Should I abandon my dream of a hatchback vehicle?

April 17, 2018 11:29 AM

I want a hatchback car. However, none of the available pool seems ideal or I have concerns for long-term reliability. Should I lower my standards, accept that a well-rated sedan is my future, or is there another option?

I've been wanting to purchase a new (new to me, as in pre-owned/used) car for myself. I'm in no rush to do so and just doing preliminary knowledge gathering to aid my in either buying a car in the near future or not feeling rushed to decide in the further future if my car dies or I'm involved in an accident.

I am currently driving a 2004 Nissan Sentra and it has been my daily commuter for the past 6 years. It is low mileage at approximately 77,000 (I purchased it at 24,000) and has given me very little grief: Primarily standard maintenance repairs and more recently age-related repairs. My only big/expensive hiccup was replacement of the head gasket a year ago, which was a "on the radar but not appreciated at the time" because it is a known Sentra issue of that year range and usually pops up around the 100k mark. Granted, my car is older and thus mileage doesn't matter quite as much anymore; the parts are just aging. It has been a solid commuter, taken me across the country in a move from NJ to CA, and I'm in no rush to purchase a new vehicle; I've just been wanting to for the past two years.

My plan was always to just buy a pre-owned Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic when the time came since the seems to be the wise thing to do (the two brands are historically reliable). In the past I've always purchased my vehicle based on my income (I drove a 1991 Ford Tempo for five years pre-Nissan), but my income and saved down payment is currently much greater than it was when I acquired my Nissan and, in my field, is not liable to change greatly at any point. So it was suggested by a parent and my partner that I should consider also looking into purchasing a vehicle that I'd enjoy driving.

I've really always wanted a hatchback for the ability to fit things into the back (I'm tired of the limitations of my sedan). Other wants: reliability, (I plan to keep cars long-term), good gas mileage, and comfort of body fit. I also currently only drive automatic transmissions; I've only recently started to learn manual. I prefer a smaller car over an SUV.

I have considered and test drove several cars in the past several weeks: Honda Fit, Subaru Impreza Hatchback, Subaru Crosstour, Mazda3, Toyota Corolla iM (basically the Scion iM), Honda HR-V, and more recently the Hyundai Elantra GT. As much as I was really wanting a Honda Fit, the test drive proved it will probably not be a comfortable fit for any type of longish drive due to my height/leg length and thus I've had to rule out similarly subcompact hatchbacks and had to add in subcompact SUVs into consideration as well. The only four cars that were comfortable in terms of leg room and would be cars I'd consider buying were the Subaru Impreza, Subuaru Crosstour, Honda HR-V, and Hyundai Elantra GT.

I just have concerns about each vehicle:
-The Subaru's AWD doesn't seem necessary for me and has a potential for added maintenance, even thought I may be moving back to the NJ area in the future; a solid set of winter tires on FWD is just as decent as AWD.
-Honda HR-V's engine feels under powered for it's size. This may be because I have never driven a car with a CVT transmission, may not affect reliability at all, and it may not matter for my style of driving (speed limit, commuter/cruiser, weekend traveler). And the only year that has a volume knob is the 2018; they admitted this detail in favor of a touchscreen in the 2016 and 2017 models. I care little for electronics (although won't say no to a rear view camera and blind spot alert lights), but prefer knobs over touchscreens.
-Hyundai Elantra GT (Hyundai i30 in the UK) has the lowest gas mileage of the bunch. And Hyundai/Kia, although multiple awards in recent years for reliability, still carries a stigma for building "cheap" cars that I'm having troubling shaking off. And long-term reliability is still a unknown.

I can't decide if I'm setting my standards too high, if I'm missing something when it comes to the "cons" listed above, or if should just settle for a reliable, if not what I want, sedan.

I'd appreciate any thoughts on the matter.

posted by Thirty7Degrees to Travel & Transportation (50 answers total)

I bought a late model used Impreza wagon a year ago and I love it. It held SO MANY girl scout cookies this year and drove extremely capably in a lot of snow and ice and I love it.

