Top 5 Hatchbacks That You Should Pay Attention To

The new 2015 Focus offers a bold exterior design, an intuitive and upscale interior, a host of technologies uncommon for a compact car and the option of Ford’s award-winning 1.0-liter EcoBoost® engine.

Hatchbacks are in third place in sales today. The reason for their popularity lies in their small size and maneuverability. Not a single automaker has abandoned the idea of ????producing a hatchback, which provides a rich choice in the car market and a headache for the buyer.

To choose the best hatchback to lease or buy, you must first carefully study the characteristics and capabilities of the models.

1. Chevrolet Spark Hatchback

Inexpensive runabouts are in demand not only because of their efficiency. Such a small nimble model is convenient for young people: it can easily pass through a narrow street and doesn’t require a lot of space for parking.

In the design of the latest model, the developers included the GM DAT chassis, designed for heavier equipment. They didn’t change the suspension scheme: the same MacPherson struts in front and a twisting beam in the back. The car is equipped with two types of brake mechanisms: disc with ventilation (front) and drum (rear). Chevrolet Spark easily overcomes obstacles in the form of speed bumps, potholes, and pits.

The Chevrolet Spark has a 1.2-liter engine with 82 hp. Gearbox – mechanical five-speed. Average fuel consumption – 5.4 l / 100 km. The Chevrolet Spark has another modification equipped with a liter engine and a 4-speed automatic transmission. There is no manual control mode in it.

Engine power reaches 68 hp, and consumption – 6.3 l/100 km.

Spark has heating of the first row seats and side mirrors, a windshield wiper is installed on the fifth door. The car has a climate control system. The trunk of the Spark is modest. But with the rear seats folded down, its capacity increases.

Advantages

Bright appearance and sound equipment for this class
Undemanding to the quality of fuel and its moderate consumption

Disadvantages:

Dynamics leaves much to be desired
Modest interior decoration
A heated steering wheel and windshield are not provided
Small ground clearance and trunk volume
Open pickings

2. KIA Picanto Hatchback

The Korean hatchback Picanto entered our market during a period of declining demand for class A cars. The manufacturer was sure that this brainchild would be a success, and they were not mistaken.

In KIA Picanto, the wheelbase allows the designers to add space to the cabin. The luggage compartment, compared with the previous generation, has also increased. There was additional legroom in the second row. The ceiling at the back also rose a little. A person of any build can sit behind the wheel of a hatchback and will feel comfortable. True, for an individual of dense physique, you will have to push the seat back as much as possible.

The car is equipped with a three-cylinder engine with a volume of 1 liter and a power of 67 hp. It works in tandem with a five-speed manual transmission. According to the passport, the car consumes 4.4 l/100 km. A top-end 1.2-liter engine can be installed on the car in tandem with a four-speed automatic transmission.

Adaptation of the model consists in increasing the ground clearance to 161 mm and heating the steering wheel, seats, exterior mirrors, and windshield washer nozzles.

Advantages:

High level of security. Almost half of the hatchback body parts are made of steel by hot stamping, which has a very positive effect on structural strength
Additional protection for the driver and passengers is provided by airbags, parking sensors, a set of electronic assistants, and a rear-view camera
Good handling and attractive design
Rich equipment and thoughtful ergonomics

Disadvantages:

Poor sound insulation, which in fact, is quite consistent with the price
Increased demand for fuel quality
Small motor power
Small luggage capacity

3. Hyundai Solaris Hatchback

Hyundai Solaris pleased the manufacturer with high demand already after the first presentation. Reasonable price and high quality became the main reasons for such a resounding success. Externally, the model looks luxurious, the body geometry is harmonious and unique. Only in one thing, this hatchback loses to the sedan: it does not have such a beautiful LED framing of the lights.

The Hyundai Solaris interior is just as beautiful: every element is thought out to the smallest detail. There are many control buttons on the steering wheel, which frees the driver from unnecessary movements.

For the Hyundai Solaris car, two versions of the Gamma engine were developed – 1.4 MPI and 1.6 MPI. The power of the first is 107 hp, and the second – is 123 hp. Both engines run on gasoline with an octane rating of at least 92.

To facilitate the process of driving in the design of the car, a rack and pinion with an electric amplifier are provided. Depending on the configuration, the hatchback can be equipped with a manual (five- or six-speed) or automatic (4- or 6-speed) gearbox.

Advantages:

Comfort
Roomy trunk
Inexpensive maintenance, and availability of spare parts and components
Moderate fuel consumption
Acceptable price
Attractive appearance

Disadvantages:

The undercarriage wears out quickly
Extraneous noises are heard in the cabin
Body metal is too thin
Models with automatic transmission twitch during acceleration
Open pickings

4. Ford Focus Hatchback

Until 2014, Ford became almost the most common car. But one day the demand for it fell sharply and the manufacturer came to the conclusion that the model needed to be urgently updated. The result is a completely new model, the appearance of which has undergone dramatic changes.

The developers have changed the grille, bumpers, optics, and other trim elements. The base model will be equipped with bi-xenon optics with a self-adjusting light beam and washers for an additional fee. Separately, you can pay for an enlarged rear spoiler and plastic moldings that will slide out when the doors are opened.

The front and rear suspension went to the Focus from the old version of Ford. They made minimal changes to their design. The front track of the Ford Focus has become wider by 13 mm, while the rear track, on the contrary, has decreased by 3 mm. The electro-hydraulic power steering was replaced with an electric one.

The Ford developers increased the ground clearance to 160 mm and increased sound insulation. The hatchback engine runs normally on 92-octane gasoline. The Ford Roadside Assistance program is free of charge for one year after purchase or until the first service.

Advantages:

High build quality and interior trim
Moderate fuel consumption
Good handling
Various equipment
Modern design

Disadvantages:

Low ground clearance
Not enough space for large passengers in the back seat
The lack of a full-size spare tire in the basic version (you have to buy it separately)
High price
Open pickings

5. Ford Fiesta Hatchback

The elegant Fiesta won the hearts of many car drivers. Fuel consumption in the city is 8.4 liters per hundred kilometers, in mixed mode 5.9 liters. The ground clearance of the Ford Fiesta hatchback is slightly larger than that of the Focus and is 167 mm.

This model is available in two variations: a 1.6 MT 105 engine and a 1.6 Powershift (AT). Both engines are gasoline, designed for fuel with an octane rating of 95. The power of both engines is the same and is 105 hp. The front suspension is independent, the rear is semi-independent.

Advantages: