Euro cars

[Jordanwolf]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

US roads are not well maintained, that's why American car companies build large soft vehicles that glide over poor roads

No; big is considered luxury. That's why American companies make big fat ugly boat like vehicles.

That, and Americans themselves are big.

[WolfpackS2k]

To say that Americans don't like hatchbacks is almost entirely false. The thing is you have to trick them.

Literally every entry level crossover SUV (CUV) sold in America is, by definition, a hatchback. And they sell like gangbusters. Hell, most CUVs that are one step above entry level are STILL hatchbacks.

Ford Ecoboost - hatchback
Subaru Crosstrek - hatchback
Mercedes GLA - hatchback
Buick Encore - hatchback
Mazda CX-3 - hatchback
Toyota CH-R - hatchback

The list goes on. They're all hatchbacks, and most have less than 6.5 inches of ground clearance. Most of them are even eclipsed in height by larger sedans.

Back to the original post, yes I would consider a lot of those vehicles as a great DD. And I consider 300 hp more than enough for a sports oriented car (assuming it doesn't weigh much more than 3000 lb).

[weederr33]

Originally Posted by WolfpackS2k

To say that Americans don't like hatchbacks is almost entirely false. The thing is you have to trick them.

Literally every entry level crossover SUV (CUV) sold in America is, by definition, a hatchback. And they sell like gangbusters. Hell, most CUVs that are one step above entry level are STILL hatchbacks.

Ford Ecoboost - hatchback
Subaru Crosstrek - hatchback
Mercedes GLA - hatchback
Buick Encore - hatchback
Mazda CX-3 - hatchback
Toyota CH-R - hatchback

The list goes on. They're all hatchbacks, and most have less than 6.5 inches of ground clearance. Most of them are even eclipsed in height by larger sedans.

Back to the original post, yes I would consider a lot of those vehicles as a great DD. And I consider 300 hp more than enough for a sports oriented car (assuming it doesn't weigh much more than 3000 lb).

Ok, but how many "hot hatches" are out there? Of course CUVs are hatches. Most soccer moms, college girls, and helicopter parents associate lower revving, and higher standing vehicles as automatically safe. Manufactures knew this, and instead of making whole new SUVs (which are hatches), they propped their hatches on stilts. Also that list you made, are some incredibly mundane ass vehicles, save for the Mazda 3.

[RIĐO]

I always thought that people in america like hatchbacks but they never had them on the market. Everybody was pissed when you didn't get the civic type R. And everybody was stoked when focus rs went on sale in the us. Also golf gti is also very popular etc.
I would say that they would sell great if offered.

[WolfpackS2k]

Originally Posted by weederr33

Ok, but how many "hot hatches" are out there? Of course CUVs are hatches. Most soccer moms, college girls, and helicopter parents associate lower revving, and higher standing vehicles as automatically safe. Manufactures knew this, and instead of making whole new SUVs (which are hatches), they propped their hatches on stilts. Also that list you made, are some incredibly mundane ass vehicles, save for the Mazda 3.

All I did was say that hatchbacks were popular in the US. I said nothing about hot hatches. Please reread my comment; sorry it would have been more clear if I had quoted the comment about Americans not liking hatchbacks.

I never claimed anything I listed wasn't mundane. IMO those are all boring as hell.

[weederr33]

Originally Posted by WolfpackS2k

Not sure what you're trying to do here? All I did was say that HATCHBACKS were popular in the US. I said nothing about hot hatches. Please reread my comment as related to what I quoted.

I never claimed anything I listed wasn't mundane. IMO those are all boring as hell.

I'm simply pointing out OP was referring to hot hatches in his post. You listed econoboxes. That's all I was referring to. Please reread mine and OPs posts.

[WolfpackS2k]

LOL, dude you're quick. I edited my comment quickly, but not before you saw it, hahahah.

