by "Orange Exige" (OrangeExige)
Published 12/04/2017 at 10:50
by "Orange Exige" (OrangeExige)
Published 12/04/2017 at 10:50
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As many of you are no doubt, I’m a huge proponent of hatchbacks and their superiority when it comes to utility - and more often, style as well. But let’s focus on the utility part...
I have one of the smallest cars you can buy in the US market, an 02 Cooper S, and it’s my DD, Home Depot runner, the whole nine yards. Despite being so tiny, it’s pretty damn utilitarian being a hatch and having the fold down rear seats. Alas the one glaring utilitarian feature it’s missing: an opening hatch window, allowing you to transport long items (ladder, drywall, lumber, etc) while keeping the hatch closed.
My fiance has a Prius C which is similarly utilitarian, though ironically, she’s more protective of her car than I am to mine, so if it weren’t for the extra space and efficiency, the Cooper would probably be the exclusive family utility vehicle. Needless to say, her car doesn’t have a separately opening hatch window either.
Tl;dr I don’t know the market well, but I know some SUVs have opening hatch windows. Do any hatchbacks have said feature?? (I don’t count those mini-SUV/little-too-big-to-be-a-hatchback things, but considering the limited hatchback market in the US, you can share then too if you know)
Pictured, what my Mini wishes it could be. Yes I was involved with that shed transportation and hell no I did not volunteer to drive it.
"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
12/04/2017 at 11:55, STARS: 1
Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix
"kanadanmajava1" (kanadanmajava1)
12/04/2017 at 12:06, STARS: 1
EG Honda Civics have pretty unique hatch.
"Orange Exige" (OrangeExige)
12/04/2017 at 17:38, STARS: 0
My family rented one awhile back... I would have appreciated it far more if I noticed this!
"Orange Exige" (OrangeExige)
12/04/2017 at 17:45, STARS: 0
That’s a great hatch - I feel like I’ve seen a similar design on an SUV where the bottom part has butt cutouts so it can be used as a seat for two...?
Funny you share a photo of a particularly non-utilitarian Civic hatch for this too. Not saying that tiny back seats are particularly great, but just having them offers that additional “just in case” utility, plus another place to store things without having them bounce around (as much) as a wide open trunk.
"kanadanmajava1" (kanadanmajava1)
12/04/2017 at 18:26, STARS: 1
Its’ quite nice design but the lower hinge point is a bit too high for the lower part to be really useful.
For some reason there doesn’t seem to be good pictures of this hatch in the net. This one was the best that I could find in five minutes. I can’t figure out what it is that upper brace bar supposed to be doing.