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Hatchback is a very popular body type in the modern car market. It has its own characteristics, can provide a decent list of advantages, although it is characterized by some disadvantages. In the arsenal of almost every automaker there is a model made in such a body. This can easily be explained by the increased demand and practicality of such machines. Experts and ordinary car enthusiasts selected the best representatives among the cars made in this type of bodywork, which made it possible to make a final rating of 2018. But before exploring the winners of the current year, it is necessary to study separately the features, history, advantages and disadvantages of cars in the body called hatchback.

TOP best hatchbacks in 2018.

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A bit of history

Hatchback has become a familiar body type in our time. These cars are sold and bought everywhere. And hatchbacks have become a real threat to classic sedans. The concept of a hatchback comes from two English words that literally translate as a hatch and behind. The history of hatchbacks began before the war. And already in the 40s of the last century, the first copies of such machines appeared. The author of these cars was the French company Citroen. A little later, the American company Kaiser Motors also appreciated all the advantages of the new body and began to produce its own samples. Hatchbacks have gained worldwide popularity thanks in large part to Japanese auto companies. And the European market, these machines conquered thanks to the efforts of all the same French. The real height of popularity began literally immediately after the appearance of the Renault 16 car.

External features

The hatchback is a body with 3 or 5 doors. It can be equipped with 1 or 2 rows of seats. Another distinctive feature of these cars is a short rear overhang. Do not forget about the presence of the door in the back wall. Often the length of such cars is less than that of competitors in the face of a sedan. This allows the hatchback to receive certain advantages when operating in urban environments. Most hatchbacks have a sloping roof, which smoothly passes into the trunk. In some situations, the body is three-volume, but even here the overhang will still remain shortened.

Advantages and disadvantages

To make it easier for a potential buyer to decide and decide whether to buy a vehicle in the back of a hatchback, you should look at the strengths and weaknesses of this option. The main advantages of hatchbacks include:

• Relatively compact dimensions that do not have an excess rear overhang. This allows you to easily maneuver on city streets and cope with the difficulties of heavy traffic, narrow roads and limited parking space;
• The impressive size of the opening in the luggage compartment. So the driver without problems will load dimensional things, including the big TVs, dressers or washing machines;
• Appearance. Due to its appearance hatchback attracts a young generation of drivers who do not like the classic and familiar sedan. Some hatchbacks are quite similar to sports cars, although they may have much more modest technical characteristics.

But these machines have their drawbacks. They appear in the following.

1. The cabin and the luggage compartment are not separated by a partition, because of which the sound insulation inside the car suffers.
2. The dimensions of the cabin increase due to the luggage compartment space. Because to warm up the car in the winter sometimes it takes longer.
3. To exceed the size of the trunk in a sedan, a hatchback can only be done if you fold the back row of seats or completely remove them.

Hatchbacks can be called excellent cars for young people and young families. They are comfortable, beautiful in appearance and practical. They can easily get into the nature at the expense of a roomy trunk, but in urban environments these cars feel great.

Rating Representatives

Many experts and automotive publications regularly monitor the situation on the market, trying to select the best representatives in their class and segment, making the final ratings. When choosing the best hatchbacks of 2018, the key parameters were:

• security level;
• equipment and equipment;
• ease of management;
• practicality;
• appearance;
• specifications;
• reliability;
• durability.

This allowed us to collect 14 hatchbacks, which are deservedly popular not only in Russia, but throughout the world. The rating is presented by the following automakers:

• BMW;
• Audi;
• Mazda;
• Peugeot;
• Honda;
• Seat;
• Renault;
• Opel;
• Skoda;
• Volkswagen;
• Mercedes;
• Toyota;
• Volvo.

Now let's get acquainted with each of the representatives of these auto companies, who managed to get into the list of the best hatchbacks of 2018, separately.

A-Class

A representative from Mercedes, who recently received updates, can now provide its customers with optimal characteristics of a modern, dynamic hatchback. A-Class or W177 is far from the cheapest representative in this rating, but demand is still actively growing, which is why it was impossible not to include cars in the list. The car looks stylish and strictly, but it has excellent technical characteristics. The Germans used in the production of the body improved stainless steel. It has high strength and is resistant to wear, which ensures a high level of safety. Customers can choose diesel petrol versions from 116 to 160 horsepower. The machine is quite economical, since it consumes about 5-6 liters in the combined cycle.

