While SUVs and 4x4s have develop into the most well-liked automobiles on the highway within the UK, hatchbacks are a basic staple of household life and have seen a resurgence within the final 12 months.
However what are the main household hatchbacks in the marketplace? We have a look at the perfect ones you’ll be able to presently purchase.
What’s a hatchback?
A hatchback is a sort of automobile physique with a rear door that opens upwards to the primary cargo space, which is why it’s also known as a ‘hatch’. That is the fifth door on the automobile, which spans its complete width.
Hatchbacks are compact by nature however are surprisingly versatile, which is usually cited as a cause why they’re so in style for households. In contrast to saloons, which have a separate boot, the wide-opening tailgate makes loading and unloading far simpler.
They’re additionally simpler for getting youngsters out and in of the automobile as they’re nearer to the bottom than an SUV or 4×4.
Greatest hatchbacks to purchase
Honda Civic
The Honda Civic has at all times been synonymous with being the most effective household hatchbacks on the highway, even when it has at all times been a bit expensive. The newest mannequin has seemed to handle that, retaining in line financially with its rivals, in addition to making certain it has all of the mod-cons and expertise that any household wants for his or her journeys.
While it comes with a classy inside and handles like a dream to drive, its spacious cabin and ample legroom are what make the Civic stand out amongst its hatchback friends. The 2-litre hybrid engine has 184 horsepower, and a 410-litre boot can also be above common for the category, so there’s a number of house for baggage.
Toyota Corolla
The Toyota Corolla is a UK basic and has been a staple on UK roads for many years. The Japanese producers are notorious for his or her capacity to create sturdy and dependable automobiles, and this one isn’t any completely different.
After its 2023 facelift, the Corolla now features a 10-inch display screen, boasts 64.1 miles to the gallon (mpg) and has a 1.8 litre engine with loads of pull for your loved ones highway journeys.
It’s an excellent household choose for its perform and practicality, but it surely’s a genuinely pleasing drive.
Whereas the boot is a good dimension, the Corolla isn’t essentially the most spacious hatchback within the rear.
Nonetheless, it has a family-friendly inside with good high quality supplies and a beneficiant quantity of kit.
Cupra Born

The variety of Cupra automobiles within the UK has rocketed within the final couple of years, and for good cause. They’ve develop into synonymous with environment friendly and chic driving, due to their excellent dealing with. This electrical automobile is ideal for individuals who dwell within the countryside.
Regardless of being one of many newer producers, the pricing for the Born is in keeping with different entry-level mannequin hatchbacks and is available in three completely different engine sizes: 59kWh, 77kWh and 79kWh.
The Born’s official vary is 264 miles in 59kWh type, 342 miles for the 77kWh and 366 miles for the 79kWH.
Ford Focus
The Ford Focus is a family title and is in fact, one of many extra notorious household hatchbacks in the marketplace, however simply how good is it?
Ford has put an emphasis on making driving enjoyable with the brand new Focus, placing dealing with first with sharp steering and wonderful physique management.
It is available in two completely different engines; petrol and, for individuals who desire a extra environmentally pleasant automobile in addition they provide a hybrid model. Each of that are reasonably low-cost to run while nonetheless providing robust effectivity.
The one actual main draw back to the Focus is the inside is rather a lot smaller than the remainder of the automobiles on this checklist. They’ve tried to rectify this with an extended wheelbase and a bigger boot within the later fashions, however the providing continues to be smaller than different household hatchbacks.
Skoda Octavia
In contrast to the Ford Focus, house will not be an issue for the Skoda Octavia. This automobile has had many iterations through the years since bursting onto the scene within the Nineteen Nineties, but it surely nonetheless leaves its rivals behind on the subject of legroom and its boot, measuring 600-litre and 640-litres in case you select the property model.
The fourth-generation of the Octavia comes with a full five-star Euro NCAP security score, choosing this automobile means your loved ones is safer than different hatchbacks.
Low working prices and reliability are one other two causes to go for the Octavia, one thing Skoda are famend for. It additionally offers you 63.4mpg from its 2-litre engine.
Mazda 3

Whenever you consider household hatchbacks, you will be forgiven for not pondering of Mazda as your go-to producer.
Nonetheless, the Mazda 3 is a glossy and classy different to the others on this checklist. It blends a dynamic look with a novel design and, above all, a fantastically clean driving expertise.
Inside, the upmarket inside is among the many finest within the class, with a glossy design and strong supplies. The display screen is appropriate with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the intuitive infotainment system is operated by way of a rotary dial.
Peugeot 308
The important thing to any good household hatchback is providing space for storing for these lengthy highway journeys, and that’s the place the Peugeot 308 pulls it out of the bag, by and huge (pardon the pun), to its beneficiant boot providing 470 litres with the seats in place.
Amazingly, in case you flatten the again seats, you’ll be able to stand up to 1,185-litres of loading house, ultimate for when it’s essential to choose up furnishings or do your weekly meals store.
There’s additionally loads of house all through the cabin, like a big, cooled glovebox and spacious door bins.
Vauxhall Astra
The Vauxhall Astra has been round for many years, however the newest variations have taken it into one other stratosphere.
SUVs could also be all the craze proper now, however the newest Astra is able to struggle again and regain a few of its misplaced gross sales. Out there in all-electric, petrol or hybrid fashions, the eighth-generation Astra has its boldest design but, with angular styling.
Regardless of trying barely much like the Peugeot 308, the Astra undercuts its competitor on worth and even affords a 10-inch infotainment display screen inside.
Adrian Flux – specialists in offering automobile insurance coverage
Speak to certainly one of our specialists at present to seek out out how one can get monetary savings in your car insurance.
We’ve shaped relationships with insurers over many years to make sure you get the perfect worth deal to your particular person wants, irrespective of which household hatchback you go for.
Name us on 0800 369 8590 or book a callback at a time that fits you.