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. Learn more about hatchbacks.

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 5,148 new and 142,713 used Hatchback cars available on Autotrader, we have the largest range of cars for sale across the UK.

Search 147,861 cars Hatchback deals

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.

Shop by brand

Carousel slide 1

Volkswagen

View 37,187 cars

Ford

View 37,407 cars

Vauxhall

View 26,276 cars

Audi

View 35,835 cars

Used vehicles

Carousel slide 1

Toyota AYGO

1.0 VVT-i Blue MultiMode Euro 4 5dr

£998

4 seats
5 doors
Hatchback
Petrol
Automatic
1.0 litres

Carousel slide 2

Fiat 500

1.2 Lounge Euro 4 3dr

£690

4 seats
3 doors
Hatchback
Petrol
Manual
1.2 litres

Carousel slide 3

Mitsubishi Colt

1.3 GLX 3dr

£900

5 seats
3 doors
Hatchback
Petrol
Manual
1.3 litres

Carousel slide 4

SEAT Ibiza

1.4 16V SE Copa Euro 5 5dr

£1,495

5 seats
5 doors
Hatchback
Petrol
Manual
1.4 litres

New vehicles

Carousel slide 1

Nissan Micra

Standard Range 40kWh Engage Auto 5dr

MRRP

Manufacturer's Recommended Retail Price

£22,995

Now

£18,558

Save

£4,437

Carousel slide 2

Renault Clio

1.0 TCe techno esprit Alpine Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

MRRP

Manufacturer's Recommended Retail Price

£21,645

Now

£17,650

Save

£3,995

Video

Carousel slide 3

MG MG3

1.5 SE Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

MRRP

Manufacturer's Recommended Retail Price

£17,495

Now

£14,445

Save

£3,050

Carousel slide 4

Dacia Spring

100 24.3kWh EXTREME Auto 5dr

MRRP

Manufacturer's Recommended Retail Price

£13,640

Now

£11,549

Save

£2,091

Leasing

Carousel slide 1

Volkswagen Polo

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

From

£199

Per month (inc. VAT)

£2,383 initial payment

24 month contract

5,000 miles p/a

5 seats
5 doors
Hatchback
Petrol
Automatic
1.0 litres

Carousel slide 2

Vauxhall Corsa

1.2 Turbo Ultimate Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

From

£188

Per month (inc. VAT)

£2,252 initial payment

24 month contract

6,000 miles p/a

5 seats
5 doors
Hatchback
Petrol
Automatic
1.2 litres

Carousel slide 3

SEAT Ibiza

1.0 TSI FR Sport DSG Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

From

£183

Per month (inc. VAT)

£2,187 initial payment

24 month contract

5,000 miles p/a

5 seats
5 doors
Hatchback
Petrol
Automatic
1.0 litres

Carousel slide 4

Suzuki Swift

1.2 MHEV Motion Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

From

£165

Per month (inc. VAT)

£1,976 initial payment

36 month contract

5,000 miles p/a

5 seats
5 doors
Hatchback
Hybrid
Manual
1.2 litres

The latest hatchback articles

News

Who builds a proper new-age Micra, Nissan or Geely? | Editor's Choice July 2026

The Micra is an archetypal runabout, but could it be about to lose its crown?

Published 7 days ago

News

Video | Polestar 5

The Polestar 5 hits the ground like a luxurious bat out of hell, but is it worth the price tag?

Published 16 days ago

Expert Review

Geely EX2 (2026 - ) review

China’s best-selling car has arrived – it’s affordable, spacious and cute, should the Renault 5 be worried?

Published 17 days ago

News

Video | Renault 5 Turbo 3E: the 555 horsepower mini supercar

History repeats in electrified style with Renault’s mad new widebody reinvention of the classic 5 Turbo

Published 17 days ago

Shop all brands

Carousel slide 1

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. Learn more about hatchbacks.

New & used hatchbacks

Find your perfect hatchback