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RIP 3-Door Hatches

  • By Bryce Levido
  • Carsguide
  • 20 October 2009
  • image

    The VW Polo is one of the few 3 door hatches available on the Australian market. Photo Gallery

For the last 20 years in Australia the number of small cars available in 3 door variants has been steadily dropping.

Apart from European hot-hatches such as the Renault Cleo Sport and Peugeot 206 GTi seldom have we seen any manufactures brave enough to bring 3 door hatch variants into our market.  Sure you can get an entry level 3 door Yaris but what about a nice 3 door Corolla Sportivo, um… sorry they don’t come in 3 door in Australia.

This pattern seems to have started in the late 80s with the introduction in droves of mass produced front wheel drive hatch backs.  Remember the Pulsar SSS?  Yep that came in 3 door hatch in Japan.  How about the Corolla GTi, or Mazda 323?  Yep 3 door again overseas.

At one stage in the early 90s even the iconic Golf GTi was only available in 5 door in this country.  For years Australia has been denied many of the accessories and engine options that are prevalent in Europe, the US, and even the rest of Asia, but they are happy to throw in an extra 2 doors for nothing.  There are some companies that have bucked the trend like Honda, but even they gave in to with the “5 door hatch only” Civic model a few years back.  And now it looks like the Europeans have caught on to this trend.  We are missing out on the 2 door BMW 1 series hatch it seems…

Though through the gloom comes the news that Australia will shortly see the new 2 door VW Polo.  A brief hint of fun in a sea of practicality it seams.

I really can’t see any reason why the Australian market seems to be so against the 3 door hatch… especially when it comes to the performance market.

 

Comments on this story

Displaying 3 of 8 comments

  • If you want a 3-door then why pay for a second row of seats either (because it’s impractical to use/access them)!

    Jane Phillips Posted on 14 March 2010 2:16pm

  • Very much agree

    Eresurgexag Posted on 02 March 2010 4:28pm

  • An update to this story.  Nissan Australia are saying that Australia is unlikely to get the 2 door Micra replacement either.

    Bryce of Sydney Posted on 18 January 2010 11:14am

  • Probably because more small car buyers are downsizing.. therefore are more likely to need to carry family members in the back seats. My first two cars were 3 doors, and only because of my budget, it was a royal pain to get people in and out of the back. I personally don’t miss 3 doors at all.

    Kit Smith of Gold Coast, Australia Posted on 20 October 2009 11:41pm

  • no 3 door xr5 focus… 5 doors just doesn’t look right.

    That’s just one example.

    Justin Posted on 20 October 2009 11:22pm

  • Maybe in the 1980’s they didn’t sell well enough? Cars guide should get the readers votes on a 3 door hatch or a 5 door? one of those “Which do you prefer questions.

    Tom Murphey of Sydney Posted on 20 October 2009 5:34pm

  • I do not know how true this is b ut a dealer told me that insurance companies look on all 3 doors as performance models (Getz?)I own a 206GTi and like the 3 doorness of it. I wish VW would bring out the Scirocco.

    John M of Sydney Posted on 20 October 2009 5:29pm

  • 3 and 5 door models - Hyundai Getz, Holden Barina, Ford Focus, Mazda 2, Volkswagen Polo and Golf.
    Specialty 3door hatches - Mini, Alfa MiTo, Fiat 500, Renault Clio, Peugeot 207, VW GTis.
    Seems like plenty of choice to me, Bryce?

    Nigel Pearson of Sydney, Australia Posted on 20 October 2009 4:55pm
Read all 8 comments

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