Is a Hatchback Right for You?

These days, there are a lot of cool hatchback vehicles on the market, such as the Nissan Versa Note and the Nissan Leaf. Also known as 5-door cars, hatchbacks have long been known for their spacious storage room and ease of loading. But before you jump onto the bandwagon and buy a new hatchback, there are a few things to know about owning this type of vehicle.

Hatchbacks come in multiple sizes.

People often think of hatchbacks as being larger vehicles, much like full-size SUVs. This may have been the case a decade or two ago, but today, there are far more options. You can find small, medium, and large hatchbacks. So whether you want a compact car or a mid-size vehicle, you can find one with this sort of door access if that's what you'd prefer.

Hatchbacks often have rear seats that fold down.

When you start looking at hatchbacks, you may initially open a few back compartments and think "wow, there's not as much room back here as I thought." But rest assured -- there's more storage space. It's just in hiding. Typically, the back seats in a hatchback fold down, opening up a lot more room for cargo when needed. If you plan on hauling a lot of stuff and some kids in the backseat at the same time, you might need a larger SUV, but if you'll typically only have one or the other, the convertible-seat hatchback is suitable.

Hatchbacks have shorter bodies than trunk-style cars.

This is an often-overlooked benefit of hatchback cars. Because the storage space in the back is more vertical and less horizontal, the vehicle tends to be shorter, which makes it much easier to drive in narrow spaces. This is one reason why people in cities are increasingly buying hatchbacks. It's easier to parallel park a hatchback because of the shorter body.

Hatchbacks are not just for grandparents.

When hatchbacks were new, they gained a bit of a reputation as being for older adults and grandparents. But brands like Nissan are breaking apart this stereotype and designing hatchbacks that are sleek, gas-efficient, and tailored to the younger crowd. Nobody is going to laugh at you or accuse you of driving a grandma-mobile if you buy a new hatchback.

Happy car shopping! Keep the factors above in mind as you shop for the perfect hatchback. Start looking for your next car by visiting a local Nissan dealership.