My previous car was a Rav4 that I drove for 15 years. (I have only ever driven AWD vehicles and that was a non negotiable requirement for me when I was car hunting.) The Impreza is a lot zippier and more fun to drive than the Rav4, which is nice.
posted by phunniemee at 11:36 AM on April 17, 2018

I have had a Hyundai Elantra GT (2003) that came to me used in 2008. It has been a dream. It drove me up and down the East Coast and moved our family from the MidAtlantic to the Midwest. I drive it daily in MN, through winters and rain and summers. It has been ultra reliable and fantastic. The mileage is in the 25ish mpg range for my daily surface road commute and closer to 38mpg when I drive it on the highway. In the 10 years I've owned it, other than routine things like tires, brakes and oil changes, I've replaced the clutch once and I just had the radiator replaced after it developed a hole. Otherwise, it's been incredibly reliable and has run like a dream. The hatchback is definitely a selling point and I've been able to haul surprisingly large stuff back there with the seats folded down.

In short, give it a serious look. It's been a great car for our family.
posted by goggie at 11:37 AM on April 17, 2018 [1 favorite]

We had a 2005 Hyundai Elantra GT until it met an untimely death (due to another driver's failure to yield right of way) in 2010 and I was sorry to see it go. It never gave us any trouble although the greater road noise, which is common for hatchbacks due to the lack of shielding between the cabin and the trunk, was a bit of an annoyance.
posted by DrGail at 11:43 AM on April 17, 2018

Are you interested in a hybrid? A reasonably late-model Prius or Lexus CT200h might meet your needs. Make sure the latter is has a reverse camera though - it seems to only have been included with specific packages. Both are CVT, so no shifting. I can't speak to the insulation of more recent Priuseses, but in terms of reliability my '09 Prius is about 100k and shows no signs of stopping, despite being kind of a beater now. We'll get that little fucker past 200 yet.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 11:45 AM on April 17, 2018 [4 favorites]

Hey if you like Honda Civics, you do know they come in a hatchback version, right? I think about 75% of the newish Civics I see on the road are hatchbacks.

As far as the AWD in the Crosstrek (Crosstour is a Honda Accord variant, no longer made) I can say that the AWD in my '03 Subaru Outback has been 100% trouble-free and I really appreciate having it. I drive a FWD vehicle (with ESC) for work and it's fine but it's just not the same. If I need to pull away smartly from a stopsign while turning, it'll get all squirrely. Same for if I hit a wet patch on a turn, need to climb a snowy driveway, etc. Not disastrous but there are very obvious limits to how much traction I can have before the wheels start to cut loose. Not so in my Outback; I've had it for several years now and I still haven't found its limits. I mean I'm sure they exist, but I've never hit them in normal driving. The wheels just always do what they're supposed to.

The Crosstrek also has the lowest Total Cost of Ownership of any car in its class, at least in its first five years anyway. I like them and I'd get one myself if I wanted another car that's similar to my Outback, now that actual Outbacks have gotten so huge.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 11:48 AM on April 17, 2018 [8 favorites]

I love my Kia Soul, which I bought after being similarly disappointed in the Honda Fit. It is much roomier. Definitely give Kia reliability a look. They come with a 10-year powertrain warranty too.
posted by lunasol at 11:50 AM on April 17, 2018 [2 favorites]

I've always wanted a hatchback and have always settled for a sedan (Civics and Corollas). I do think you'll find that either of those sedans will fit more in the trunk than the Sentra for what it's worth.

You may want to add Ford Focus to your list - my over 6' tall, car enthusiast brother has a Ford Focus hatchback and has been happy with it.
posted by Kriesa at 11:50 AM on April 17, 2018 [1 favorite]

You dont list the Toyota Prius which has better gas mileage than anything listed and is very reliable.

