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Saloon, hatchback, SUV, sportback – If you’re in the car market, you’ve probably encountered all those terms and spent countless hours comparing them all. When there are so many vehicles in line, it’s difficult to differentiate between them. We decided to make your job a little easier and provide you with a sportback vs hatchback comparison that will help you get an idea of their individual pros and cons as well as which one of them is the right choice for your next car hire.
Table Of Contents
What’s The Difference Between A Sportback And A Hatchback?
The difference between a sportback and a hatchback is in their design. These two rivals are both compact vehicles but the sportback boasts a more sloping roofline compared to a traditional hatchback. You can refer to our blog post to learn more about what a sportback car is.
The sportback concept started with the Audi brand. Audi primarily used this term to describe their hatchbacks with sleeker designs, but later it spread out and now the brands Mitsubishi and Buick also use it to describe their vehicles. Because of its unique design, which combines the best that hatchbacks and SUVs have to offer, it deserves to be in its own category.
Hatchbacks are already well-known to the general public. These vehicles are characterised by rear doors that swing upward to provide access to the cargo area. They are popular among families living in urban cities due to their practicality and manoeuvrability.
See here to find out who emerges as a winner in the battle between the hatchback and an SUV vehicle.
Sportback Vs Hatchback
Here is a comprehensive comparison between these two body styles.
Design & Style
The design is the main difference between these vehicles. Sportbacks exude a sense of modernity, and their design stands out. Its defining characteristic is the sloping roofline, which contributes to sporty aesthetics. Their rivals, hatchbacks have a more utilitarian design with an emphasis on practicality and compactness.
Performance
Sportbacks take the win on this one. Because of their sportier image, they might offer more powerful features and engine options. Their sleeker design provides better aerodynamics, which can enhance overall performance. Younger drivers will especially like the feeling of driving it. Even though hatchbacks are generally efficient, they might not prioritise performance.
Space
Their difference in design comes into play when we’re talking about the interior space. Due to their sleeker, sloping rooflines, sportbacks are likely to sacrifice their headroom and boot space. As a result, hatchbacks usually have more space. They have squared-off profiles and often make more efficient use of vertical space.
Audi’s A3 is one of the most popular examples of a sportback.
Practicality
Many sportbacks come with a design that boasts five doors, meaning you can enter directly into the car’s cabin through its boot. The same goes for hatchbacks and they share hatch design as a fundamental advantage in terms of practicality. Now, since sportbacks aim for an upscale appearance, they might sacrifice some of their practicality for style, making them less practical than hatchbacks.
Pricing
The price range can vary from model to model, but generally, hatchbacks tend to be more budget-friendly than sportback models. Their focus on being practical rather than aesthetically pleasing results in a simpler design. This contributes to a lower price. Sportback’s design elements and additional performance features lead to increased manufacturing and retail costs.
Popular Sportback And Hatchback Models
Audi has the most iconic brand of sportback cars with its A3 automobile. Others include the Mitsubishi Lancer and the Buick Regal. When it comes to hatchbacks, the Volkswagen Golf, Fiat 500 and Ford Focus are widely acclaimed models.
If you’re looking for a practical hatchback for your next trip, reach out to SDVH today for the best VW Golf hire or Fiat 500 hire deals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s The Primary Difference Between A Sportback And A Hatchback?
The primary difference between a sportback and a hatchback is in their design and aesthetics. With a more aggressively sloping rear window, sportback vehicles have eyes on them wherever they appear. While both of those vehicles share some similarities, the design of a sportback tends to appear more stylish and a lot of the time, offers higher performance.
Is a Sportback A Sports Car?
No, a sportback is not a sports car. The term is coined because of the body style of the car rather than to indicate that it’s a sports car in the traditional sense. Audi refers to a sportback as a mix between hatchbacks and SUVs. It features a more sloping roof than a hatchback car. Although it has a sportier appearance, the body style itself isn’t classified as a sports car.
Are Sportbacks More Popular Than Hatchbacks?
No, sportbacks are not more popular than hatchbacks. The sportback car appeals to those seeking a sleeker design and wishing to make an impression. However, the practicality and compact size of a hatchback vehicle makes it a firm favourite among customers, especially in the UK. Families who live in urban cities also tend to opt for hatchbacks rather than sportback cars.
Conclusion
So the sportback vs hatchback battle has come to an end, and now you have all the information you need to pick your winner for the next car hire. No matter if you opt for a fancy Audi A3 Sportback or decide to stick with the practicality of a hatchback, both of these body types are high-quality vehicle choices with numerous benefits.