A1

A modest compact hatchback from Audi, which is deservedly included in this rating. The car relatively recently entered the world market, but managed to win the hearts of millions of people. Although the car is small, it looks very strict and stern, without losing the sporting notes and the swift image. The car does not just look great, but also perfectly controlled. Over the technical aspects of the Germans have worked great. In fact, we face a subcompact hatchback with front-wheel drive. But under the hood he has engines, the weakest of which is 125 horsepower. The most powerful powerplant has 192 liters. with. under the hood. The car received the highest marks for safety, because it deservedly enters the ranking of the best hatchbacks of 2018.

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Auris

Another small hatchback, but this time from the Japanese automaker Toyota. The car has more modest price tags than the competitors presented above. In this case, the Japanese have developed for Auris excellent technical stuffing, have worked on security and managed to create a very interesting design. Under the hood are installed different motors to the choice of the buyer. Their power ranges from 97 to 147 horsepower. More than enough for a car that is designed for use in urban environments. Japanese hatchback is quite dynamic and economical. In the combined cycle consumption will be about 5.4 liters per 100 kilometers. And to accelerate from zero to 100 kilometers per hour, it will take about 10 seconds. Inside is quite roomy and soft interior. Auto perfect for even long trips.

V40 Cross Country

If you do not like very compact front-wheel drive hatchbacks, then you should pay close attention to the development of Volvo. The V40 Cross Coutry is an all-wheel drive hatchback with excellent dynamics, high cross-country performance and legendary Swedish quality. If someone thinks that Volvo is not the same as it was before, just look and study the V40 in detail. You just change your opinion. In the engine compartment, the manufacturer placed a turbocharged gasoline engine capable of producing from 190 to 245 horsepower. It allows you to accelerate from place to hundred in just 6.5 seconds. Unique indicators for the hatchback. Machine speed, plus has all-wheel drive. Because the main problem was to increase fuel consumption. But engineering solutions allowed to reduce it to 8 liters, which is pretty good for a car of this size and with a minimum engine power of 190 horsepower. The hatchback is modern, technologically advanced and practical. Perfect for a young family and lovers to travel outside the city.

1 Series

A car from the concern BMW, which costs not a little, but is worth every penny spent. The car is really quite expensive, although fans of the German company justify it with technical characteristics, excellent finish quality, excellent handling and many other advantages. We can definitely say that the hatchback from BMW is highly efficient. This is a car with a sophisticated, daring and sporty design. Mounted under the hood of the motor allows you to perfectly match the appearance with the real possibilities on the roads.

I

Ещё один хэтчбек в исполнении немецкой автокомпании Audi, но уже с более внушительными габаритами, чем у A1. Премиальный хэтчбек с высочайшими стандартами качества, к которым стоит стремиться всем остальным представителям этого сегмента. I нельзя назвать самым дорогостоящим и изысканным представителем линейки Audi. Но если вы любите хэтчбеки, вам нужна хорошая машина для городской эксплуатации, которая при этом не потеряется на скоростной трассе, то I однозначно будет одним из лучших выборов. Помимо очень интересной внешности, авто предлагает удобный и функциональный салон. Здесь найдётся комфортабельное место для водителя, довольно просторный задний диван, неплохой по вместимости багажный отсек. Отличное решение для молодой семьи.

Mazda 3

Very decent Japanese car, which is offered on the market in different body versions, including a hatchback. Some prefer the sedan, others prefer the hatchback version. But this car can not take away one. The Japanese have created a really beautiful car with a sophisticated, elegant and unusual design. It is difficult to describe the appearance of the car. But in addition to the stylish exterior, it is also important to note the excellent build quality, modern and practical interior, decent specifications. It uses proprietary technology called SkyActive, which gives a number of advantages to the driver. However, the main advantage of this car is to consider the price. The car costs a little, but offers a huge number of solutions, options and features. No wonder the Mazda 3 has such a huge number of fans, and the sales figures are growing every month.

308

French hatchback, created for the European family and youth. The car from the company Peugeot boasts an attractive design, a fairly spacious interior and trunk, comfortable seats and good technical parameters. As the owners of this Peugeot 308 note, they love the French car for a combination of practicality and refinement. The machine is modern and efficient, economical and inexpensive. The basis for the creation of new products from the French automaker was the Citroen C4 Picasso model. But at the same time 308 has a more modest size and less weight. This does not prevent the car to be practical and roomy. A good solution for urban use, which will not cost the buyer a fortune.

