If you’re looking for a car with a lot of cargo space, SUVs aren’t your only options. Hatchbacks are often cheaper and have more than enough space.
The main difference between them and sedans is that sedans have a lockable trunk at the rear, whereas hatchbacks have a liftgate-style trunk door hinged at the roof. The cargo area of a hatchback is not separate like a sedan, but it is part of the passenger area and accessible from the rear seat.
But you can do that with SUVs too. To be an SUV, cars need to have elevated ride-height, off-road drive modes, all-wheel drive and look rugged. All may not be necessary.
What about wagons? Wagons are like hatchbacks but with an elongated cargo area behind the rear seats. Look up a VW Golf and compare it to a VW SportWagen, and you’ll know the difference. Wagons also have a third row of side windows.
When you test-drive a wagon or hatchback, make sure to check these five things:
Rear Seats: See how easy they are to fold and whether they can be folded from the cargo area. Do they fold flat or just hang? How far can you push the front seats with the rear seats folded? Lie down and see if you fit to be able to stare at the sky through the moonroof.
Frequent Cargo: If there’s something you will almost always carry, like a golf-bag, ski bag, guitar, keyboard, etc., bring it along and check if it fits.
Visibility: Get in the driver’s seats and check for blind spots. Some hatchbacks have wide C-pillars that obstruct your view. If visibility is compromised, ensure that it has blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert installed.
Position: Set the driver’s seat into your preferred driving position. Then go sit behind it to check how much room there is for any passengers that may sit there.
Speed: If you will use this hatchback as a commuter and for your road trips, test it on the highway. Listen to the tire and wind noise. See how it feels over the freeway expansion joints. Check the ride quality. And listen if the engine has to work hard to maintain highway speeds.