BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
BIMMERPOST Universal Forums > General Automotive (non-BMW) Talk + Photos/Videos > Why aren't small luxury hatchbacks sold in the US?

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      07-31-2019, 10:03 PM   #1
nakamuru
Lieutenant
136
Rep
504
Posts

Drives: mazda3, vw passat, suzuki vita
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: seattle

iTrader: (0)

Why aren't small luxury hatchbacks sold in the US?

I really like the Mercedes A Class hatchback and the BMW 1 Series hatchback but they've never come to the US.

Also, although they are not luxury vehicles, Subaru stopped selling the WRX and WRX STi hatchbacks here as well.

Is the US not hatchback ready?
Appreciate 0
      07-31-2019, 11:01 PM   #2
MmmmmM2
Colonel
MmmmmM2's Avatar
2578
Rep
2,423
Posts

Drives: 2021 M2C
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Claremont, CA

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2016 Mazda CX-5  [0.00]
2021 BMW M2C  [0.00]
Probably had sales taken away by CUV's and SAV's. I loved the STi hatchback.
Appreciate 1
      08-01-2019, 02:20 AM   #3
Redd
Brigadier General
3853
Rep
4,134
Posts

Drives: 2010 BMW E92 M3 Dakar Edition
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Malaysia

iTrader: (0)

Europeans prefer hatches. Americans prefer coupes and trucks.
Appreciate 2
      08-01-2019, 03:50 AM   #4
Nicolas74
Registered
0
Rep
1
Posts

Drives: BMW E82
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Texas

iTrader: (0)

Yes Europeans prefer it
Appreciate 0
      08-01-2019, 06:38 AM   #5
david in germany
Lieutenant Colonel
729
Rep
1,815
Posts

Drives: 118i, 335i and 328i
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Mannheim Germany

iTrader: (2)


Love my e87! Oh, and I am an American but living in Europe.
__________________
2009 118i Monaco Blue "Maximillion"
2009 335i Saphire Black M Sport "Leopold" Cobb stage 2 aggressive tune, Mishimoto FMIC, Cobb charge pipe, Cobb catted down pipes, Forge diverter valves, BMS inlets and DCI, Cyba scoops and M Individual Audio retrofit and M3 gauge cluster retrofit.
2011 328i Titan Silver M Sport "Franzel" <--Wife's car
Appreciate 3
clee1982796.00
Red Bread4462.00
..Rush..973.50
      08-01-2019, 09:12 AM   #6
bucketfoot
Captain
bucketfoot's Avatar
United_States
1056
Rep
819
Posts

Drives: 2020 Toyota GT86
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Centennial, CO

iTrader: (0)

Very simple, Americans don't buy hatches (other than Hatch green chili!)

I certainly like them, but I am very much in the minority.
__________________
This post sent using 100% recycled electrons.
Appreciate 0
      08-01-2019, 10:23 AM   #7
Darth One
drunk poster
Darth One's Avatar
United_States
6613
Rep
3,649
Posts

Drives: M4 GTS | E46 M3
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: FL

iTrader: (0)

I mean all these luxury crossovers are pretty much luxury hatches. We just fatter than Asians and Europeans so our cars just need to be super-sized a bit...
Appreciate 1
..Rush..973.50
      08-01-2019, 10:26 AM   #8
SteveinArizona
Brigadier General
United_States
3086
Rep
4,210
Posts

Drives: BMW 530e
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Greater Phoenix

iTrader: (0)

As others have said, hatchbacks don't sell well in the USA. Same for station wagons.

I just bought my daughter a VW Golf Alltrack. Gets great reviews from Consumer Reports (which tends to focus on utility and safety) and from Car & Driver (which tends to focus on performance). But I never see any on the road (a true Unicorn) and VW is going to stop selling it in the US as of next year.

Americans want their hatchbacks raised. Some of the small SUVs are really hatch backs with a tiny height increase. But Americans buy them because they are called SUVs or crossovers.
Appreciate 0
      08-01-2019, 10:39 AM   #9
Red Bread
Major General
United_States
4462
Rep
9,160
Posts

Drives: Smog machines
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Austin, TX

iTrader: (0)

I'm doing my part. Owned a CRX, a Z3 M Coupe, two Mazda 3 hatches, and two GTI's. Greatly prefer a hatch to a sedan or coupe. All but the GTI's have had roof racks too.
Appreciate 0
      08-01-2019, 07:55 PM   #10
See5
BMW Fan
See5's Avatar
United_States
449
Rep
725
Posts

Drives: Nothing
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Atlanta

iTrader: (0)

Americans aren't concerned with being space conscious.