Civic

One of the most popular hatchbacks in the world, the author of which is the Japanese car company Honda. Although the Civic model exists for more than a dozen years, the demand for a car does not fall. This is largely due to the ability of the Japanese automaker to maintain a high predetermined level. Each subsequent generation is getting better, more technological, more practical and more efficient. It is also interesting that the history of the Civic is longer than the recognized leader among the hatchbacks in the face of Volkswagen Golf. Initially, the Civic was more compact, but over time they turned into full-fledged hatchbacks. The appearance of the latest generation of Japanese cars is something like a coupe, due to which the car looks very sporty. Inside, everything is just as wonderful as the outside.

Leon

Although Seat is not in great demand in Russia, the Leon model is an exception. Experts recognize that Leon can be called one of the best hatchbacks in the world among the current range. The Spanish automaker managed to make a big step forward when creating a new generation of Leon. Improved external data, improved quality of finishes, and improved technical characteristics. I do not want to be ahead of events, but if it continues like this and further, the Seat Leon will be a serious competitor for Volkswagen Golf. The car can be considered economical and practical. But if you want to enjoy the drive and speed, here Leon will not be a disappointment. The Spanish hatchback is dynamic, well managed and can make a worthy competition on the track.

Megane

The assortment of the French company Renault also has a hatchback worthy of falling into this 2018 rating. This is the fourth generation of the model Megane, which has managed to significantly surpass its predecessor. The French managed to create a decent representative in their class. The novelty can be described as a practical, roomy, economical and comfortable car in the back of a hatchback. Under the hood in Megane you can find gasoline and diesel power plants. It already depends on a complete set and wishes of the buyer. Also a choice of several options for the implementation of interior decoration. As part of the road tests of Megane from Renault, experts noted good behavior in urban environments, excellent handling and efficient operation of factory noise insulation.

Astra

According to many experts, in some countries, the Opel Astra car was greatly underestimated. Sales figures are not always high, although the German hatchback really deserves high marks. The new generation Astra has gone through a major update, which affected not only the appearance, but also the technical characteristics. The novelty can be called a stylish, practical, economical and modern hatchback. Despite their seemingly modest external dimensions, the volume of the interior of the cabin is genuinely surprising to many. The car has become roomy, but because it is perfect for a family. Plus, the advantages of the Astra include good handling, decent dynamic performance and extremely economical diesel power plants. This additionally allows the car in the back of a hatchback to enter the list of the most economical cars in Europe.

Octavia

Regarding the entry of this car from the company Skoda in the ranking of the best hatchbacks of 2018 was a lot of controversy. Octavia is considered a liftback, although in fact the car fully complies with all the declared characteristics of the hatchback. Plus, and according to the documents this car is indicated as a hatchback. Therefore, it will be right and fair if Octavia takes its rightful place in this rating. The Czech auto company has managed to create a spacious and very roomy car, co-platform of which are Leon from Seat and the legendary VolkswagenGolf. At the same time, Octavia turned out to be larger than its counterparts, thanks to which the car received an additional advantage in the form of a larger space inside. To be objective, the Octavia deserves to be called a hatchback. But in this case, this particular car will be considered the largest representative of its class. Large internal space is not the only advantage of the Octavia. The car has a concise appearance, a huge trunk, efficient engines and a high level of security. At the same time, the car is far from the most expensive in the presented 2018 hatchback rating.

Golf

The legendary and undisputed leader among the hatchbacks in the person of the Golf model from Volkswagen completes and simultaneously heads our rating. This car continues to be the most popular and sold in Europe. In many ways, it is Golf that creates the direction of movement in its class, to which all other automakers strive. Europeans like the golf for practicality, external compactness and internal spaciousness, as well as efficiency and dynamics. The machine is well controlled, equipped with powerful engines that do not consume a lot of fuel. With fuel consumption indicators everything is top notch. You can endlessly argue about the external parameters of the new Golf. But for every car there will be its critics and admirers. The design is definitely not bright, but it certainly has become much more interesting than its predecessor.

Hatchbacks are rapidly gaining popularity, creating real problems for cars in the sedan. But hardly any of them will be able to oust the other from the market. Each body type has its admirers and audience for which they are designed. Hatchbacks are mostly made for the younger generation and for the family. They are quite roomy as well as practical, ideal for urban use, but at the same time allow you to go to nature or not get lost among the fast-moving coupe or sedans on the track.