Hatchback

A hatchback is a passenger car body style defined by a rear door that opens upward to provide access to a cargo area. The cargo space is integrated with the passenger compartment, and the rear seats can typically fold to extend loading capacity. The model is often described as a five-door vehicle, with four side doors plus the rear hatch; three-door versions have existed as well.

Most hatchbacks use a two-box design, with the cargo area directly behind the rear seats. The hatch door usually incorporates the rear window. Some variants are called liftbacks, while others are simply hatchbacks; in practice, the terminology is used inconsistently across markets.

The design emerged in Europe during the 1960s and gained popularity with models such as the Renault 16 and, later, the Volkswagen Golf. The style spread across subcompact and compact segments and diversified into sportier versions, often referred to as hot hatchbacks, in addition to standard five-door models.

Hatchbacks are common in Europe and Asia, and are offered by many manufacturers as practical, fuel-efficient options for urban driving. They are valued for versatile cargo handling, a compact footprint, and generally lower manufacturing costs, though some configurations provide less enclosed trunk space than sedans and can have a less rigid load floor than wagons in certain designs.

Notable examples include the Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus, Honda Fit/Jazz, Toyota Yaris, Hyundai i20, and Renault Clio.