US spec Fiesta nose unveiled?

[S204STi]

Tell that to Toyota, Chevrolet, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai, Kia, and pretty much anyone who makes a car this small.

The one and only reason they do so is because of the tastes of USDM buyers.

[r0tor]

theres a hatch behind it -shrug-

[2o6]

The one and only reason they do so is because of the tastes of USDM buyers.

And China, Brazil, India, most of Asia as well as eastern Europe tend to prefer sedans versus hatches.


Only Western Europe likes hatches.

[Madman]

The one and only reason they do so is because of the tastes of USDM buyers.

And China, Brazil, India, most of Asia as well as eastern Europe tend to prefer sedans versus hatches.

As I've said on numerous occasions, when it come to cars, America is a Third-World market.


Cheers,
Madman of the People

[2o6]

As I've said on numerous occasions, when it come to cars, America is a Third-World market.


Cheers,
Madman of the People

Yes, because the entire ASEAN market is a third world.

[USA_Idol]

What's the point?

To see how badly the car's proportions could be mangled.   

[BimmerM3]

With some hatchbacks, there's almost no floor space behind the rear seat, while the sedan offers a trunk that's more usable if you don't plan to drop down the rear seat. The Chevrolet Aveo and Scion xA/Toyota Echo were that way, and photos suggest the Fiesta is the same.

I'd pick the greater versatility, but there is some merit beyond just conventionality.

Exactly. Compare the rear overhangs of the sedan and hatch. The sedan almost certainly has more trunk space than the sedan. Sure it looks goofy, but sub-compact sedans always do.

[ChrisV]

Looks like the nose is being more in line with the taurus, with a slightly smaller grille opening than the Europeans are going for these days (why a subcompact needs as much grille as a Dodge Ram was always a mystery).

And as much as I like small hatches, small sedans do make a bit of sense, too. If you have a hatch cover to cover up what's in the hatch from prying eyes, then you don't have any more actual space than a trunked sedan (and often less), so for security, it's nice (for example, there are times when my wife likes to lock her larger purse in the trunk and just take a credit card holder when we go shopping. A trunk offers extra security vs a hatch).

As for American's aversion to hatches in geeneral, though, I don't see that as the case. They simply buy much larger hatchbacks (known as SUVs) for that sort of practicality.

Or PT Cruisers, which are the exact size and layout as everyone thinks Americans should buy instead of SUVs, but STILL don't get any respect amongst certain segments of the population (ironically, the same segment that says people should buy cars of that exact size and layout...)

[Eye of the Tiger]

If someone can break into a hatchback, they can break into a trunk in most cases, especially cheap small cars with no lock on the power trunk release button.

[ChrisV]

If someone can break into a hatchback, they can break into a trunk in most cases, especially cheap small cars with no lock on the power trunk release button.

It isn't about the ability to break in, but the ability to SEE in. A cover over the hatch area does the same thing as a trunk, as far as keeping things out of sight. But then you lose the size advantage of the hatch.

[SVT666]

It isn't about the ability to break in, but the ability to SEE in. A cover over the hatch area does the same thing as a trunk, as far as keeping things out of sight. But then you lose the size advantage of the hatch.

The hatch allows a greater opening for loading even if you leave the cover in place.  I took my cover out, but my windows are tinted with 5% so you can't see in anyway.

[ChrisV]

In some cars, yes, in some cars, teh trunk opens quite vertical, with lots of load in room.

Simply put, it ends up being a matter of preference and the sense of security. And yeah, sometimes visibility.

Now that more high end luxury marques are coming out with hatch "sedans" maybe the stigma will wear off (though I notice a distinct lack of support for the high end hatchbacks, too, even here)

[USA_Idol]

My Focus sedan has a larger behind-the-seat area than my brother's Focus hatchback.  The sedan will definitely hold more stuff...assuming it's compact enough to fit through the sedan's ridiculously small trunk opening.   

[Madman]

It isn't about the ability to break in, but the ability to SEE in. A cover over the hatch area does the same thing as a trunk, as far as keeping things out of sight. But then you lose the size advantage of the hatch.

