The phrase
"than the hatchback" is a comparison between two things.
Full definition
Even though the car weighs
more than its hatchback counterpart, it still feels nimble around corners, and although the suspension is a little firm it does keep the body roll in check.
An initial surprise, particularly in a sedan (which is normally quieter
inside than a hatchback), was the noticeable tyre noise.
From the teaser, it looks like the concept actually features a trunk,
rather than a hatchback, which means that it will most likely be a sedan or coupe.
Add to this low roofline a body that's actually 2 inches
longer than the hatchback version and you end up with a long, low silhouette that gives the Coupe a more ground - hugging and purposefully sporty look than any previous Cooper model, particularly in our tester's JCW trim.
It's a significant car for the brand, perhaps even more so
than the hatchback in the UK, because across its lifespan, the outgoing Estate accounted for around 70 per cent of Superb sales here.
Not only does the car have a longer wheelbase
than its hatchback version, the rear doors are longer too, enabling better ingress for rear seat occupants.
While the Vision X shares its Volkswagen Group MQB A0 platform with the Skoda Fabia, reports suggest the small SUV will have a significantly longer
wheelbase than the hatchback, sharing wheelbase dimensions similar to the Skoda Rapid.
Despite sharing its underpinnings with the Golf and GTI, the S3 stands both more aggressive and more grown - up
looking than its hatchback relatives.
All - seats - in - place cargo capacity is only slightly
larger than the hatchback (32.7 cubic feet vs 31.5), though the wag — er, sorry, TourX — carries significantly more luggage with the seats folded (73.5 cubic feet vs. 60.7).
With 1.3 m3 of load space, the Korando van offers more
space than a hatchback van, such as the Ford Fiesta van, but less than the smaller vans on the market, such as the Fiat Fiorino with 2.5 m3.
Verdict — The Ford EcoSport is a terrific product but it's no
bigger than a hatchback in size, with quality which is average at best.
The Focus estate has a higher roofline
than the hatchback so there's a notable amount of extra rear headroom and some additional large cubbyholes for storage — the Estate, all in all, does feel like the significantly more useful model, as you'd expect.
It is also Hyundai's first sub 4 - metre offering in the country (other
than a hatchback as the company doesn't have a compact SUV or compact sedan on sale yet).
Currently (2013) sedan variants are generally not available in Europe and are marketed at a lower
price than hatchback models in North America.
If coupes appeal more
than hatchbacks then it's hard to overlook the recently - discontinued Peugeot RCZ - R.
Developed under the watchful eye of former BMW M supremo Albert Biermann, the Fastback is likely to sit a little higher up the pecking
order than the hatchback, with rumours suggesting that the turbocharged 2.0 - litre will have around 300bhp, which is 29bhp more than the current i30 N Performance Pack.
While the Cruze sedan has two lower trim
levels than the hatchback (L and LS) the Cruze Hatch will come with more standard features, which should help with sales, since the $ 22,190 starting price makes it a bit pricier than some of the competition.
An enclosed trunk makes it more
hushed than the hatchback Volt at highway speeds, and the transition from electric - only to gas - assisted power is fairly seamless when under way.
As long as you're happy shelling out an extra # 1,000, the Tipo estate actually makes more
sense than the hatchback, thanks to the added space and practicality it offers.
Exterior Styling Slightly longer and
wider than the Hatchback, the Type R exterior has numerous functional, stylistic and aerodynamic upgrades, including high - performance 20 - inch wheels and tires.
The MINI JCW convertible is 105 kg
heavier than the hatchback thanks to the extra strengthening required for a convertible car, which makes it about 0.3 seconds slower from 0 - 62mph: it will manage the sprint in 6.6 seconds with its six - speed manual gearbox, or 6.5 seconds with the optional 6 - speed automatic and will go on to a top speed of 150mph.
Let's start with the sure thing: Now a true coupe rather
than the hatchback layout of the last model, the new Coupe wears its fresh design with an air of sophistication that easily meets, if not exceeds, its $ 39,900 price tag.
Coupes aren't necessarily the top selling entries on the market, but they are offered at more price
points than hatchbacks, and offer great driving performance across the spending spectrum.
Larger and more
aggressive than its hatchback predecessor, the new A-Class aims to lure in Millennials with Alexa - like speech control technology, new engines, and more aggressive styling.
It's a trait of cars in this class to look a little less
conventional than their hatchback counterparts and the Kona follows this trend, with a design that's funkier and slightly more eye - catching than more utilitarian Hyundai models we're used to, such as the i20.
Based on the Golf hatchback, which saw a major update last year, the new Golf SportWagen stretches more than 12 inches longer
than its hatchback originator, while its roof rises over an inch higher.
The 2012 Honda fit 5 - door subcompact is more
wagon than hatchback, bearing strong similarities to the popular Honda Civic Wagon of the mid 1980s.