You can tell if it's a hatchback by the boot access. A hatchback will have a rear door that covers the width of the car's back end and opens upwards for easy access. The rear window will be in the boot lid itself. Hatchbacks are available with two or four side doors, with the boot lid counting as an extra door (meaning they are called three or five-door cars).

What is the difference between a saloon and a hatchback?

The main differences between hatchbacks and saloons (also sometimes called sedans) are the car's boot and overall structure. A hatchback has boot space inside the car, just behind the rear seats. This is accessed through a third or fifth door, which offers more practicality thanks to the bigger boot aperture. Saloons, however, have the boot as a separate part that sticks out. Saloon boots tend to open below the rear window. A saloon has three 'compartments'; one for the engine, one for the passengers and one for the cargo (boot). A hatchback has two compartments: one for the engine and one for the passengers and cargo. This doesn't mean a saloon has more seating space. A hatchback can also carry up to five passengers, but you can put the seats down for increased boot space – offering a bit more flexibility.

What is the best hatchback?

Hatchbacks remain one of the most popular choices in the UK. As such, there's plenty of choice on the market. Here's some of the best hatchbacks on the market today , as picked by our experts.

New & used hatchbacks

With 5,419 new and 146,441 used Hatchback cars available on Auto Trader, we have the largest range of cars for sale across the UK.

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Find your perfect hatchback

Hatchbacks make popular family cars thanks to their decent boot-size and roomy interiors.

If you’re looking for practical layouts, efficient engines and stylish designs, then a hatchback might be the right car for you. In addition to easy boot access, the boot lid effectively acts as an extra door; meaning you can find three-door and five-door hatchbacks in a range of shapes and sizes

Explore the range of used and new hatchbacks available on Autotrader today.

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Used vehicles

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Mazda Mazda2

1.3 TS Euro 5 3dr (a/c)

£795

5 seats
3 doors
Hatchback
Petrol
Manual
1.3 litres

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Vauxhall Corsa

1.0 ecoFLEX 12V Excite Euro 5 3dr (A/C)

£849

5 seats
3 doors
Hatchback
Petrol
Manual
1.0 litres

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Vauxhall Insignia

2.0 CDTi ecoFLEX SRi Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

£995

5 seats
5 doors
Hatchback
Diesel
Manual
2.0 litres

Video

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Kia Rio

1.4 CRDi EcoDynamics 2 Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

£500

5 seats
5 doors
Hatchback
Diesel
Manual
1.4 litres

New vehicles

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Volkswagen Golf

2.0 TSI GTI Edition 50 DSG Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£52,600

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Vauxhall Corsa

1.2 Turbo GS Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

MRRP

Manufacturer's Recommended Retail Price

£24,485

Now

£17,562

Save

£6,923

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Citroen C3

1.2 Turbo PLUS Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

MRRP

Manufacturer's Recommended Retail Price

£18,805

Now

£15,995

Save

£2,810

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Vauxhall Corsa

1.2 Turbo Yes Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

MRRP

Manufacturer's Recommended Retail Price

£20,240

Now

£16,495

Save

£3,745

Leasing

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Volkswagen Golf

2.0 TSI GTI DSG Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

From

£303

Per month (inc. VAT)

£3,628 initial payment

24 month contract

6,000 miles p/a

5 seats
5 doors
Hatchback
Petrol
Automatic
2.0 litres

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Renault 5 E-Tech electric

comfort range 52kWh techno+ Auto 5dr

From

£218

Per month (inc. VAT)

£2,609 initial payment

24 month contract

6,000 miles p/a

5 seats
5 doors
Hatchback
Electric
Automatic
252 miles

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Volkswagen Polo

1.0 TSI R-Line DSG Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

From

£221

Per month (inc. VAT)

£2,646 initial payment

36 month contract

5,000 miles p/a

5 seats
5 doors
Hatchback
Petrol
Automatic
1.0 litres

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Peugeot 208

1.2 PureTech GT Premium Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

From

£200

Per month (inc. VAT)

£2,399 initial payment

36 month contract

5,000 miles p/a

5 seats
5 doors
Hatchback
Petrol
Manual
1.2 litres

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Your questions answered

The main differences between hatchbacks and saloons (also sometimes called sedans) are the car's boot and overall structure. A hatchback has boot space inside the car, just behind the rear seats. This is accessed through a third or fifth door, which offers more practicality thanks to the bigger boot aperture. Saloons, however, have the boot as a separate part that sticks out. Saloon boots tend to open below the rear window. A saloon has three 'compartments'; one for the engine, one for the passengers and one for the cargo (boot). A hatchback has two compartments: one for the engine and one for the passengers and cargo. This doesn't mean a saloon has more seating space. A hatchback can also carry up to five passengers, but you can put the seats down for increased boot space – offering a bit more flexibility.

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