No, you don't lose the advantage of the hatch.  You simply roll or fold away the cargo cover and you have a much more usable load space than you would in almost any sedan.  Every hatch I've ever owned had a cargo cover, so the security issue is a bogus red herring.

Cheers,
Madman of the People

[Rich]

No, you don't lose the advantage of the hatch.  You simply roll or fold away the cargo cover and you have a much more usable load space than you would in almost any sedan.  Every hatch I've ever owned had a cargo cover, so the security issue is a bogus red herring.

Cheers,
Madman of the People

What he's saying is if you ave a hatch and are trying to smuggle a giant 4' tall piece of gold, you can't use size advantage of the hatch with the cargo cover

[SVT666]

Cargo covers are removable.

[ChrisV]

Cargo covers are removable.

Why yes, they are, But if you're trying to hide something in the hatch area, you have to use the cargo cover. If you use the cargo cover, then you can't put as large an item in there. And if you already have a large item in there (say you went to Home Depot first and got something large), you can't then hide valuables in there as well (such as a laptop computer. I'll give a real world example: when I leave work, I go and pick my wife up from her work. She takes her work laptop home with her, as she also works from home. When we go straight from work to the gym, she puts the paptop and her purse in the trunk, where it isn't visible, so the inside of the car looks empty. In a hatchback car with the cover removed for use in carying larger things at any given moment, that area is visible and not "secure.")

I've had numerous hatchbacks with cargo covers, as wll as SUVs with cargo covers (like the Rangie has). A trunked sedan is something that most wives find more secure to put their valuables in, whether they are or not, and are less likely to be broken into (yes, some people will still break in, but the fact is, it's less likely in a sedan)

[TBR]

My Focus sedan has a larger behind-the-seat area than my brother's Focus hatchback.  The sedan will definitely hold more stuff...assuming it's compact enough to fit through the sedan's ridiculously small trunk opening.   

Having looked at a ZX3 earlier today, I agree. The cargo bay wasn't very big. Of course, for the size of the car it does have a very capacious rear seat as well.

[NomisR]

Why yes, they are, But if you're trying to hide something in the hatch area, you have to use the cargo cover. If you use the cargo cover, then you can't put as large an item in there. And if you already have a large item in there (say you went to Home Depot first and got something large), you can't then hide valuables in there as well (such as a laptop computer. I'll give a real world example: when I leave work, I go and pick my wife up from her work. She takes her work laptop home with her, as she also works from home. When we go straight from work to the gym, she puts the paptop and her purse in the trunk, where it isn't visible, so the inside of the car looks empty. In a hatchback car with the cover removed for use in carying larger things at any given moment, that area is visible and not "secure.")

I've had numerous hatchbacks with cargo covers, as wll as SUVs with cargo covers (like the Rangie has). A trunked sedan is something that most wives find more secure to put their valuables in, whether they are or not, and are less likely to be broken into (yes, some people will still break in, but the fact is, it's less likely in a sedan)

RDX has a huge center console where you can hide a kid in there if you want..

[USA_Idol]

Why yes, they are, But if you're trying to hide something in the hatch area, you have to use the cargo cover. If you use the cargo cover, then you can't put as large an item in there. And if you already have a large item in there (say you went to Home Depot first and got something large), you can't then hide valuables in there as well (such as a laptop computer. I'll give a real world example: when I leave work, I go and pick my wife up from her work. She takes her work laptop home with her, as she also works from home. When we go straight from work to the gym, she puts the paptop and her purse in the trunk, where it isn't visible, so the inside of the car looks empty. In a hatchback car with the cover removed for use in carying larger things at any given moment, that area is visible and not "secure.")

Paptop?   

I've had numerous hatchbacks with cargo covers, as wll as SUVs with cargo covers (like the Rangie has). A trunked sedan is something that most wives find more secure to put their valuables in, whether they are or not, and are less likely to be broken into (yes, some people will still break in, but the fact is, it's less likely in a sedan)

If a thief gets in via one of the doors, even a sedan's trunk is quite accessible if there is no lock on the folding rear seat (or the owner forgets to lock it).  I suspect that makes sedans just as "appealing" to thieves.