Hatchback with Decent Performance

[ET16]

I'm shopping for a new or used hatchback with good performance, or, maybe even a small wagon, that I can haul my bike in.
So far, only a VW GTI looks to fit the bill, although, the hatch is a little on the small side for the bike.

I liked the Mazda3, but I found the rear visibility poor. I liked the Impreza RS, but found it a little slow. I found the Honda Civic hatch and Acura Integra hatch decent, but I'm not completely sold on a CVT.
I found a fairly recent VW Golf Alltrack that was okay, but I found the price too high for my liking for a used car with somewhat high mileage.

Any other cars that might fit the bill?

 

[ATex7239]

Corolla hatchback, Mitts Mirage, Kia Rio or Soul, Hyundai Veloster…. And that’s all I could think of off the top of my head.

I wouldn’t worry about the Honda CVT. It is good to go. I had a Honda CVT out last multiple GM transmissions. Visibility is probably not gonna be great with any hatch. You’re gonna have to make some compromises with the segment being so small.

 

[goingplacesanddoingstuff]

CX-30 Turbo

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Honda makes a good CVT. You have nothing to worry about. Also, changing the fluid on it is easier than changing the oil. They don't pretend anything is "lifetime" fill, so Honda is more honest than the others, too.

You're worried about a Honda CVT yet considering a VW?

The Corolla hatchback seems to be the best choice for you.

Would you consider a TourX, or is it too big or out of your budget?

There are no slow cars anymore. Every new car is fast.

 

[Blueshound]

How about a used BMW 3-series wagon (2019)? Normally I am not a BMW fan but it could be a good fit if you can find a clean one with low miles. Here's a premium example, but there are lots of 2016-2018 for half this price:

2019 BMW 3 Series - VIN: WBA8K3C51KA484034

This 2019 BMW 3 Series is in stock and for sale in Poughkeepsie, NY. View photos and learn more about this 2019 BMW 3 Series on Edmunds.

www.edmunds.com

 

[zzyzzx]

Honda makes a good CVT.

Obligatory:

a '17 Accord CVT's issue

I ran into an issue with my CVT; Yesterday after the work, when I hit a road and within 2mnts I got an alert on my dashboard, the very first time I pulled to the side, shut it off and stepped out of the car; I popped the hood, went under the car and nothing out of ordinary, no burning smell...

bobistheoilguy.com

 

[ET16]

Honda makes a good CVT. You have nothing to worry about. Also, changing the fluid on it is easier than changing the oil. They don't pretend anything is "lifetime" fill, so Honda is more honest than the others, too.

You're worried about a Honda CVT yet considering a VW?

The Corolla hatchback seems to be the best choice for you.

Would you consider a TourX, or is it too big or out of your budget?

There are no slow cars anymore. Every new car is fast.

I guess a Honda or Acura would work. I not sure paying the extra for the Acura makes sense, even though I'd like the better Acura engine.

About a TourX: I actually wouldn't mind a Regal Sportback. It's not easy to find one for a good price.

 

[ET16]

How about a used BMW 3-series wagon (2019)? Normally I am not a BMW fan but it could be a good fit if you can find a clean one with low miles. Here's a premium example, but there are lots of 2016-2018 for half this price:

2019 BMW 3 Series - VIN: WBA8K3C51KA484034

This 2019 BMW 3 Series is in stock and for sale in Poughkeepsie, NY. View photos and learn more about this 2019 BMW 3 Series on Edmunds.

www.edmunds.com

Could work. I'll keep looking. These seem difficult to find.

 

[ET16]

CX-30 Turbo

I'm not keen on SUVs, but maybe I should take a look.

 

[CharBaby]

Is an automatic transmission a must?
Do you need AWD?

I may be wrong but I believe that the CIVIC Hatch can still be had with a manual tranny in turbo and non turbo.
My daughter has a Civic sedan with only the 2.0L non turbo and a CVT and it has enough power IMO but it may not for you.