VW Golf is the archetypal hatchback and very roomy for a compact car, and should be on your list if you are not boycotting VW.

a solid set of winter tires on FWD is just as decent as AWD

That is not my experience. I find that an AWD has much better grip in bad conditions and an AWD with winter tires is obviously better still.
If you are really craving room in the back, look at the Subaru Outback. The rear cargo space is insane, it's fun to drive, very comfortable inside, and can handle bad road conditions very well.
We actually went with the Forester, which is taller but has a smaller footprint on the road, and has great safety features these days.
posted by w0mbat at 11:51 AM on April 17, 2018 [5 favorites]

I’ve put ~10k miles on my new-to-me VW GTI manual hatchback and it’s been a dream. Very reliable, handles well, comfortable for 8+ hour driving days. (We do a lot of road trips together.) Smooth gear shifting, big clutch sweet spot for new manual drivers. Easily packs several snowboards, hiking gear, human bodies etc. Heated seats, even! I can’t recommend this car enough, seriously.

If you don’t want to deal with the turbo in the GTI (requires replacing a few times over the life of the car), there’s the VW Golf as well, which I drove for a time before this and would strongly recommend you test-drive as well to compare and see which one suits you best.

If my GTI were a person, I might have married it if I weren’t engaged already.
posted by Snacks at 11:51 AM on April 17, 2018 [3 favorites]

I'm on my 4th Subaru Outback and will probably always have one. I drive a lot in the Chicago 'burbs and back and forth to Northern Wisconsin. We find the Outback quite comfortable for our 4.5 hour drives to Wisconsin, and have found that the comfort level has improved with each newer version of the Outback . I'm averaging 28mpg. As mentioned above, the Outback cargo space is a bit larger than the Forester's, but the Forester does have more headroom. We regularly travel with a bunch of cargo + 2 dogs and the Outback space is amazing (as also noted upthread).
posted by sarajane at 11:57 AM on April 17, 2018 [1 favorite]

And Hyundai/Kia, although multiple awards in recent years for reliability, still carries a stigma for building "cheap" cars that I'm having troubling shaking off. And long-term reliability is still a unknown.

I don't think it's an unknown at all. They are very reliable. Get over the stigma, because they are usually much better appointed than other brands at the same price.

I had the same "stigma" misgivings when looking for a late model used car in 2010. The best car for the best price was a Kia Forte Koup with 25,000 miles on it. It has been a great car. It now has almost 90,000 miles on it, and besides oil changes, new tires, and a new battery I have spent exactly zero dollars on repairs or maintenance. It is now hail-battered and suffered a couple collisions, but I'm driving the beaten vehicle every day because it's so reliable that I don't want to give it up!

I was so impressed with Kia's reliability and features that when it was time to buy a second car I got a Kia Soul. That was a year and a half ago, and after 22,000 miles, including multiple road trips, I have no regrets.

But, you know, people like what they like, so you may not like Kias at all. But don't let "stigma" prevent you from taking a look into a Kia Forte 5 door.
posted by The Deej at 11:58 AM on April 17, 2018 [4 favorites]

I third the VW GTI/Golf. I had a GTI a few years back and am thinking of getting one again.
posted by ejs at 12:02 PM on April 17, 2018 [2 favorites]

We bought a GTI about 18 months ago, and we're crazy about it.
posted by uberchet at 12:07 PM on April 17, 2018 [2 favorites]

Nthing the Kia Soul. Mine is 5 years old now with literally zero problems. I bought it new for considerably less than comparable cars, and love it. I am surprised about how solid it's been. I came to the Soul after a long series of VW Golf(s) and a GTI, which I would also recommend except for the reliability requirement... However I still do lust over the GTI and have not written off owning one again in the future.
posted by cgg at 12:08 PM on April 17, 2018 [2 favorites]

I'll just mention that VW sells (still quite compact) wagon variants of the Golf which can be had with AWD.
posted by kickingtheground at 12:26 PM on April 17, 2018 [2 favorites]

The only maintenance issue I've had with owning AWD (three Subarus over the past 20 years--two Foresters and an Outback) is that when you get the tires replaced, it is recommended that you get all four done at once rather than piecemeal. Otherwise we have had no out-of-the-ordinary maintenance costs associated with AWD.