Why spend $35K on a MINI Hardtop when I could get a Accord, a RAV4, or Ranger for the same price?

Did I mention people hate them? I think many Boomers associate hatchbacks with cars like the Pinto and Colt and that hasn't gone away.
Appreciate 0
      08-01-2019, 08:44 PM   #11
Red Bread
Major General
United_States
4462
Rep
9,160
Posts

Drives: Smog machines
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Austin, TX

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by See5 View Post
Americans aren't concerned with being space conscious.

Why spend $35K on a MINI Hardtop when I could get a Accord, a RAV4, or Ranger for the same price?

Did I mention people hate them? I think many Boomers associate hatchbacks with cars like the Pinto and Colt and that hasn't gone away.
Agreed. We had some Fiats as a kid that made me question my love of hatches.
Appreciate 0
      08-01-2019, 11:07 PM   #12
Germanauto
Major General
Germanauto's Avatar
United_States
9666
Rep
6,075
Posts

Drives: Alfa Romeo Giulia, Rosso
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: LA

iTrader: (0)

I love seeing little hot hatches and A1 Audis in Europe. And while not "luxury," the Renault Megane, Peugeot 308, etc. look cool.

In America everything's gotta be supersized. The only sustainable hatch here has been the Golf.
__________________
Former
-2008 E90 328 black/brown
-2012 Lexus IS250 black/black
Appreciate 0
      08-01-2019, 11:41 PM   #13
Red Bread
Major General
United_States
4462
Rep
9,160
Posts

Drives: Smog machines
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Austin, TX

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Germanauto View Post
In America everything's gotta be supersized. The only sustainable hatch here has been the Golf.
Don't worry. VW USA is killing that too. Just the GTI and R will be coming here for the Mk8.
Appreciate 0
      08-02-2019, 07:52 AM   #14
ShocknAwe
1Addict
ShocknAwe's Avatar
3202
Rep
7,860
Posts

Drives: E82 Mutt, M57 Truck
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Charleston

iTrader: (22)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Red Bread View Post
Don't worry. VW USA is killing that too. Just the GTI and R will be coming here for the Mk8.
Christ. It's getting pretty hard to find "compact" cars here in the US. Rented a compact the other day, measured in at ~190". Lol. I guess compared to the Tacoma and F150. Never mind "full size" trucks.

Agree that the budget/compact SUVs are all actually lifted hatchbacks or wagons though.
__________________
2010 135i 6MT Jet Black
N54/3 FE82 Mutt | BUILD THREAD | GARAGE SALE
Appreciate 0
      08-02-2019, 08:22 AM   #15
mkoesel
Moderator
United_States
7506
Rep
19,370
Posts

Drives: No BMW for now
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Canton, MI

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Germanauto View Post
The only sustainable hatch here has been the Golf.
The Mazda 3 and Subaru Impreza hatchbacks have maintained momentum for a few generations as well. Also, both Toyota and Honda have multiple successful small hatchback models (including the Prius). The Koreans seem to be have carved out their niche too, at least for the time being.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Red Bread View Post
Don't worry. VW USA is killing that too. Just the GTI and R will be coming here for the Mk8.
Yep. The Golf Sportwagen and Alltrack are dead after MY2019 too.

I think VW's decision not to bring the ID.3 here is short-sighted. I understand they have big plans for MEB in the US with the ID.4x and Microbus redux, but there are demonstrable synergies between the green car market and anti-establishment form factors. I suppose that's why the bus has been tagged as "The One", but I think something less truck-y would serve a different pool of buyers.
Appreciate 2
Red Bread4462.00
Germanauto9665.50
      08-02-2019, 08:24 AM   #16
Alfisti
Brigadier General
6453
Rep
3,009
Posts

Drives: 2008 Saab 9-3 Combi
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Toronto, Canada

iTrader: (0)

No one buys them, Audi had the A3 hatch and couldn't move them so brought the Q3 in instead and whalla ... sales.

