The One", but I think something less truck-y would serve a different pool of buyers.

Alfisti · 08-02-2019, 09:24 AM

No one buys them, Audi had the A3 hatch and couldn't move them so brought the Q3 in instead and whalla ... sales.

For the most part roads here are arrow straight, most cities are a grid, the trade off of handling for useability doesn't work here, the little bit of a rasied height means more tyre, more ride comfort for crappy roads and not worried about whacking things like parking bollards.

mkoesel · 08-02-2019, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alfisti

For the most part roads here are arrow straight, most cities are a grid, the trade off of handling for usability doesn't work here, the little bit of a raised height means more tyre, more ride comfort for crappy roads and not worried about whacking things like parking bollards.

I agree those things (among many others) contribute to the ongoing steady migration away from passenger cars in general. However, even looking at just passenger car sales, hatchbacks have always struggled to make an impact against the sedan form factor. Even the four seat coupe with its compromised passenger access would seem to be more popular than the hatchback. As has been mentioned by others in the past, this may be due in part to the cheap economy car role that hatchbacks - particularly American ones - had in the 70s and 80s.

SteveinArizona · 08-02-2019, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkoesel

I agree those things (among many others) contribute to the ongoing steady migration away from passenger cars in general. However, even looking at just passenger car sales, hatchbacks have always struggled to make an impact against the sedan form factor. Even the four seat coupe with its compromised passenger access would seem to be more popular than the hatchback. As has been mentioned by others in the past, this may be due in part to the cheap economy car role that hatchbacks - particularly American ones - had in the 70s and 80s.

My theory is that the old station wagons got the same respect by succeeding generations that minivans get today. Hatchbacks looked a bit like station wagons so Americans mostly turned away (don't get me wrong...I am not one of those; I just bought my daughter a station wagon...Golf Alltrack).

freakystyly · 08-02-2019, 10:01 AM

SUVs aside. Cars offered in sedan and wagon trim always carry additional cost for a wagon that many people don't see worth while for a little bit more additional vertical cargo space.

Efthreeoh · 08-02-2019, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Bread

I'm doing my part. Owned a CRX, a Z3 M Coupe, two Mazda 3 hatches, and two GTI's. Greatly prefer a hatch to a sedan or coupe. All but the GTI's have had roof racks too.

Me too:

1972 Ford Pinto Runabout, 3 each.
1982 Ford Escort
1989 Acura Integra 3-door
2008 Z4 3.0si Coupe

Love hatchbacks.

Efthreeoh · 08-02-2019, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freakystyly

SUVs aside. Cars offered in sedan and wagon trim always carry additional cost for a wagon that many people don't see worth while for a little bit more additional vertical cargo space.

Well, unless it has an LS1 and a manual transmission in it...

Efthreeoh · 08-02-2019, 10:18 AM

I think it's really that the USA has been there and done that. The 1960's had wagons out the wazoo, every suburban family had a Big-3 wagon of some sort. In the 1970's almost every small and midsized car had a hatchback variant; there were tons of hatchbacks back then.

The mid-sized SUV/CUV has just taken their place.

