For years US buyers have stayed away from hatchbacks even though they are super practical and just as fun, if not more fun than their sedan counterparts. In the last year we’ve seen some significant new entries in the compact hatchback segment that may finally win over US buyers, like they have with our friends in Europe. This year the Honda Civic hatchback finally made a comeback and Chevy even introduced a Cruze hatchback. Although both new entries are welcome, they already have some heavy competition from the segment leader – the Mazda3 5-Door.
The Mazda3 is actually one of the oldest models now in the segment, but each year the Mazda3 sedan and hatchback continue to be the benchmarks for the segment. Here are five things that you should know about the 2017 Mazda3 5-Door:
2Practical
One of the main reasons buyers will choose a hatchback over its sedan counterpart is because of the added practicality and versatility that you get with the hatch. With the rear seat up, the Mazda3 hatchback has 20.2 cu. ft. of space, which easily tops the Mazda3 with its 12.4 cu. ft. of space. Even better, put the rear seat down and you have an unobstructed 47.1 cu.ft. of space for all your stuff.
Related: 2017 Mazda CX-9 – Review
If you were to compare the interior space of the Mazda3 vs the Civic, you’ll find that they are pretty similar. A Civic hatchback without a moonroof does offer a bit more headroom than the Mazda3, but the legroom in both models is similar.