For the most part roads here are arrow straight, most cities are a grid, the trade off of handling for useability doesn't work here, the little bit of a rasied height means more tyre, more ride comfort for crappy roads and not worried about whacking things like parking bollards.
Appreciate 0
      08-02-2019, 08:35 AM   #17
mkoesel
Moderator
United_States
7506
Rep
19,370
Posts

Drives: No BMW for now
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Canton, MI

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Alfisti View Post
For the most part roads here are arrow straight, most cities are a grid, the trade off of handling for usability doesn't work here, the little bit of a raised height means more tyre, more ride comfort for crappy roads and not worried about whacking things like parking bollards.
I agree those things (among many others) contribute to the ongoing steady migration away from passenger cars in general. However, even looking at just passenger car sales, hatchbacks have always struggled to make an impact against the sedan form factor. Even the four seat coupe with its compromised passenger access would seem to be more popular than the hatchback. As has been mentioned by others in the past, this may be due in part to the cheap economy car role that hatchbacks - particularly American ones - had in the 70s and 80s.
Appreciate 0
      08-02-2019, 08:50 AM   #18
SteveinArizona
Brigadier General
United_States
3086
Rep
4,210
Posts

Drives: BMW 530e
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Greater Phoenix

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by mkoesel View Post
I agree those things (among many others) contribute to the ongoing steady migration away from passenger cars in general. However, even looking at just passenger car sales, hatchbacks have always struggled to make an impact against the sedan form factor. Even the four seat coupe with its compromised passenger access would seem to be more popular than the hatchback. As has been mentioned by others in the past, this may be due in part to the cheap economy car role that hatchbacks - particularly American ones - had in the 70s and 80s.
My theory is that the old station wagons got the same respect by succeeding generations that minivans get today. Hatchbacks looked a bit like station wagons so Americans mostly turned away (don't get me wrong...I am not one of those; I just bought my daughter a station wagon...Golf Alltrack).
Appreciate 1
..Rush..973.50
      08-02-2019, 09:01 AM   #19
freakystyly
Lieutenant Colonel
2870
Rep
1,758
Posts

Drives: F22 B58 6MT
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Ontario

iTrader: (0)

SUVs aside. Cars offered in sedan and wagon trim always carry additional cost for a wagon that many people don't see worth while for a little bit more additional vertical cargo space.
Appreciate 0
      08-02-2019, 09:13 AM   #20
Efthreeoh
General
United_States
16951
Rep
18,580
Posts

Drives: The E90 + Z4 Coupe & Z3 R'ster
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Virginia

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Red Bread View Post
I'm doing my part. Owned a CRX, a Z3 M Coupe, two Mazda 3 hatches, and two GTI's. Greatly prefer a hatch to a sedan or coupe. All but the GTI's have had roof racks too.
Me too:

1972 Ford Pinto Runabout, 3 each.
1982 Ford Escort
1989 Acura Integra 3-door
2008 Z4 3.0si Coupe

Love hatchbacks.
__________________
A manual transmission can be set to "comfort", "sport", and "track" modes simply by the technique and speed at which you shift it; it doesn't need "modes", modes are for manumatics that try to behave like a real 3-pedal manual transmission. If you can money-shift it, it's a manual transmission. "Yeah, but NO ONE puts an automatic trans shift knob on a manual transmission."
Appreciate 1
Red Bread4462.00
      08-02-2019, 09:14 AM   #21
Efthreeoh
General
United_States
16951
Rep
18,580
Posts

Drives: The E90 + Z4 Coupe & Z3 R'ster
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Virginia

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by freakystyly View Post
SUVs aside. Cars offered in sedan and wagon trim always carry additional cost for a wagon that many people don't see worth while for a little bit more additional vertical cargo space.
Well, unless it has an LS1 and a manual transmission in it...
__________________
A manual transmission can be set to "comfort", "sport", and "track" modes simply by the technique and speed at which you shift it; it doesn't need "modes", modes are for manumatics that try to behave like a real 3-pedal manual transmission. If you can money-shift it, it's a manual transmission. "Yeah, but NO ONE puts an automatic trans shift knob on a manual transmission."
Appreciate 0
      08-02-2019, 09:18 AM   #22
Efthreeoh
General
United_States
16951
Rep
18,580
Posts

Drives: The E90 + Z4 Coupe & Z3 R'ster
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Virginia

iTrader: (0)

I think it's really that the USA has been there and done that. The 1960's had wagons out the wazoo, every suburban family had a Big-3 wagon of some sort. In the 1970's almost every small and midsized car had a hatchback variant; there were tons of hatchbacks back then.

The mid-sized SUV/CUV has just taken their place.
__________________
A manual transmission can be set to "comfort", "sport", and "track" modes simply by the technique and speed at which you shift it; it doesn't need "modes", modes are for manumatics that try to behave like a real 3-pedal manual transmission. If you can money-shift it, it's a manual transmission. "Yeah, but NO ONE puts an automatic trans shift knob on a manual transmission."
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:47 AM.




m2
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST