Hatchbacks as a Compact SUV Alternative
If you've had it with the image of SUVs but still like the functionality they offer, a hatchback might be able to meet many of your needs and save you money at the gas pump. All of the hatchbacks mentioned here are worth a look if you're ready to take the plunge.
Space for Your Stuff
The low load floors of the Scion xB and other hatchbacks make it easier to load your gear.
Like compact SUVs, many hatchbacks have room for lots of stuff when you fold down the backseat. The Scion xB, for instance, offers 69.9 cubic feet of cargo space when the rear seats are folded. That's more than a Ford Escape offers. Because hatchbacks ride relatively low to the ground, loading and unloading cargo is straightforward, which is a real benefit when carrying something heavy.
Available All-Wheel Drive
The security of all-wheel drive has been an important selling point of SUVs, but the technology is available in other segments, including hatchbacks. The Pontiac Vibe and its sibling, the Toyota Matrix, can have all-wheel drive, and Subaru's lineup of Impreza hatchbacks comes with it standard. Granted, these systems aren't equipped for serious offroad driving (a hatchback's low ground clearance precludes such activities), but if the only "off-road" that you venture down is a dirt road, the all-wheel-drive systems available in today's hatchbacks should meet your needs.
Better Gas Mileage
If a compact SUV uses more gas than you like, choosing a hatchback will, in many cases, result in better mileage. Part of the reason is that fuel-saving manual transmissions aren't as widely offered in compact SUVs, but you can't discount design; hatchbacks tend to feature sleek, wind-cheating lines, whereas taller-riding compact SUVs tend to have boxier looks. Vehicle weight is also a factor, and compact SUVs tend to weigh more, which hurts gas mileage.
| Gas Mileage Compared (mpg, city/highway)* | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 Hatchbacks | 2009 Compact SUVs | ||
| Honda Fit | 28/35 | Toyota RAV4 | 22/28 |
| Pontiac Vibe | 26/31 | Ford Escape | 20/28 |
| Mazda3 | 22/30 | Nissan Rogue | 22/27 |
| Scion xB | 22/28 | Honda CR-V | 20/27 |
*Mileage figures shown are for front-wheel-drive, automatic-transmission models with the base engine. | |||
Some Tasks May Be Too Big for a Hatchback
Though hatchbacks could be a viable alternative for some buyers, they won't meet everyone's needs. Most have a maximum seating capacity of five, so if you need three rows of seats — and some small SUVs like the RAV4 offer this — a hatchback won't work.
Towing capability is critical to some buyers, too, and hatchbacks, which are mostly powered by four-cylinder engines, aren't built to tow heavy loads. Many aren't rated to tow more than 1,500 pounds, if they're rated at all. That's significantly less than the 3,500 pounds that V-6-powered versions of the Escape and RAV4 can pull when properly equipped.
