Hatchback

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Peugeot 208

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Mini Hatch

A hatchback is a car body style with a rear door that swings upward to provide access to a cargo area. Indeed, this rear door that opens upwards is a distinguishing feature of all hatchbacks. Most hatchbacks use a two-box design body style, where the cargo area (trunk/boot) and passenger areas are a single unit. The rear seats can often be folded down to increase the available cargo area. The body style has been marketed worldwide on cars ranging in size from superminis to small family cars, as well as executive cars and some sports cars. It is useful for short journeys and for a medium amount of luggage (like in SUVs, minivans, station wagons, and some vans).

Styles

Usually, hatchback cars will have a hatch that is vertical or nearly vertical. The hatch swings open completely and gives easy access to storage. This is considered a traditional hatchback style, like is seen on vehicles such as the Ford Explorer or Saturn Vue.

File:Chevrolet Captiva facelift Shishi 01 2022-03-03.jpg

Hatchbacks are often opened vertically.

File:Abandoned Corvette (15489155689).jpg

Certain Chevrolet Corvettes could come as hatchback vehicles, though this depended on the generation and options of the vehicle.

Sometimes, hatchback cars can come as "fastbacks", which is a form of hatchback in which the hatch slopes from the roof of the car down to the tail end. This can be seen on vehicles like the Chevrolet Corvette (certain generations/configurations) and Pontiac Solstice coupe (hardtop version only). Some hatchbacks are primarily made of glass, while others can be made almost entirely of the car's body material. Composition will vary from vehicle to vehicle.

File:2009 Pontiac Solstice Coupe, rear left (Cruisin' the River Lowellville Car Show, June 19th, 2023).jpg

The rear glass can be opened, creating a hatchback from a formerly quite small trunk in the convertible Solstice.

Generally, fastback styling is used on "sportier" vehicles to create more aggressive, aerodynamic designs. Conversely, the vertical hatchback has been more associated with economical, less performance-oriented vehicles.

Hatchback Media

• Three body styles with pillars and boxes.png

  The body characteristics of a sedan (top), estate/station wagon (middle), and hatchback (bottom)

• Hatch and wagon with pillar layout a.svg

  Comparison of a hatchback with a station wagon from the same model range

• The rearview of Citroën C3 (3rd generation) with her trunk open.jpg

  2017 Citroën C3 pictured, a tailgate hinged at the roof is a predominant characteristic of hatchbacks, estates/station wagons, and liftbacks

• 1976 Toyota Celica GT Liftback in red, rear left.jpg

  1976 Toyota Celica GT Liftback U.S. Model

• 1967 MG MGB GT rear.jpg

  MG MGB offered a rear hatch GT coupé version in late 1965.

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  1974-1975 Honda Civic RS

• Lada Samara 1500 1993 (15799320486).jpg

  Lada Samara 1500 1993

• Chevrolet Onix 20150814-DSC05650.JPG

  Chevrolet Onix LT 1.0

• Maruti Suzuki Swift 2098.JPG

  Maruti Swift hatchback in India

• 1976-1978 Holden LX Torana SS hatchback 04.jpg

  Holden Torana SS (LX) hatchback