[EAGLE5]

Hot hatches sell poorly in the US because they're not viewed as desirable cars. We buy few wagons, too. With crappy roads, steep driveways, and other drivers in massive trucks, getting a bit of height makes a car much easier in day-to-day driving. Hence the crossover and SUV popularity. I gotta say, running the Ram truck at full height makes traffic driving easier. I can see much farther ahead, despite all the other vehicles in my way. My mom was rearended last week. She'd smashed her brakes in time to avoid hitting the Tesla in front of her, but then the sedan behind her, who couldn't see past her factory-tinted Lexus SUV, nailed her AND pushed her into the Tesla. Fortunately only cars and emotions were hurt.

So would I look at the hatches? Sure. I bet they're lots of fun. Then I'd get something else.

[weederr33]

Originally Posted by WolfpackS2k

LOL, dude you're quick. I edited my comment quickly, but not before you saw it, hahahah.

[Sasquachulator]

Originally Posted by WolfpackS2k

To say that Americans don't like hatchbacks is almost entirely false. The thing is you have to trick them.

Literally every entry level crossover SUV (CUV) sold in America is, by definition, a hatchback. And they sell like gangbusters. Hell, most CUVs that are one step above entry level are STILL hatchbacks.

Ford Ecoboost - hatchback
Subaru Crosstrek - hatchback
Mercedes GLA - hatchback
Buick Encore - hatchback
Mazda CX-3 - hatchback
Toyota CH-R - hatchback

The list goes on. They're all hatchbacks, and most have less than 6.5 inches of ground clearance. Most of them are even eclipsed in height by larger sedans.

Back to the original post, yes I would consider a lot of those vehicles as a great DD. And I consider 300 hp more than enough for a sports oriented car (assuming it doesn't weigh much more than 3000 lb).

They don't like hatchbacks, they like SUV's and a lifted up hatchback is called a CUV. Don't call them hatchbacks because hatchbacks are wimpy small puny cars for tiny people, and SUV's are big burly cars for rough and tumble giant americans!

Yes it is a trick and the Americans fall for it.

[bfrank1972]

I can't fit my gun rack in a hot hatch

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by bfrank1972

I can't fit my gun rack in a hot hatch

Please, you just aren't trying hard enough. There is always a way.

Take this Prius for example...

[Atmo]

Originally Posted by RIĐO

I always thought that people in america like hatchbacks but they never had them on the market. Everybody was pissed when you didn't get the civic type R. And everybody was stoked when focus rs went on sale in the us. Also golf gti is also very popular etc.
I would say that they would sell great if offered.

Forty years ago Toyota had hatchback (branded Liftbacks) Starlet, Tercel, Corolla, Corona and Celica, everything but Cressida. They all flopped after a few years.

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by RIĐO

I always thought that people in america like hatchbacks but they never had them on the market. Everybody was pissed when you didn't get the civic type R. And everybody was stoked when focus rs went on sale in the us. Also golf gti is also very popular etc.
I would say that they would sell great if offered.

To answer the original question first, I would love to see all of those in the States, and would see myself checking them out if I decide to swap my wagon for a hatchback. But they probably wouldn't sell well.

There are small groups of enthusiasts that are/were excited, but the general population doesn't GAF what they drive as long as they can stay connected to the dopamine generator, I mean the internet. As far as American enthusiasts in general go, domestic power is cheap here. I can get a car with a 400+hp V8 for ~$35-40k, and that compares quite favorably to, say a <300hp Golf R at $40k. Particularly when you consider large parts of the country are very plain (pun intended). If you are on a stretch of flat, straight road that goes for miles, passing power trumps cornering ability every time. Roads and parking spaces are typically larger than in Europe, so size really doesn't matter in terms of getting around.

Also keep in mind that American automakers are traditionally from these boring parts of the country, and the domestic car scene the core of American car culture. So it's kind of a revolving door of 'we made a cool thing' that people feel proud of, so they buy it, so more cool things like it are made.