07-31-2019, 11:03 PM	#1
nakamuru Lieutenant 145 Rep 504 Posts Drives: mazda3, vw passat, suzuki vita Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: seattle iTrader: (0)	Why aren't small luxury hatchbacks sold in the US? I really like the Mercedes A Class hatchback and the BMW 1 Series hatchback but they've never come to the US. Also, although they are not luxury vehicles, Subaru stopped selling the WRX and WRX STi hatchbacks here as well. Is the US not hatchback ready?
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08-01-2019, 12:01 AM	#2
MmmmmM2 Colonel 2668 Rep 2,463 Posts Drives: 2021 M2C Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Claremont, CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 Mazda CX-5 [0.00] 2021 BMW M2C [0.00]	Probably had sales taken away by CUV's and SAV's. I loved the STi hatchback.
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08-01-2019, 03:20 AM	#3
Redd Brigadier General 4235 Rep 4,426 Posts Drives: 2010 BMW E92 M3 Dakar Edition Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Malaysia iTrader: (0)	Europeans prefer hatches. Americans prefer coupes and trucks.
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08-01-2019, 04:50 AM	#4
Nicolas74 Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: BMW E82 Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	Yes Europeans prefer it
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08-01-2019, 07:38 AM	#5
david in germany Lieutenant Colonel 732 Rep 1,819 Posts Drives: 118i, 335i and 328i Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Mannheim Germany iTrader: (2)	Love my e87! Oh, and I am an American but living in Europe. __________________ 2009 118i Monaco Blue "Maximillion" 2009 335i Saphire Black M Sport "Leopold" Cobb stage 2 aggressive tune, Mishimoto FMIC, Cobb charge pipe, Cobb catted down pipes, Forge diverter valves, BMS inlets and DCI, Cyba scoops and M Individual Audio retrofit and M3 gauge cluster retrofit. 2011 328i Titan Silver M Sport "Franzel" <--Wife's car
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08-01-2019, 10:12 AM	#6
bucketfoot Captain 1218 Rep 887 Posts Drives: 2024 BMW 230i xDrive Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Centennial, CO iTrader: (0) Garage List 2024 BMW 230i xDrive [10.00]	Very simple, Americans don't buy hatches (other than Hatch green chili!) I certainly like them, but I am very much in the minority. __________________ This post sent using 100% recycled electrons.
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08-01-2019, 11:23 AM	#7
Darth One drunk poster 6610 Rep 3,649 Posts Drives: M4 GTS \| E46 M3 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: FL iTrader: (0)	I mean all these luxury crossovers are pretty much luxury hatches. We just fatter than Asians and Europeans so our cars just need to be super-sized a bit...
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08-01-2019, 11:26 AM	#8
SteveinArizona Brigadier General 3100 Rep 4,210 Posts Drives: BMW 530e Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Greater Phoenix iTrader: (0)	As others have said, hatchbacks don't sell well in the USA. Same for station wagons. I just bought my daughter a VW Golf Alltrack. Gets great reviews from Consumer Reports (which tends to focus on utility and safety) and from Car & Driver (which tends to focus on performance). But I never see any on the road (a true Unicorn) and VW is going to stop selling it in the US as of next year. Americans want their hatchbacks raised. Some of the small SUVs are really hatch backs with a tiny height increase. But Americans buy them because they are called SUVs or crossovers.
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08-01-2019, 11:39 AM	#9
Red Bread Major General 4458 Rep 9,160 Posts Drives: Smog machines Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (0)	I'm doing my part. Owned a CRX, a Z3 M Coupe, two Mazda 3 hatches, and two GTI's. Greatly prefer a hatch to a sedan or coupe. All but the GTI's have had roof racks too.
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08-01-2019, 08:55 PM	#10
See5 BMW Fan 467 Rep 728 Posts Drives: Nothing Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (0)	Americans aren't concerned with being space conscious. Why spend $35K on a MINI Hardtop when I could get a Accord, a RAV4, or Ranger for the same price? Did I mention people hate them? I think many Boomers associate hatchbacks with cars like the Pinto and Colt and that hasn't gone away.
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08-02-2019, 12:07 AM	#12
Germanauto Major General 9844 Rep 6,144 Posts Drives: Alfa Romeo Giulia, Rosso Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: LA iTrader: (0)	I love seeing little hot hatches and A1 Audis in Europe. And while not "luxury," the Renault Megane, Peugeot 308, etc. look cool. In America everything's gotta be supersized. The only sustainable hatch here has been the Golf. __________________ Former -2008 E90 328 black/brown -2012 Lexus IS250 black/black
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08-02-2019, 09:24 AM	#16
Alfisti Brigadier General 6949 Rep 3,278 Posts Drives: 2008 Saab 9-3 Combi Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (0)	No one buys them, Audi had the A3 hatch and couldn't move them so brought the Q3 in instead and whalla ... sales. For the most part roads here are arrow straight, most cities are a grid, the trade off of handling for useability doesn't work here, the little bit of a rasied height means more tyre, more ride comfort for crappy roads and not worried about whacking things like parking bollards.
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08-02-2019, 10:01 AM	#19
freakystyly Colonel 3622 Rep 2,017 Posts Drives: F22 B58 6MT Join Date: May 2016 Location: Ontario iTrader: (0)	SUVs aside. Cars offered in sedan and wagon trim always carry additional cost for a wagon that many people don't see worth while for a little bit more additional vertical cargo space.
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08-02-2019, 10:18 AM	#22
Efthreeoh General 19149 Rep 19,707 Posts Drives: The E90 + Z4 Coupe & Z3 R'ster Join Date: May 2012 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	I think it's really that the USA has been there and done that. The 1960's had wagons out the wazoo, every suburban family had a Big-3 wagon of some sort. In the 1970's almost every small and midsized car had a hatchback variant; there were tons of hatchbacks back then. The mid-sized SUV/CUV has just taken their place. __________________ A manual transmission can be set to "comfort", "sport", and "track" modes simply by the technique and speed at which you shift it; it doesn't need "modes", modes are for manumatics that try to behave like a real 3-pedal manual transmission. If you can money-shift it, it's a manual transmission. "Yeah, but NO ONE puts an automatic trans shift knob on a manual transmission."
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