You'll note that Subaru owners tend to only own Subarus for life, and there's a reason for that. There's no comparison when it comes to how they handle, even in favorable conditions. I also find the turning radius to be outstanding, which helps a lot because I do most of my driving in a city. I can parallel park that Outback like what.
posted by soren_lorensen at 12:36 PM on April 17, 2018 [1 favorite]

Nthing the Golf; I bought mine used and have been driving it for ~4 years, and have only had to do routine maintenance.

Also nthing that AWD is better than you think it is, and Subarus run forever. I don't own one because I prefer the driving experience of the Golf (and I live in a warm-ish place), but I grew up in Maine and can attest that there's a reason everyone there has a Subaru.

More broadly, though, it seems like you're trying to find ways of talking yourself out of all the cars on your list, and avoiding obvious solutions (Civic hatchback, Golf). Are you sure you're not just psyching yourself out because you're anxious about this purchase?
posted by dizziest at 12:36 PM on April 17, 2018 [3 favorites]

You mention the iM but did you try the Scion tC? It looks like a coupe but it's actually a fastback (no matter what the Scion people tell you), which puts you closer to your hatchback desire.

The engine is a good size (2.4L) that seemed like it had enough power. Legroom seemed to be fine for my test drive passengers (that's never a problem for me). I was this-close to buying one, but decided I really needed a closed trunk because at the time I often transported expensive work gear I didn't want exposed to view.

Stick to you guns. Don't cave in to the siren song of a sedan. We need every two-door buyer out there to keep buying two-doors, otherwise they will go away entirely (which they practically have).
posted by sardonyx at 12:38 PM on April 17, 2018 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: I do know that Honda makes a Honda Civic hatchback, and it is sort of on my list.. not not really because, I'm not a huge fan of how it looks. I've never been a fan of the sporty look! And even used models are out of my price range in the > 24k category.

I didn't add the Prius to my list due it also often being out of my price range, the idea that the hybrid battery isn't really environmentally friendly to create as gas and the cost to obtain equals out the savings in gas mileage over time, and most affordable used models are high-mileage. But I do know that they are really reliable, so I may reconsider this or, at the very least, do a test drive before I rule them out completely!

And the VW Golf and GTI do not seem to have enough front leg room to be comfortable for me.

The Toyota iM had the worse visibility in all the cars I've test driven so far, but I will definitely look at the Scion tC.

My price range is ideally a maximum of 20k, although I would go a little over that amount for the right car and knowing that taxes, registration, etc. will possibly bring me above that amount. Also looking for a car that is a 2012 or newer.

Thanks for the answers so far! I will definitely have to reconsider the handiness of AWD in the Impreza, the reliability of the Elantra GT (which can be obtained fairly inexpensively in a pre-owned model due to their faster depreciation), and take a look at the Kia Soul and Kia Forte Hatchback!
posted by Thirty7Degrees at 12:40 PM on April 17, 2018

Have you taken a look at a Toyota Matrix? Its basically a Corolla with a hatchback. My friend has one, and I'm totally comfortable driving it occasionally (I'm 6'0 with a 34.5 inch inseam - YMMV). They are rock solid like the Corollas. If you are comfortable with a slightly older car, also check out the Pontiac Vibe. It is the exact same engine/build as a matrix, just re-skinned for GM. Bonus is that they are usually cheaper than matrix because of the Toyota factor ($$$), but unfortunately were no longer made after 2010.
posted by snowysoul at 12:43 PM on April 17, 2018

Seriously, go drive a Ford Focus. They’ve had a few different iterations over the years, but they’re good cars and you can fit a lot of stuff in them. I’m over 6 feet tall and had no problems with headroom at any time.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 1:00 PM on April 17, 2018

And the VW Golf and GTI do not seem to have enough front leg room to be comfortable for me.


I mean, to each their own, but I'm a 6'4" male and I've never had issues driving a Golf. I own the aforementioned AWD Golf Wagon and it's really really great.
posted by GuyZero at 1:14 PM on April 17, 2018

Another vote for the Ford Focus. I bought one the model year that had a terrible transmission, so bad that Ford bought it back as a lemon. That said, I'd buy another one in a hot minute. 6' tall, and could still push the seat back if I wanted to.
posted by DandyRandy at 1:17 PM on April 17, 2018

I love my Nissan Juke! I’ve always driven two seaters, so the mini suv felt enormous at first.

But it’s not at all. It’s luke a regular car - with a hatchback - that’s just up higher. Horsepower is kind of lacking, but otherwise it’s great. Roomy but not that big. Mileage is pretty good too.
posted by crankyrogalsky at 1:31 PM on April 17, 2018

I've ridden in both Ford Focus and Ford Fiesta hatchbacks, and they sound like they might suit your bill. Nthing the Kia Soul.

My new-to-me car is a Nissan Versa Note, which is small but astonishingly roomy on the inside--you might give it a go. Also, the rear seats fold virtually flat, which has been awesome for carrying cargo around.
posted by thomas j wise at 1:54 PM on April 17, 2018

Another vote to reconsider your preconceptions about Subaru AWD, and especially the idea that it will lead to more maintenance issues. Look up stats on that model and/or ask a couple local mechanics how often anything like that actually comes up. In my (admittedly limited) experience, Subarus are rock-solid reliable, even up to 200K miles.
posted by Joey Buttafoucault at 1:58 PM on April 17, 2018

Man, that low-mileage Sentra is just getting started, and you've even replaced the head gasket already! Was there something wrong with it? If not, I'd rather have that and 20-plus thousand dollars than anything mentioned.

If I were forced to replace the car, I'd get a Golf wagon. Otherwise I'd revisit this question when the next major repair comes up, which might be years.
posted by Kwine at 2:12 PM on April 17, 2018

My first thought when reading your question was, "Why haven't you test-driven a Prius?" Three years ago I purchased a new Prius (regular model, base trim) for 23k. It holds value well, but you should be able to find one without too much trouble at the top of your budget in late-model used. The hatchback capacity is awesome, as is head/legroom--my 6'3" partner is very comfortable in it for long drives.

Family in Montana also drives a Prius and it handles fine with snow tires.
posted by serelliya at 2:21 PM on April 17, 2018 [2 favorites]

The Toyota Matrix was discontinued in the U.S. in 2013, and in Canada in 2014. Its hatchback is nice, but it doesn't belong on your list.
posted by Iris Gambol at 2:25 PM on April 17, 2018

Response by poster: Yeah, I definitely know that keeping my current car is probably better financially wise. I guess that's another question for the MeFi hivemind.

My car recently pulled a "stop working while in the middle of driving at 45 miles per hour" stunt that left me stranded in a left lane until I got the engine to start, limped across the lanes of traffic where it stopped running again. This has definitely rattled my sense of reliability. A crank shaft sensor replacement seems to have fixed that problem. Routine maintenance and check engines lights are one thing and I'm quick to address both things, but having it just stop working has definitely created a sense of unease. As for the head gasket... It was leaking coolant into the cylinders. Nissan Sentras around the year range are prone to head gasket problems so it seemed wise to address it quick. Although the repair probably exceeded the value of the car, it seemed wise to repair based on mileage and overall possible longevity of the car. But... with the recent problem, I definitely feel anxious about driving it lately. I recognize that it is possibly unfounded anxiety; one incident that was repaired doesn't mean it has become totally unreliable.
posted by Thirty7Degrees at 2:38 PM on April 17, 2018

I love my hatchback and would never buy a non-hatch car- it's just so practical to have that volume of space and flexibility. If that's important to you, don't compromise on it!

