2010 Honda Insight: A Hatchback Before a Hybrid

As a long time fan of hatchbacks I would like to think that you are correct. But the sales figures don't bear it out. There are plenty of hatchbacks available in this country, but they are, with the notable exception of the Golf, small sellers.

One of my all time favorites of the 20+ cars I have owned was my 1981 Saab 900 Turbo 3-door. The amount of stuff it could carry was truly remarkable. I used it to move a loveseat size sofa sleeper to my mother-in-law's and came within an inch of closing the hatch completely. It once swallowed a 25" cosole TV whole.

My 1976 Fiesta took me and 3 others from central Illinois to Florida for Spring Break in 1987.

These days I drive the next best thing, a Forester.

"I voted for... well, you get the idea."

Oh Erin! YOU DIDN'T!! Just kidding.

I agree though, that the best hybrids (highest MPG) as they exist right now are great commuter cars. They're good for driving to work, stopping on the way home for a few groceries or to pick up a kid. They're horrible for roadtrips, people + cargo, or as a sole vehicle for most families.

Now, I don't think this means we scrap the idea, but the technology needs to innovate further. What if you coupled a hybrid system with DI turbo under 2 liters? You might be able to generate enough power for a small SUV or large family sedan, while at the same time keeping MPG high enough and cost low enough for the payback period to make sense. How many years down the road is that? Faster please...

bankerdanny, actually the Prius outsells the Golf in the US. As a country we definitely prefer sedans. I think it is because with few exceptions the hatchbacks are viewed as "cheap" cars. The Prius and Mini changed this somewhat, which is why they sell well. Also, I think the proliferation of vehicles like the X6, ZDX etc may help as well. I think if there where more affordable near luxury hatchbacks they would sell very well. I am willing to go out on a limb and guess the new Focus hatch will sell as well, if not better, than the sedan. Precisely because it will not be seen as a "cheap" car.

I hadn't really thought of that! Good insight. (pun sorta intended)

Hatchbacks cars don't sell well because Americans have preferred their bigger brothers, the hatchback SUV or CUV. We have no need for a hatchback car at our house because we also have a Dodge Ram to haul things.

I don't know that it has to do with Americans viewing hatchbacks as "cheap" , it's just that they're hard to come by and not always worth the price premium, comfort premium (hatches tend to be noiser), and fuel economy premium. There's also the added benefit of having your belongings *slightly* more secure.

And honestly it's not like a sedan wouldn't hold those groceries in the trunk....

I think American's DO think of hatchbacks as cheap (no stats to back that up -- but I remember the episode of Frasier where Niles was aghast that he'd had to ride in a "hunchback"). I'm a fan of them myself (having owned a CRX and 318ti in the past), but really -- I can barely even get a wagon in these days of CUVs, so I don't expect I'll be able to get a decent hatchback any time soon (though the new Golf is tempting...and I'd love a Mini but have a kid to put in back)

hurls, I agree, CUVs have also killed wagon sales with the exception of Volvo and the Subaru Outback (which is now billed as SUV/CUV)

OK, LTRTB. It's almost 1pm PST, and there's still no drunk liveblogging of any Corvette repairs.

Should we send a search party?

I wish that was true. I love my wagon, but american seem to think that more space = SUV.

I would love to see a proper rwd 200 hp 5 speed/ 5 door hatch back.

I spoke to Scott this morning. They had it apart. Phase 2 was coming next. Haven't heard from them since. -- Donna

Well I would not hold who you voted for againest you, but what you say about hatchbacks is correct. I've owned two of them. A 1990 Civic SI and my current 2007 Mazda 6i 5-door. In both cases they are my favorite cars. I find their practicality great. And with the small opening of most current sedan trunks and their sporter looks, more appealing. BTW, and added benefit is that most hatchbacks come with rear wipers, which really help in the rain and snow of Detroit, MI.
As for sales, well some people are set in their ways and closed minded. The only possible drawback is less security and the extra weight and inability of the open hatch to stay up with snow on it or as the gas struts wear out.

Honda already builds a better, cheaper, more entertaining hatchback, with a proper manual transmission and a rear seat that can accommodate adults.

Americans already buy lots of hatchbacks - we buy them as crossovers and SUVs. I think it's the combination of the high seating position and the hatchback that makes the practical case for crossovers and SUVs for the majority of American buyers. I can't think of a high selling vehicle that has one but not the other (except for pickup trucks).
So the interesting question is why do Americans prefer the high seating position so much more than other parts of the world?

if only the hatchbacks have high ground clearance to go through floods and blizzards and potholes of doom, and not worry about getting stuck on unplowed roads, or getting stuck when a snow plow tosses all the snow around your car.

If only they made such a car. a hatchback with high ground clearance.
I know. What if they made hatchbacks that look like SUVs? Yes, that would be a great idea!

re: built9

I don't really know how much snow most US cities get, but we get plenty of snow up here in Alberta. 10 inches of snow isn't un-common, (not every week, but at least few times during long winter) and my Jetta with proper winter tires never got stuck once, nor my Fit with blizzaks.. so, if snow is why you guys want hatchbacks with high ground clearance, it's probably cheaper to buy winter tires...

...no, snow tires aren't cheaper than buying a crossover. Crossovers cost the same as their sedan counterparts. And the additional cost of gas certainly doesn't cost as much as winter tires.