However, the 2.0L with a manual should be very satisfying. And you wouldn’t have any worries with the CVT, the Turbo nor Direction Injection. Civics have enough power to move out of their own way while getting good fuel economy. To me, it’s the best of everything. An good condition used Civic Hatch could be ideal in the configuration that I mentioned.

And because you can’t get AWD in any Civic, this could also be ideal in MD. My daughter uses winter tires here in Western NY State( Buffalo/Rochester) and we get loads of snow. She says the Civic with winter tires is an animal. And you’d have a car, not a SUV.

Also in this configuration, you may be getting the most reliable non Turbo, non DI, non CVT vehicle in the US.

 

[alarmguy]

Mazda 3 would be my choice but haven’t seriously looked at others.
We have a 2012 skyactive 3 with 95k miles.

The Skyactive engine at the time was the highest compression mass produced engine in the world and still ran on regular gas.
It’s full of pep on acceleration, still surprises me. Car to this day has not needed a repair which is amazing. 11 years now, nothing but oil changes, tires and a battery or two.

It is a second car. Wife now works from home so sits around a lot and why low mileage.

 

[ET16]

Is an automatic transmission a must?
I may be wrong but I believe that the CIVIC Hatch can still be had with a manual tranny in turbo and non turbo.
My daughter has a Civic sedan with only the 2.0L non turbo and a CVT and it has enough power IMO but it may not for you. However, the 2.0L with a manual should be very satisfying. And you wouldn’t have any worries with the CVT, the Turbo nor Direction Injection. To me, it’s the best of everything. An good condition used Civic Hatch could be ideal in the configuration that I mentioned. And you’d have a car, not a SUV.

Good points.

 

[goingplacesanddoingstuff]

I'm not keen on SUVs, but maybe I should take a look.

Why prefer a car?

 

[ET16]

Why prefer a car?

I like the handling better.

 

[nwjones18]

Mazda 3 would be my choice but haven’t seriously looked at others.
We have a 2012 skyactive 3 with 95k miles.

The Skyactive engine at the time was the highest compression mass produced engine in the world and still ran on regular gas.
It’s full of pep on acceleration, still surprises me. Car to this day has not needed a repair which is amazing. 11 years now, nothing but oil changes, tires and a battery or two.

It is a second car. Wife now works from home so sits around a lot and why low mileage.

The latest 3 hatch's have huge rear pillars that mess up visibility and just look funny IMO. Still an excellent vehicle. If I needed to replace my 07 I'd be looking for the nicest 2013-2018 I could find with a manual.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Obligatory:

a '17 Accord CVT's issue

I ran into an issue with my CVT; Yesterday after the work, when I hit a road and within 2mnts I got an alert on my dashboard, the very first time I pulled to the side, shut it off and stepped out of the car; I popped the hood, went under the car and nothing out of ordinary, no burning smell...

bobistheoilguy.com

Problems with a Honda CVT are still much less common than Subaru and Nissan, for example

 

[IndyIan]

I watched a Civic hatch swallow a large 29" wheel dual suspension bike with the back tire on still, seats folded down. You could get those with a manual and the 1.5 turbo. Quite a few sedans can do the same thing with the rear wheel off.
The last years of the Focus hatch with a manual are on my wagon replacement list, and they are "fast enough" for me anyways.
I guess the new turbo Outbacks are pretty quick but expensive still, I like my slow one as mtb hauler, and it fits my large 29" HT with rear wheel on with only the one side of the rear seats folded.

 

[ET16]

I looked into an Outback. I was surprised at how expensive they are.

 

[Torrid]

I'm a bit partial to GTIs. It might be worth looking into if it will actually fit in the GTI.

 

[NYSteve]

Mini Cooper which will probably get voted down into oblivion. We cross shopped the Mazda 3 and Mini and ended up with a Mini fwiw.

Since you are open to looking BMW, all the good and bad is the same with MINI.