And old Priuses are great- they start at $2000 for a 2000 model and go up about $1000 per year in my area (so a 2005 is $5000, a 2010 is $10,000, etc). Note that the Prius C has a weirdly small hatch opening, which limits the width of items you can put into it.
But the classic (no letter) Prius and the Prius V have nice big hatch openings.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 2:59 PM on April 17, 2018 [1 favorite]

Consider the Buick Regal (2011-2017 model). It looks like a saloon but it's a hatchback. I drive the Europe-equivalent Vauxhall/Opel Insignia and I really like it. With the back seats down I can fit as much stuff in it as I used to be able to fit in my old Honda Civic, which was very spacious.

The only downside to the Regal/Insignia is that the back of the car tapers down a bit and the trunk has a lip (the major advantage of the Civic was that you could slide stuff right in), but even so we've hauled a lot of stuff in it - a couple of large dining chairs, big IKEA trips, a ton of music gear.

I really like how it drives and the acceleration is pleasing (2L diesel version).

I'm also tall and it's incredibly comfortable, very customisable driver seat setup and lots of legroom in front and back. I only have good things to say about this car.
posted by terretu at 3:04 PM on April 17, 2018

I love my Kia Soul, which I bought after being similarly disappointed in the Honda Fit. It is much roomier. Definitely give Kia reliability a look. They come with a 10-year powertrain warranty too.

We have both a Kia Soul and a Honda Fit. My wife drives the Kia, I drive the Honda. They're both good cars. The Soul has more passenger room, the Fit has more overall room. I find the Fit to be more fun to drive (I have the Sport model.) Both cars, at least in my experience, have proven to be comfortable to drive for 1000+ mile road trips.
posted by azpenguin at 4:10 PM on April 17, 2018 [1 favorite]

I drive a 2017 HRV. The engine is perfectly adequate for my daily city commuter needs - it does what I need it to, I have no complaints about it on the freeway, and the mileage is great. I agree that it doesn't have the feeling of "vroom vroom" pep as some other engines do - I wouldn't chalk this up as underpowered, however, just less fun to drive compared to a car with more pep.

From the volume knob perspective, I don't use the touch screen for volume as I mostly use the volume control on the steering wheel. My biggest complaint is that the computer /touch screen has an outdated software feel and has bizarre UI settings.

Past that, it is the one or the smartest designed cars I have driven, I use the magic seat and fold flat features ALL THE TIME for cargo needs.
posted by Karaage at 6:18 PM on April 17, 2018 [1 favorite]

I’m on team Prius here. Super cargo space, very car like, super reliable.
posted by advicepig at 6:25 PM on April 17, 2018 [2 favorites]

The Golf has a ton of front leg room. I'm 6', and with the seat all the way back I can't even touch the pedals. I also previously had a Fit and like you found it too short, but the Golf has tons more room. YMMV but you may not want to rule it out so fast.
posted by jacobian at 6:32 PM on April 17, 2018 [3 favorites]

If the only reason you are dismissing the Golf is because of assumed lack of leg room, you should definitely actually test it out. My 6’4” 300lb ex loved my Golf because he actually fit in the drivers seat comfortably so much he bought his own.
posted by cgg at 7:12 PM on April 17, 2018 [2 favorites]

terretu: The 2018 Buick Regal (starts at $25K, reliability is yet unknown) is a hatchback that looks like a sedan, but the previous model (mixed reports about reliability?) was only available as a true sedan in the US. Some nevertheless had a folding rear seat, but the ones with the "mild hybrid" system didn't.
posted by Seeking Direction at 7:29 PM on April 17, 2018

Another left-field choice, though more expensive to run than a Honda or Toyota: a pre-owned Volvo V60. Probably the best seats in the business, and the Swedes are tall people! Mileage is surprisingly good with the 4-cylinder.
posted by Seeking Direction at 7:33 PM on April 17, 2018 [1 favorite]

Nthing the Prius. We have a 2009 and are very happy with it. Roomy (I am 6-foot), comfortable, powerful enough, utterly reliable. The newer "V" model has more cargo room, though even with the aerodynamic rear slope the sedan is roomy.

We also have a 2014 Soul that we like. It is Tardis-like in that it seems bigger on the inside that it looks on the outside.
posted by lhauser at 9:35 PM on April 17, 2018

I 100% agree with you on the subject of hatchbacks' general utility, although I'm a GTI driver myself. I'm surprised you didn't think it was roomy enough--my 6'2" husband seems to think it's fine.

Our other car is a 2008 Subaru and the AWD has been zero trouble and very useful in our mountainous region, so I definitely would not discount the Impreza on that basis.
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 9:57 PM on April 17, 2018 [1 favorite]

Driving a 2011 Subaru Forster and I’ve obly ever put money in tires and scheduled maintenance. It’s the best.
posted by furtive at 10:14 PM on April 17, 2018

I’m a hatchback person and I love my Subaru Impreza. It was a massive upgrade from my Ford Focus, which I do not recommend (although I got 14 years of use from mine, RIP).

I can fit huge furniture with no problem in my Subaru and have used it to haul a canoe around too. It’s great for daily drives and is reliable and safe. Why everyone does not own a Subaru is beyond me—I was recently at a friends house for a get-together and there were eight Subarus in the driveway, so my friends agree. It’s a good car.
posted by sockermom at 5:13 AM on April 18, 2018

With a budget of 20k, I'd expand your search to include the BMW X1 (used).

OH LORD NO.

If you're budget-constrained on purchase, absolutely do NOT buy a used BMW.

I'm not sure why you'd be alarmist about VW reliability; I seem to be surrounded by high-mileage Jettas, Golfs, and GTIs, and even CR seems to like them.
posted by uberchet at 7:08 AM on April 18, 2018

if you like driving ergonomics and engagement, as well as "bolstered"/supportive comfort as a driver (rather than cushy comfort) mazda3 is the clear winner - please test drive one.

I love their interior design - everything makes SENSE.

ps They also do great things with ICE fuel economy with their skyactiv system.
posted by lalochezia at 7:42 AM on April 18, 2018 [1 favorite]

I love my 2011 Elantra GT. I've had 0 problems with it beyond routine maintenance, and I'm always pleasantly surprised at how much the hatchback can hold. (When I picked up a new patio set last fall, the Home Depot guy said, "That box is never fitting in that car," and started to send me over to rent one of their pickups. It fit.) It's been very versatile for hauling stuff (through two moves!), gets decent gas mileage (especially on highway), and is comfortable. I also like the sightlines better in it than in any of the others I testdrove, but it sounds like you're a lot taller than I am, so YMMV.
posted by writermcwriterson at 9:37 AM on April 18, 2018

And the VW Golf and GTI do not seem to have enough front leg room to be comfortable for me.

Another 6'+ person chiming into to say in my experience, the Golf has room to spare. My 6'4 dad also very comfortably drove a Golf.
posted by i_am_a_fiesta at 10:58 PM on April 18, 2018

Would you consider a minivan?

We got a used Toyota Sienna for well under $20K with something like 50K miles (but it's a Toyota so nbd). It's got an awesome turning radius, just about the same gas mileage as our Camry (which is not much above that of a Corolla), and endless storage configurations.

I started my driving "career" in a Corolla hatchback, which I loved for all the reasons you are considering a hatchback. I was definitely anti-minivan until we bought it (at hubby's insistence); now we fight over who gets to drive it.

Btw he's well over 6' and long in the torso, so the height of the roof is a major consideration whenever we buy a car. He's perfectly comfortable in the van.
posted by vignettist at 1:03 PM on April 19, 2018

Go talk to VW owners.

I are one. My brother, too. Several pals. None of us have complaints.

I've also owned BMWs, and at zero point have I ever considered owning one out of warranty. Maintenance will eat you alive.

We also had an X1. We leased it. Great car, but I absolutely wouldn't want to drive one if I was on the hook for the maintenance.
posted by uberchet at 1:10 PM on April 19, 2018 [1 favorite]

Driving a 2011 Subaru Forster and I’ve obly ever put money in tires and scheduled maintenance. It’s the best.

The Subaru Forster has plenty of room with a view, the perfect car for a passage to India.
posted by w0mbat at 9:51 AM on April 25, 2018 [1 favorite]